Haikou
Encyclopedia
Hǎikǒu is the capital and most populous city of Hainan
Province, in the People's Republic of China
. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River
. The northern part of the city is the district of Haidian Island, which is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, a tributary of the Nandu.
Administratively, Haikou is a prefecture-level city
, comprising four districts, and covering 2,280 square kilometres. There are 2,046,189 inhabitants in the built up area all living within the 4 urban distrcits of the city.
Haikou was originally a port city. Today, more than half of the island's total trade still goes through its ports. The city is home to Hainan University
, which has its main campus on Haidian Island.
province. In the 13th century it was fortified and became a military post under the Ming dynasty
(1368–1644). The port is located west of the mouth of the Nandu River
, Hainan's principal river. When Qiongshan was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Tianjin in 1858, Haikou started to rival the old administrative city. In 1926, Haikou overtook Qiongshan in population and it was declared a separate administrative city. Haikou was developed as a port during the Sino-Japanese War
(1937–45) when the Japanese invaded and occupied Hainan Island from early 1939 to 1945.
Since 1949, Haikou has maintained its position as Hainan's main port, handling more than half of the island's total trade. It has replaced Qiongshan as the island's administrative capital. In 1988, Haikou was made a prefecture-level city
as well as the capital of the newly-created Hainan Province.
Haikou old town contains the oldest buildings in the city and was largely built by wealthy Chinese from the mainland and some overseas Chinese who had returned to their homeland. The houses are a mixture of styles including Portuguese
, French
, and Southeast Asian. The streets used to be divided into different areas selling Chinese and western medicine, for silk
and bespoke
clothes, one for fresh fish and meat, and others for the sale of incense, candles, paper, ink, and other goods.
Various projects are currently under discussion to decide the best way to restore and preserve these historical buildings.
across the Qiongzhou Strait
that stretches west from Beibu Bay near Vietnam
to the James Shoal
bordering the South China Sea
to the west. The northern part of Haikou City, the district of Haidian Island
, is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, a tributary of the Nandu River
. The district is accessed by one of four bridges, the largest being Haikou Century Bridge
, which connects the Guomao district with Haidian Island at the estuary of the Haidian River. From east to west the remaining three road connections are provided by the Renmin, Heping and Xinbu Bridges.
, the prefecture-level city of Haikou has a registered population
of 2,046,189 inhabitants, 537,848 more than the population declared on the past census in 2000. The average annual population growth during the period 2000-2010 was of 3.1%.
Most of the population of Haikou are Han Chinese
(around 97.75%, according to the 2010 Census).
Haikou is divided in four districts. The information here presented uses 2010 Census data.
Haikou has the highest rated air quality in China followed by Kunming
. However, since approximately 2009, due to an increase in automobiles, there has been a substantial increase in air pollution.
According to the 2005 statistical book issued by the National Bureau of Statistics, Haikou scored the highest among China's main cities in air quality, with 366 days (2004) of ambient air quality equal to or above grade II, with only 0.033 milligrams/m2 of particulate matter (the least of all main cities), 0.003 milligrams/m2 of sulphur dioxide (only Lhasa
had less), and 0.013 milligrams/m2 of nitrogen dioxide
(the least of all main cities).
In 1995, the Haikou city government began an initiative to improve the quality of life for its residents. With the approval of the World Health Organization
, and China's Ministry of Health, a ten-point plan was undertaken to address such issues as:
The groundwater
is of international standard
, and is classified as mineral water
.
By 2004, the city had established 43 new community health service centers reaching 85 percent of the population. The initiative has increased the size of Haikou's green spaces to 2,000 hectare
s, with trees lining 40 percent of its roads. Noise pollution
has dropped from 61.1db
to 58.2db. 300 public toilets have been built. All industrial effluents, industrial waste
water and solid waste, and all live sewage
, is now processed through centralized treatment
centers, and is disposed of without environmental impact
. These improvements and others have increased life expectancy
in Haikou to 78.26 years.
Haikou city has also built 163 model ecological villages. Now, over 200,000 villagers in 933 villages have tap water in their homes.
, and is part of the Intertropical Convergence Zone
. April to October is the active period for tropical storms and typhoons, most of which occur between August and September. May to October is the rainy season with most rainfall coming in September. Despite its location, Haikou has a humid subtropical climate
(Köppen
Cwa), falling just short of a tropical climate
. Nevertheless, Haikou generally has hot summers and mild winters, usually with high humidity. Extremes temperatures have ranged from 2.8 °C (37 °F) to 42 °C (108 °F)
per capita was $3,573 USD in 2008, ranked number 43 among 659 Chinese cities.
Haikou exports substantial quantities of agricultural produce and livestock. There is a small amount of industry, including canning
, textiles, rice hulling, and light engineering.
Hainan Airlines
has its headquarters in the HNA Development Building in Haikou.
During the past few years, Haikou has experienced a substantial increase in cars. Traffic on main streets, once light, is now similar to other major cities, with rush hour problems that have prompted the city to expand several main roads.
Many main roads in the city have a side lane, separated by a median, exclusively for two-wheeled vehicles.
Physical barriers have been installed on many main streets that separate opposing lanes. These were installed for safety reasons to prevent pedestrians from crossing the streets at locations other than intersections.
Roundabouts are not prevalent in Haikou, being used mainly on Hai Xiu road, and a few other locations.
Traffic cameras are used at many main intersections in the city, with tickets being issued by post for traffic light infractions.
(IATA: HAK, ICAO: ZJHK[1]), which is located 25 km from the city.
