Qionghai

Home of the Boao Forum for Asia, with Yudai Beach at the mouth of the Wanquan River, Tanmen fishing port, the South China Sea Museum and countryside cycling around Jiaji.

Qionghai lies on the east coast of Hainan Island, bordered by Wenchang to the north and Wanning to the south. The Wanquan River, Hainan's mother river, flows west to east through Jiaji, the city center, and empties into the South China Sea at Bo'ao. Bo'ao is the permanent home of the Boao Forum for Asia; here the Wanquan, Jiuqu and Longgun rivers meet, and Yudai Beach separates river from sea. Sights fall into three areas: first, the Bo'ao area, including the forum venue on Dongyu Island, Yudai Beach, Bo'ao Zen Temple, the Cai family mansion in Liuke Village, and Shamei Village with the mangroves of the Shamei inner lagoon; second, Tanmen, about 10 km north, where you can see the port of South China Sea fishermen, eat seafood and visit the South China Sea Museum; third, Jiaji and its surroundings, with the banks of the Wanquan River, the Red Detachment of Women Memorial Park, Beireng Village and Longshouyang Country Park, plus Baishiling and the Guantang Hot Springs to the west. The best season is Oct–Apr, when it is warm and dry; May–Oct is hot and rainy, and Jul–Oct is typhoon season. The Boao Forum for Asia annual conference is held from late March to early April each year, when traffic on Dongyu Island is restricted and hotel prices rise. Getting there: the round-island high-speed railway stops at Qionghai and Bo'ao stations, about 1 hour by bullet train from Haikou East and about 1 hour from Sanya, and Bo'ao Airport has a few routes. Sights are spread out, so renting a car or taking taxis is recommended, and the countryside areas are good for cycling. Allow 2–3 days. Local specialties include Jiaji duck, Wenquan goose, Tanmen seafood and qingbuliang (a coconut milk dessert).

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