10 Days in Danzhou

Three dredged islands covering about 8 km² off the coast, opened in stages from 2021 — gardens, museums and a night-lit causeway; the Baijiao HSR station sits just inland.

1. danzhou ocean flower island

Su Shi lived out his 1097-1100 exile here and turned out some 170 poems; the academy grew around the Zaijiu Hall of 1098, and the old town's gates stand a short walk off.

1. danzhou dongpo academy
2. danzhou zhonghe old town

At Yangpu, families have sun-dried brine on more than 7,000 stone troughs for some 1,200 years; ride 20 km up the coast to Longmen, where surf slams the volcanic arch.

1. danzhou ancient salt field
2. danzhou longmen waves

Boat through the floodlit passages of Shihua cave east of Nada, then soak at Lanyang, where a hot spring said to reach about 90 °C and a cold spring run side by side, split by a single rock.

1. danzhou shihua cave
2. danzhou lanyang hot springs

Hainan's largest reservoir holds about 3.3 billion cubic metres among forested islands; take the morning boat and eat fish soup by the water.

1. danzhou songtao reservoir

Slow hours among the research garden's palm and spice collections in Nada, tea houses after, laundry done for the neighbor-city block.

1. danzhou tropical botanical garden

The HSR from Baijiao puts Haikou under 90 minutes north; afternoon in the arcaded old quarter and the bone-flavored soup streets, overnight in the city.

1. haikou

Morning on the seawall and volcano-side park at the city's edge, then the midday train back to Danzhou for a long night.

1. haikou

A long but honest run — about two hours each way on the island loop line to Sanya's bay walks and fishing-port seafood; take the first train, return with the last.

1. sanya

A slow market morning in Nada for the district's zongzi and duck rice, then the run back to Baijiao station for the line south or north.

1. danzhou city markets