The island of Hainan has its fair share of things to keep the young ones occupied. The beaches of Yalong Bay offer days of outdoor fun while animal-based attractions such as the Sea Zoo and the Nanwan Monkey Island also provide family fun.

Beaches
Hainan offers some fantastic beaches which are ideal places for families with young ones to spend some leisurely days during their holidays on the island. Popular locations such as Holiday Beach and Yalong Bay offer crystal-clear sea water, golden sands and pleasant family-friendly atmospheres. Of the island’s 1,580kms of coastline, some 50 to 60 per cent is made up of beaches. These scenic settings are ideal for the kids to do some paddling or swimming, build a few sandcastles or try their hand at burying Dad up to the neck in sand. Parents can relax and catch a few rays in the knowledge that the kids are safe and happy.

Nantai Crocodile Lake Zoo
Located 20kms to the west of Haikou, the Nantai Crocodile Zoo is an impressive facility occupying over 133,000 square metres. The facility is home to over 10,000 crocodiles and features a Crocodile Show Centre as well as centres for Tiger and Elephant shows. The kids will love seeing the crocs do there snappy little tricks, however you’d be wise to keep them away from the Crocodile Restaurant which curiously serves crocodile meat and from the Crocodile Store too, which sells crocodile products.

Nanwan Monkey Island
Nanwan Monkey Island is the only island reserve dedicated to primates in the country and is a popular visitor destination with family holiday makers. Situated off Xincun Port in Lingshui County, the island has a large monkey population that can be viewed with ease on taking a guided tour through its forests, caves and other natural areas.

Sea Zoo
Situated about 20kms to the west of Sanya City is the Sea Zoo, a favourite among families and a centre that’s home to a variety of fish, mammals and birds. Kids will love the watching the shows featuring the performing sea lions and dolphins then afterwards getting the chance check out the crocodile pond, the turtle pool and the bird area which contains over 1,000 sea birds. There are shops and restaurants on site so families will find everything necessary for a full day out.

Seashell Exhibition Centre
Situated in Yalong Bay Square is the Seashell Exhibition Centre, a unique attraction and the first of its kind in China. An impressive collection of shells is available for viewing with specimens of every size and colour. The kids are sure to be delighted by the natural beauty to be found within the exhibits.

Places of historical interest dominate Hainan’s list of cultural activities with a variety of fascinating structures and historic locations offering some good sightseeing and photo taking opportunities.

Five Ministers Memorial Tower
Situated in Haikou, the Five Ministers Memorial Tower was originally built in 1889 in tribute to the five ministers of the Song and Tang dynasties who were forced to take exile in Hainan. Li Deyu of the Tang dynasty (618-907AD) was the first to be exiled, followed by Hu Quan, Li Gang, Li Guang and Zhou Ding of the Song dynasty (960-1271). Within the tower are statues and inscribed tablets dedicated to each of the ministers. The tower sits in attractive, well-maintained grounds that offer pleasant pebbled pathways and ancient Chinese trees.

Hai Rui's Tomb
Located in Binya village in the suburbs of the capital city of Haikou is Hai Rui’s Tomb, a structure built in 1589 in tribute to Hai Rui, a popular political figure of the Ming Dynasty who was a native of the island of Hainan. The tomb is carved from granite and is set amid scenic tropical gardens and various animal and human statues.

Huizu Mosque
Located in Yang Lan Townto is the Huizu Mosque, an interesting construction featuring twin towers and white walls, which has served as a place of worship for many years. Inside of the temple, visitors will find a large prayer and meeting area featuring beautiful ornate Middle Eastern style furnishings. The mosque is still a working religious facility so visitors should observe the appropriate reverence when entering and women’s legs, and arms should be covered beforehand.

Li Village
The Li were the first Chinese people to build serious settlements in Hainan, arriving more than 2,000 years ago. These dwellings in this traditional Li village bear many similarities to those lived in during the early days with thatched roofs and hanging reeds. Visitors get the chance to see inside the houses and to try some traditional Li food and drink.

Shuinan Village
Shuinan Village is worthy of note from a cultural perspective on account of it once being home to Huang Daopo, one of China’s most respected innovators in the field of weaving technology. Daopo lived and studied in the town during the Yuan Dynasty. The village is situated in Yacheng Town, 40kms west of Sanya City and gives visitors a brief insight into the cultural heritage of the region.

