Cycling Routes in Hainan Island: Best Tour Route for the East Line

Many of you may choose cycling when traveling. In Hainan Island, if you want to cycle and travel, there are short-term cycling routes, and of course, there are long-term cycling routes. If you want to try cycling and travel, then you can refer to the following routes.

What are the cycling routes around Hainan Island?

1. East Line

Route Information: Starting from Haikou, passing through Wenchang, Boao, Wanning to Sanya, or vice versa;

The whole line is about 400km, usually takes 4 days.

Features along the way: Wenchang is famous for Wenchang chicken and coconut culture, Dongjiao Coconut Grove is known as the most lush coconut grove by the sea in Hainan; Boao has the estuary of Wanquan River and the Asian Forum site, you can stroll along the beach after dinner; The Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden in Wanning is also a must-see tropical classic sight…

The East Line has well-developed tourism, the most famous, and the roads are relatively flat, the difficulty is relatively low.

2. Central Line

Route Information: Starting from Haikou, passing through Wuzhishan, Qiongzhong, Tunchang to Sanya, or vice versa;

The whole line is about 350km, usually takes 4 days.

Features along the way: The central region centered on Wuzhishan, the highest mountain in Hainan, is the ancestral home of the Li and Miao ethnic groups. The ethnic minority customs, songs and dances are more intense, you can experience the primitive Li and Miao customs, songs, dances and food along the way; The mountainous geographical features also make it a favorite among backpackers.

Hainan Central Line is far away from the coast, the route is shorter, but you need to climb Wuzhishan, the difficulty is slightly higher.

3. West Line

Route Information: Starting from Haikou, passing through Yinggeling, Dongfang, Danzhou to Sanya, or vice versa;

The whole line is about 450～500km, usually takes 4～5 days.

Features along the way: The West Line preserves many tropical rainforests, such as the national-level forest reserve Jianfengling and the Bawangling forest area. It is said that there are vines entangled, gibbons, clouded leopards, king cobras and other wild animals gather, some sections even need to use machetes to open the way… But the cycling mainly passes through national roads, county roads, etc., if you want to go deep into the rainforest, you need to make a separate arrangement for the trip.

The West Line has a lower density of towns and cities, is more primitive and quiet, the route is longer, and the difficulty is slightly higher.

Cycling Guide

1. Rental

The conditions for cycling around Hainan Island are mature. There are rental stations in Haikou, Sanya and other places, providing bicycle and supporting equipment rental. The price varies according to the type of vehicle, generally 50～70 yuan per day.

Take the 517 station rental equipment as an example

2. Accommodation

There are hotels in the counties and cities along the way (if you stay in townships, you need to confirm whether there are accommodations), so you only need to carry some personal essential equipment

Sunscreen (ice sleeves, hats, cycling gloves, magic towels, sunscreen, etc.); Change of clothes, medicines for scratches/bruises, power bank, camera, etc.

3. Route Navigation

In order to capture richer scenery along the way, the cycling route may change on provincial roads, county roads and township roads. You need to use outdoor navigation software, download suitable route tracks.

4. Some Suggestions

You can arrange the itinerary according to the travel time and accommodation along the way. If you have enough time, you can take your time, but if you are moving forward at the general speed mentioned above, it is almost 100 kilometers per day, which requires a considerable amount of physical strength and perseverance.

Compared with cycling experience, safety awareness along the way is more important. Because the route is mature, there are many vehicles coming and going on the roads you pass, you need to strictly abide by traffic rules and reasonably control your speed.

In my opinion, cycling novices with considerable outdoor experience can also try, but they must have a high level of safety awareness and reliable and experienced companions.

East Line Section

I. Route Map

II. Overall Description of the Route

The East Line passes through Haikou, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, Lingshui and Sanya, full of prosperity, with ample supplies, numerous scenic spots and famous food and products. Cycling along the East Line, from Haikou to Lingshui, the terrain is not very undulating, Lingshui to Sanya section has more ups and downs, but the difficulty is not too big. Many cycling enthusiasts choose to start clockwise around the island along the East Line.

III. Section Description

(I) Haikou City – Qinglan Town (about 95km)

Leaving Haikou and cycling along National Highway 223 for about 1 hour to Lingshan Town, then along Provincial Highway S201 to Wenchang. This section is a two-lane asphalt road, the terrain is not very undulating, leaving Wenchang and going southeast along Wenqing Road to Qinglan Town, the road surface is general.

【Scenic Spots along the Way】

Tongguoling is a famous mountain in Hainan, located in Longlou Town, Wenchang City, 40km from Wenchang City, northeast of Dongjiao Coconut Grove. Tongguoling Scenic Area is centered on Tongguoling Peak, including Qishui Bay, Moon Bay, Stone Park, Baoling River, Yunlong Bay, Dacao Bay and other areas. The mountain peak Tongguizui in the scenic area is the easternmost point of Hainan.

