Getting around

By air

Hainan’s main gateways include Haikou Meilan International Airport, Sanya Phoenix International Airport, and Qionghai Boao Airport, plus additional airports supporting Free Trade Port connectivity and seventh-freedom pilot advantages.

Haikou Meilan International Airport

About 18 km southeast of central Haikou, Meilan is a dual-terminal, dual-runway international hub and Hainan’s first 4F aerodrome. International and regional passenger/cargo flights resumed from 16 Nov 2022; T2 has earned SKYTRAX five-star and best-regional-airport recognitions.

Domestic flights generally use T1; international and regional flights use T2 (from 8 Feb 2023). Both terminals have island duty-free shops and pickup points. Reach T2 by ride-hailing, self-drive, HSR, or airport bus; outbound passengers check in on level 3 and clear customs/immigration/security on level 4.

Tickets and schedules: www.mlairport.com/mljc/index.html · hotline 0898-966114.

Sanya Phoenix International Airport

About 11 km west of central Sanya, Phoenix is a 4E international trunk airport and SKYTRAX four-star facility with routes covering all Chinese provincial capitals. The international port resumed on 11 Jan 2023 with passenger and cargo services.

Tickets and schedules: www.sanyaairport.com · 24h hotline 0898-9612333.

Qionghai Boao Airport

Near Boao Forum venues (about 12 km from Qionghai city), Boao Airport (4C / 4E during the Forum) supports VIP and general aviation plus tourism and business flights. Domestic routes have resumed; airport buses link Boao and Qionghai HSR stations.

Tickets: www.qhbaairport.com · hotline 0898-36860114.

High-speed rail

Hainan’s island-loop HSR (east ring ~308 km, west ring ~345 km) links Haikou and Sanya with frequent EMU services — the world’s first full island-loop high-speed railway. A “田”-shaped network is planned so every city/county connects by rail.

Key stops include Haikou, Haikou East, Meilan Airport, Wenchang, Qionghai, Boao, Wanning, Lingshui, Yalong Bay, Sanya, Phoenix Airport, and west-coast stations back to Haikou.

Tickets: www.12306.cn · 0898-12306 / 0898-95105105.

Ferries (Qiongzhou Strait)

Self-drive arrivals cross from Xuwen / Hai’an New Port / Beigang (Guangdong) to Haikou ports (Xinhai, Xiuying, Nangang). Advance reservation tickets are required for passengers and vehicles; island duty-free pickup for leavers is at Xinhai Port.

Book via the “琼州海峡轮渡管家” or “铁路轮渡” WeChat accounts. Hotlines: Haikou–Hai’an 0898-9693666; Hai’an–Haikou 4009300003; Nangang/Beigang 0898-31684464.

Island-loop expressway

The ~613 km Hainan Ring Expressway (“China National Coast No.1 Scenic Drive”) is a 4–6 lane loop at 100–120 km/h linking 12 coastal cities/counties, towns, resorts, and 68 bays — still the island’s busiest road artery.

Since 1994 Hainan has folded road fees into a fuel surcharge and removed toll booths — the only Chinese province with a full no-toll highway network (“one press of the pedal”).

Island-loop tourism highway

Opened fully on 18 Dec 2023, the ~988 km scenic coastal tourism highway strings cliffs, wetlands, coconut groves, A-level attractions, resorts, fishing ports, and villages into a “pearl necklace,” with ongoing services (fuel, charging, viewpoints, RV camps, restrooms). Ideal for leisurely self-drives.

Sanya Phoenix Island International Cruise Port

China’s first dedicated international cruise port can berth ships up to 225,000 GT and aims for ~2 million passengers/year, linking air, rail, road, and tourism hubs. Hotline: 4006620210.

Cruise development

Hainan is expanding cruise tourism around Sanya as homeport and Haikou as a departure port, with further calls such as Danzhou Ocean Flower Island. Goals include stronger Southeast Asia and South China Sea itineraries and a world-class cruise port cluster by 2035.