China's tropical island of Hainan - travel planning:
With an area of 33,920 square kilometers, Hainan is the smallest province and at the same time the southernmost point of China. The island is known for its tropical climate, as well as the sandy beaches in the south and the wooded, mountainous interior of the island. The north and west are less important for tourism.
Arriving by plane is possible from almost every major Chinese city. You can either fly to Haikou in the north or to Sanya in the south. The connections to Haikou are usually much cheaper, since Sanya is the most attractive city for tourists.
On the island you have the opportunity to travel around the island by express train, which is quite cheap. There are train stations in the main towns along the coast. Alternatively, you can rent a car at one of the airports, but therefore you need a Chinese driver's license.
Due to the tropical climate, it is advisable to avoid the summer months as well as the rainy and typhoon seasons. The most pleasant travel time is between the end of September and the beginning of May. The Chinese national holidays should be avoided due to the travel rush and the correspondingly high prices.
Mountains and rainforest in the interior of the island:
The BaiHuaLing Rainforest:
The BaiHuaLing Rainforest Park is about a two and a half hour drive (165 km) south of Haikou. Here you can explore the tropical rainforest either on your own or in small guided groups.
From time to time you pass forest clearings with ponds and small lakes. Pavilions, hidden in the forest invite you to rest and relax.
The view from above towards the BaiHua Waterfall, the largest waterfall in the park. During the rainy season it sometimes happens that the path up to the waterfall is closed due to flooding. The next rain shower is already announced in the background.
The village of the Miao minority:
The rain cleared just as quickly as it came. After the shower the sky cleared up again and we drove from the Bai Hua Ling rainforest to a village of the Miao minority.
The village square and the houses of the residents from above. On a walk through the village, you can get interesting information about the life and history of the Miao minority. Afterwards we continued the journey towards WuZhiShan, where the next accommodation, the hotel Huaite Caiyunfei was booked.
After checking in at the hotel, we went to the small city of WuZhiShan, which is named after one of the most famous mountains on the island. There we had traditional Hainan hotpot for dinner.
Viewpoint in the rainforest at WuZhiShan Mountain:
The next day started rainy and overcast. Nevertheless, we wanted to follow the plan and see one of the most famous mountains on Hainan Island. The best view towards the WuZhiShan (Five Finger Mountain) you actually have from the Tropical Rainforest Viewpoint. Unfortunately, there was nothing to see that day apart from clouds.
We therefore decided to walk the circular route that leads through the rainforest from underneath the viewpoint.
The varied, easy-to-walk hiking trail, about four kilometers long, leads through beautiful, tropical vegetation.
First, it goes down several flights of stairs, deeper into the rainforest. The rest of the way is relatively flat and easy to walk on.
About halfway, the forest thins out and a small stall appears. Freshly grilled eggs and bamboo tubes stuffed with rice are sold here. A delicious snack for in between.
In the afternoon we drove on to the next accommodation, the Qixianling Baoting Liyuan Hot Spring hotel. No other major activities were planned for the rest of the day, as a longer mountain tour was on the agenda for the following day. The hike to the summit of the QiXianLing mountain (Seven Fairies Mountain).
Hike to the summit of the Seven Fairy Mountain:
What looks relatively easy and harmless from the start will later turn out to be quite a strenuous and exhausting undertaking.
The path, which is almost two and a half kilometers long, leads over 3770 steps and about 900 meters in altitude to the summit at 1127 meters above sea level.
Behind the park entrance, the path initially leads flat through the forest. From time to time you come across small rest houses where you can get drinks and small snacks.
In order to get to the second of the three peaks, you first have to descend a good bit before you can tackle the final ascent.
The last ascent to the summit is also the most demanding part of the tour. Climbing is required here and the only security is a chain to hold on to.
Compensation for the effort of the climb is the view of the surrounding mountains and villages. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the summit, the first clouds had already come up again, so that the view was a bit clouded.
Arrived back at the foot of the Seven Fairies Mountain. All in all, this tour is an absolute highlight not to be missed when visiting Hainan Island.
In the late afternoon we drove from the Seven Fairies Mountain towards Sanya, where a last stop on the way at the Miao Minority Park was planned.
The Miao Minority Park:
In order to keep the distances short and save time, we booked the accommodation right next to the site for visiting the Miao Minority Park.
The hotel Binglanggu Inn consists of several two-story houses with their own balcony or terrace, which are integrated into the park grounds.
The relatively simple breakfast is served in a dedicated building near the park entrance. If that is too simple for you, you can bring your own and enjoy your breakfast in front of the house.
The living area of the cottage is more than big enough. In addition to the bedroom with desk and TV, there is enough space in the adjoining room to spread out your suitcases.
The small but fine wooden houses are excellent accommodation with comfortable atmosphere.
The Miao Minority Park itself is characterized by being family-friendly. In addition to information about the history of the Miao, you can also observe authentic life here. The inhabitants of the reserve still faithfully live their traditions and maintain their customs here.
In addition, the park offers various attractions, such as a go-kart track, various slides and shows, which make a visit varied and entertaining.
Instead of resorting to modern technology, the women here pursue traditional craftsmanship. Women, some of whom are over 80 years old, weave carpets, cloths and scarves for more than eight hours a day. The art of basket and hat weaving is still practiced here according to old tradition.
A bird's-eye view of the Miao Minority Reserve. After a very informative and varied visit, we continued our journey to Sanya in the south of Hainan.
Conclusion:
Most people associate an island holiday with the beach and the sea. Nevertheless, each island usually has much more to offer. In Hainan, you've definitely missed a lot if you only focus on the beach and the sea.
The interior of the island with its mountains and tropical forests is extremely varied and exciting to explore.
If you like hiking and don't just want to spend your vacation at the hotel pool or on the beach, you'll get your money's worth here.
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