【Cycling Tips】

A route closer to the coastline can be taken like this: From Haikou, take S111, X104 to Yanhai Town, cross the sea, pass through Pucheng Town, Longlou Town to Tongguoling. This road is closer to the coastline, you can directly pass by the Song Family Ancestral Home, and visit the Tongguoling National Nature Reserve, you can camp at Dacao Bay at night, or stay at a hotel in Longlou Town. Dacao Bay in the reserve has stunning scenery, and you can greet the first rays of sunshine of Hainan Island if you camp here. The next morning, cycle 30km to Qinglan Port, take a ferry to Qinglan Town and continue cycling around the island.

(II) Qinglan Town – Boao Town (about 85km)

【Route Overview】

Leaving Qinglan Town and entering Wenqing Avenue, about 4km later, turn left at the large intersection, heading southwest to Maihao Town. Along Provincial Highway S201, pass Maihao Town for about 10km to Huiwen Town. The road conditions are good all the way, with no slopes. Cycle about 22km to Changpo Town, Qionghai. You can see the endless ocean and coconut groves along the way. Continue along Provincial Highway S201 for 38km to Qionghai City (formerly known as Jiaji Town). From Qionghai City, take Provincial Highway S213 to Boao.

【Scenic Spots along the Way】

1. Cai Family Residence

Located in Liuke Village, Boao Town, Qionghai City. You can pass by when cycling through Qionghai. Cai Family Residence was built in 1934, a complex of buildings jointly built by four brothers, Cai Jiasen and others, known as the “First Residence of Overseas Chinese in Hainan”.

2. Jade Belt Beach

Located at the estuary of Wanquan River in Boao, east of the water city, its tail connects to the land, like a long jade belt separating Wanquan River from the South China Sea, a unique beach peninsula.

3. Boao Forum for Asia Permanent Site

Located on Dongyu Island, Boao, the site of the annual Asian Forum, is open to visitors, ticket price is 125 yuan/person.

4. Boao Temple

Located in the “Boao Oriental Culture Park” area, is a Zen Buddhist temple, established not long ago (built in 2005), but it enshrines the tallest bronze Thousand-hand Thousand-eye Double-faced Guanyin Bodhisattva statue in China, and also has a gilded private Muni Buddha statue donated by the King of Nepal, the abbot of the temple is Master Shenghui, the current vice president of the Buddhist Association of China.

【Food and Accommodation Recommendations】

Normally, you can depart in the morning and arrive in Qionghai City at noon. Don’t miss Jiaji Duck and Hot Spring Goose, two of the four famous dishes in Hainan, for lunch in Qionghai. In addition, Qionghai is the legendary origin of Qingbuliang, only here you can have coconut milk flavor Qingbuliang, and the most abundant and diverse miscellaneous grain desserts. Dinner in Boao, you can try the seafood stalls by the coast.

Qionghai Jiaji Miscellaneous Grain Street

Qionghai Miscellaneous Grain Snack Street is located in Yinhai Resort, Jiaji Town, Qionghai City. There are about 20 miscellaneous grain shops concentrated here. It is a great place to taste Hainan’s specialty snacks. Every holiday or weekend, there are often guests who come here from Haikou or nearby counties and cities to have a bowl of miscellaneous grain. Cyclists passing by here, you may have a unique Qionghai-style delicious afternoon tea. (Note: “Miscellaneous Grain” is a specialty folk snack in Qionghai, a general term for a variety of exquisite desserts made mainly from coarse grains. There are chicken shit vine, Qingbuliang, corn cake, sorghum cake, rice cake wrapped in rice leaves, glutinous rice cake, yi cake, pig intestine cake, pumpkin cake, sweet potato cake, taro ball, black sesame paste, sweet potato shake, yam coconut milk… These are all popular miscellaneous grain delicacies.)

(III) Boao – Xinglong Hot Spring (about 85km)

【Route Overview】

Leaving Boao and heading along Yingbin Road (S219), after passing Dale Daqiao, turn right at Peilan Village and take County Road X428 (this road is about ten kilometers shorter than continuing along S219, if you are worried about getting lost, you can also directly continue along S219 to National Highway G223), eventually converging with National Highway G223 near Longgun Town. The road surface is mainly asphalt, the road conditions are good. After passing Longgun Town, through Shangen, Wanning, Changfeng, then to Xinglong, the terrain is flat all the way, with a rural landscape.

【Scenic Spots along the Way】

The main scenic spots along the way are the Tropical Botanical Garden, the Asian Style Park and Xinglong Hot Spring in the Xinglong Overseas Chinese Holiday Resort at the end of the route.

1. Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden

Covering an area of over 600 acres, it grows tropical cash crops such as coffee, pepper, vanilla, cocoa, as well as tropical fruits such as durian and mangosteen. It also preserves rare wild plants such as “See Blood Seal the Throat”. Ticket price is 60 yuan.

2. Xinglong Asian Style Park

Tourists can learn about the architectural styles of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and India here, appreciate the ethnic dances performed by overseas Chinese who returned from Indonesia and their descendants, visit the Thai “Four-faced Buddha”, and taste Southeast Asian cuisine. Ticket price is 38 yuan.