Yazhou Ancient City
Built between 420 and 589 AD, Yazhou is a city rich in ancient culture and historical value. Following its construction, the city was instated as the capital of the Yazhou district. The original city was built of clay bricks and served as a significant trading centre and an important political one. Little is left of Yazhou’s original buildings however there are some interesting cultural relics available for viewing and some structural remains that make for worthy sightseeing.

Ying Wang Tower
Lying about 40kms to the west of Sanya City, the Ying Wang Tower is a hexagon–shaped Confucian temple that was constructed during the Qing Dynasty and was largely responsible for the introduction and establishment of Buddhism to the area. The writings of the eminent Jianzhen, a monk from the Tang Dynasty and of his disciples were also stored in the temple following their removal from Yazhou.

Food on the island of Hainan is influenced greatly by its relationship with the sea and the tropical climate. Local cuisine makes great use of abundant ingredients such as fish and seafood, tropical fruits such as papaya, mangosteen, mangos, pineapples and jackfruit and fresh vegetables such as pak choy, carrot, sweet corn and Chinese cabbage.

Popular dishes include wenchang chicken, dongshan goat and braised chicken in coconut and Hainan kidney beans. Then of course, there’s the wide variety of fish and seafood dishes available with favourites making use of tasty prawns, oysters, mussels and crab.

Restaurants are prevalent across the island with everything from cheap roadside stands to upmarket establishments. Haikou perhaps offers the widest variety with Jinlong Road hosting a good selection. You’ll also find western takeaway outlets such as McDonald’s and KFC; the same are also available in Sanya.

For shopping, there are no shortage of opportunities to buy knick knacks, keepsakes and souvenirs while holidaying in Hainan, with some of the bigger cities such as Haikou and Sanya offering the best facilities. The busiest shopping street is Haixiu Avenue where you’ll find an abundance of souvenir shops selling pearls, crystals, coconut shell sculptures, Li Brocade (cloth handmade by the Li), seashell products and pepper (black and white).

Meanwhile, for dried seafood products, head to Dongmen Market and for an extensive selection of tropical fruit, head for the Wholesale Fruit Market on Bailong South Road. For clothing, electrical goods and a plethora of other products, head for the Sheng Sheng Department Store on Zhujiang Square, the DC Department Store on Haixiu Avenue or the Tailong Department Store on Datong Road.

The good weather affords the island some great places of natural beauty and ample opportunity to appreciate them while pursuing an outdoor activity of your liking. Golf fans are well catered for while those visitors with a penchant for water sports will find plenty of opportunities in the Yalong Bay area. Reputable hotels frequently provide their own sporting facilities such as tennis courts and swimming pools.

Bird-watching
Ornithological enthusiasts can grab their binoculars and head out into Hainan’s forest areas where the chances of seeing many unusual bird specimens are exceedingly good with the Hainan Leaf Warbler among the sights you might be rewarded with through a little patience and perseverance.

Golf
Hainan has a number of opportunities for those wanting to practice their swing or hone their putting skills, with lush courses set amid beautiful tropical scenery. In the capital, Haikou, you’ll find the Haikou Meishi golf course and the Haikou Taida golf course, in Sanya meanwhile, there’s the International Golf Club, Sun Valley Sanya Golf Course and the Yalong Bay Golf Club. Sanya also has its own driving range which opens daily from 08:30 to 23:00 pm.

Rock climbing
There are good opportunities for rock climbing on the island of Hainan with no shortage of tried and tested cliff faces where you can test your vertical climbing or bouldering skills. Sanya is a popular area and you’ll find some of the reputable hotels organise trips to the local favoured climbing spots. If you’re something of an expert, you can of course bring all your own equipment and take off unaided to find the best of what the island has to offer in this respect.

Tennis
If you’re a tennis fan, then you’ll find lots of the big hotels offer their own tennis courts so it’s worthwhile checking out if the establishment you intend to stay at is among these. In Sanya meanwhile, the Sea Tennis Club offers everything for the tennis enthusiast including lessons for those starting out or looking to improve some aspect of their game.

Water sports
Head for Sanya and you’ll find beautiful beaches with perfect conditions for pursuing popular water sports such as surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving and water skiing. One thing to bear in mind is that safety standards on the island may not be as stringent as those in western countries, so it’s worthwhile being picky when choosing who to use for your pursuit. Check with the Hainan Tourist Office for approved companies.