Haikou Shishan Volcanic Cluster Geopark

海口石山火山群国家地质公园

The Haikou section of the Leizhou UNESCO Global Geopark, 20 km from the city centre. Climb the stone steps to the rim of Maanling Crater to look down into the vent, with stone-house villages and lychee orchards nearby.

Haikou Shishan Volcanic Cluster National Geopark lies in Shishan Town, Xiuying District. It is part of the Haikou section of the Leizhou UNESCO Global Geopark and is China's only dormant volcanic cluster located in a provincial capital. It has about 40 Quaternary volcanoes, and the most recent eruption occurred about 10,000 years ago. The core attraction is Maanling Crater, at 222 m the highest volcano on Hainan Island. The stone steps take about 20 minutes to climb, and from the ring rim you look down into the vent, about 90 m deep and 120 m across, whose interior is now covered in tropical trees. A walkway also leads down to the crater floor. Next to it, Yanjing Ridge (Eyeglass Ridge) has two parasitic craters side by side. The park also has a museum built of volcanic stone, a lava-tube display area and a crater park, which explain the origins of the volcanoes and the 'volcanic stone house' culture of the Shishan area. Admission is about 55 to 60 yuan, with discounts for children and seniors. Nearby you can visit the stone-house villages of Rongtang and Meishe, with intact stone houses and stone lanes, free of charge, as well as the crater lychee orchards of Shishan (lychee season May to June). Shishan black tofu and Shishan goat are local specialties. Getting there: it is about a 40-minute drive from the city centre, or take a bus to the 'Crater Park' stop. A taxi from Haikou railway station costs about 60 yuan. Tips: the climbing steps are steep, so wear trainers. There is little shade, so bring sun protection and water. The volcanic stone paths get slippery after rain. Combine it with a village visit for a half-day plan.

Haikou Shishan Volcanic Cluster Geopark

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