3. Xinglong Hot Spring

Located in Xinglong Overseas Chinese Farm, there are over a dozen hot springs, with a water temperature of 60℃ all year round, rich in minerals, which can improve skin diseases, arthritis and neurasthenia.

4. Shimei Bay

Located east of Xinglong Town, Wanning, consists of two crescent-shaped bays. The beach is about 6km long. Compared to several bays in Sanya such as Dadonghai, Yalong Bay, it is quieter and more relaxing, but the scenery is no less beautiful. “Love is Not Easy” was also filmed in Shimei Bay.

【Food and Accommodation Recommendations】

Don’t miss Wanning Sour Powder along the way. It is probably the most famous powder snack in Hainan province. It adds sandworm dry, fish cake, small salted fish, squid shreds, beef jerky, peanuts, sour cabbage, chives, garlic oil and other ingredients, with vinegar and yellow lantern pepper, sour, spicy, sweet and fragrant, unique in flavor. In addition, the two of the four famous dishes in Hainan, Hele Crab and Dongshan Goat, are from Wanning. Many restaurants in Wanning City, Xinglong Town, have these two dishes.

(IV) Xinglong Hot Spring – Sanya City (about 115km)

【Route Overview】

Leaving Xinglong Town, taking National Highway G223 all the way to Sanya City, there are towns all the way to replenish supplies. There are many ups and downs in this day’s cycling, especially the Xinglong Hot Spring section, the Niulingkou mountainous area, the junction of Wanning and Lingshui, and the section between Linwang and Tiandu will have relatively large terrain ups and downs.

【Scenic Spots along the Way】

1. Yalong Bay

Perhaps the most famous bay in Sanya, the beach is 8km long, with clear water and fine sand, rich in underwater coral reefs, tropical fish, and precious shellfish resources. It is very suitable for diving, swimming and all kinds of water sports. It is also dotted with resort hotels, golf courses, water sports centers, etc. On the shore, there are Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, Butterfly Valley, Shell Exhibition Hall, etc.

2. Haitang Bay

Together with Yalong Bay, Dadonghai Bay, Sanya Bay and Yazhou Bay, it is one of the five famous bays in Sanya. It was developed relatively late, with beautiful scenery. There are Nan Tian Hot Spring, Tie Lu Port, Islamic Tomb Group, Haitang Show, Wuzhizhou Island, Coconut Island and other scenic spots.

3. Fenjiezhou Island

The first island-type 5A scenic spot, located at the junction of Wanning and Lingshui, is also the dividing line between the tropics and the subtropics. There are rich marine entertainment activities here, as well as submarine sightseeing, underwater weddings, dolphin diving, coral pavilion and other special projects. The island is uninhabited, with only a dozen holiday villas.

4. Jinmujiao

Jinmujiao is actually a cape protruding into the sea, the southernmost end of the continental shelf. It used to be a military base, and for a while it became a popular outdoor route. There is a landmark building, Jinmujiao Observation Lighthouse. Now the Tiger Head Ridge where the lighthouse is located has become a military restricted area again, and it is impossible to get close, but the scenery along the coast is very beautiful.

5. Wuzhizhou Island

One of the most famous resort islands in Hainan, located in Haitang Bay, needs to take a boat to the island. The sea has a maximum visibility of 27 meters, considered to be the best diving site in China. The island has a variety of landscapes. The central part is tropical plants, the west and north are narrow silver beaches, and the southeast is full of reefs.

6. Nanwan Monkey Island Scenic Area

About 2km to the left of the road after entering Xincun Town, passing Sanya Town. This is the world’s only island-type macaque reserve, with over 2,000 macaques in 29 groups, a national level 2 protected animal. In addition to watching and feeding monkeys, you can also watch water motorcycle stunts and water ski performances. Ticket price is 45 yuan.

【Food and Accommodation Recommendations】

Don’t miss Lingshui Sour Powder along the way. It is probably the most famous powder snack in Hainan province. It adds sandworm dry, fish cake, small salted fish, squid shreds, beef jerky, peanuts, chives, garlic oil and other ingredients, with vinegar and yellow lantern pepper, sour, spicy, sweet and fragrant, unique in flavor.

Sanya Chunyuan Seafood Plaza

One of the most famous seafood processing markets in Sanya. You can buy seafood in the nearby seafood market, or you can buy seafood elsewhere and process it here. There are nearly 100 stalls here, occasionally there are practices of overcharging, stalls with good online reputation are 6 row 5, 3 row 6, 3 row 4, etc. Overall, the seafood prices here are relatively expensive, the processing fee is relatively cheap (usually 5 yuan/jin, some types are charged by the number), it is more cost-effective to buy seafood in the First Market and process it here. In addition to seafood, there are also snacks, juice and other supplies.

【Cycling Tips】

If you are going to Yalong Bay first, you can turn left at the ring road intersection about 3km before Tiandu Town. If you have enough time, you can split this section into two or three days, stay in Lingshui County, and the next day ride to Fenjiezhou Island or Nanwan Monkey Island, Haitang Bay for sightseeing, then go to Yalong Bay, Wuzhizhou Island and other surrounding scenic spots in Sanya via Linwang.