//
The only non-profit organization promoting sea turtle conservation in China, Sea Turtles 911's primary facility is a floating sea turtle hospital in Lingshui near Nanwan Monkey Island, and programs in Sanya and Haikou. While on Hainan Island visitors are welcome to volunteer with the sea turtles and the organization's educational programs. Recommended donation. Go to www.seaturtles911.org for more information.
骑楼老街; qílóu lǎojiē, Sotto Porticos Streets
Explore old city streets, markets and shops. This is the largest area in Haikou where old buildings are preserved, giving rise to an authentic atmosphere. It has an eclectic range of shops, e.g., pets (puppies, chicks, cats, rabbits), household drapes, kitchen tools, hardware, roast duck, toys. You can walk into some of the old courtyard style buildings and see the original wood work and details. Visit Dongmen Market (East Gate Market; 东门市场) on Bo'ai Road (博爱路) to see all the exotic foods for sale. The most famous street in the area is Zhongshan Road (中山路), a pedestrian-only road lined with souvenir shops and trendy cafes. Other notable streets include Bo'ai Road (博爱路), Changdi Road (长堤路), Deshengsha Road (得胜沙路), and Xinhua Road (新华路).
天后宫, Tianhou Palace
Dedicated to Mazu (妈祖), the goddess of the sea who is also known as Tianhou (天后), meaning Queen of Heaven. This is one of the oldest temples in Haikou and has a history of over 700 years.
西天庙
A memorial temple dedicated to honouring the memory of Wang Zuo (王佐), a famous poet from Hainan's Lingao County who lived from 1428 to 1512. The temple was founded about half a century after Wang Zuo's death, but was later destroyed and rebuilt. The current structures date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
冯白驹故居
Feng Baiju (1903-1973) was the chief Communist military leader on Hainan Island during both the Chinese Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War. His house was burned down by the Japanese army in 1942 and rebuilt in 1984. There is a small museum about him next to the residence.
丘浚故居
Built in the second year of the Ming Dynasty (1369), Qiu Jun's former residence is the oldest wooden building in Haikou and a rare example of early Ming architecture.
琼台书院
Established in commemoration of Qiu Jun, believed to be the most brilliant scholar in Hainan and a renowned Ming Dynasty academic. Construction began in 1705. The two-storey main building is made of brick and wood and is rich in traditional ethnic characteristics. The well-preserved academy is now the site of Qiongtai Normal University. The academy became celebrated after a well-known Cantonese and Qiong drama was written based on events there.