In January 2011
, Haikou was selected to be the first test site for an experiment allowing private helicopter flight in China.
The Hainan East Ring Railway links Haikou and Sanya
. There are 15 stations in between, either in operation or still under construction. Trains are designed to travel at 250 km/h (155 mph). Travel time from Haikou to Sanya is approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. The main station in Haikou is Haikou East Central Railway Station
(东环铁路海口东站) located near the southern end of Long Quan Road.
An announcement was made in December 2010, that another high-speed railway will be built along the west coast of Hainan connecting with the Hainan Eastern Ring Railway.
, formerly known as the Inner Harbour, is located on the southern side of the mouth of the Nandu River 7 km (4 mi) west of Haikou Xiuying Port
. It is the main distribution centre for cargo entering Hainan, and is also a major port for immigration onto Hainan Island.
with:
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
Province, in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River
Nandu River
The Nandu River is the longest river in Hainan province, China. Its tributary is the Xinwu River. The river discharges into the Nandu River estuary in Haikou city, and then into Qiongzhou Strait.- External links :* with Chinese names and useful data*...
. The northern part of the city is the district of Haidian Island, which is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, a tributary of the Nandu.
Administratively, Haikou is a prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
, comprising four districts, and covering 2,280 square kilometres. There are 2,046,189 inhabitants in the built up area all living within the 4 urban distrcits of the city.
Haikou was originally a port city. Today, more than half of the island's total trade still goes through its ports. The city is home to Hainan University
Hainan University
Hainan University -History:The original Hainan university was established in 1983. It was a key provincial university. On August 14, 2007, the Ministry of Education approved the merger of the South China University of Tropical Agriculture and Hainan University merged into a single which kept the...
, which has its main campus on Haidian Island.
History
Haikou originally served as the port for Qiongshan, the ancient administrative capital of Hainan island, located some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) inland to the south east. During its early history Haikou was a part of GuangdongGuangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
province. In the 13th century it was fortified and became a military post under the Ming dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368–1644). The port is located west of the mouth of the Nandu River
Nandu River
The Nandu River is the longest river in Hainan province, China. Its tributary is the Xinwu River. The river discharges into the Nandu River estuary in Haikou city, and then into Qiongzhou Strait.- External links :* with Chinese names and useful data*...
, Hainan's principal river. When Qiongshan was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Tianjin in 1858, Haikou started to rival the old administrative city. In 1926, Haikou overtook Qiongshan in population and it was declared a separate administrative city. Haikou was developed as a port during the Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
(1937–45) when the Japanese invaded and occupied Hainan Island from early 1939 to 1945.
Since 1949, Haikou has maintained its position as Hainan's main port, handling more than half of the island's total trade. It has replaced Qiongshan as the island's administrative capital. In 1988, Haikou was made a prefecture-level city
Prefecture-level city
A prefectural level city , prefectural city or prefectural level municipality is an administrative division of the People's Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in China's administrative structure. Prefectural level cities form the second level of the administrative...
as well as the capital of the newly-created Hainan Province.
Haikou old town contains the oldest buildings in the city and was largely built by wealthy Chinese from the mainland and some overseas Chinese who had returned to their homeland. The houses are a mixture of styles including Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Southeast Asian. The streets used to be divided into different areas selling Chinese and western medicine, for silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and bespoke
Bespoke
Bespoke is a term employed in a variety of applications to mean an item custom-made to the buyer's specification...
clothes, one for fresh fish and meat, and others for the sale of incense, candles, paper, ink, and other goods.
Various projects are currently under discussion to decide the best way to restore and preserve these historical buildings.
Geography
Haikou has an area of 2304.84 square kilometres (889.9 sq mi). It is situated on the north coast of Hainan Island, facing the Leizhou PeninsulaLeizhou Peninsula
The Leizhou Peninsula or Leizhou Bandao is a peninsula in the southernmost part of Guangdong province in southern China.-Geography:Leizhou Peninsula is the third largest peninsula in China with an area of of circa 8,500 square kilometer located on the southwestern end of Guangdong, with the Gulf...
across the Qiongzhou Strait
Qiongzhou Strait
The Qiongzhou Strait , also called the Hainan Strait, is a body of water that separates the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, southern China, to the north from Hainan Island to its south...
that stretches west from Beibu Bay near Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
to the James Shoal
James Shoal
James Shoal is a small bank in the South China Sea, with a depth of 20 metres.- Location :It is located about northwest of Bintulu, on the Continental shelf of Borneo...
bordering the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the west. The northern part of Haikou City, the district of Haidian Island
Haidian Island
Haidian Island is an island that forms part of the city of Haikou, Hainan province, China.Hainan University's main campus is located on Haidian Island which is also home to Baishamen Park, an ocean-side recreational leisure facility located on the north coast.-Access:The island is accessible via...
, is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, a tributary of the Nandu River
Nandu River
The Nandu River is the longest river in Hainan province, China. Its tributary is the Xinwu River. The river discharges into the Nandu River estuary in Haikou city, and then into Qiongzhou Strait.- External links :* with Chinese names and useful data*...
. The district is accessed by one of four bridges, the largest being Haikou Century Bridge
Haikou Century Bridge
Haikou Century Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Haikou city, the capital of Hainan province in People's Republic of China.The bridge was built to link the main part of Haikou city to Haidian Island, a district separated from Hainan Island by the Nandu River...
, which connects the Guomao district with Haidian Island at the estuary of the Haidian River. From east to west the remaining three road connections are provided by the Renmin, Heping and Xinbu Bridges.
Demographics
According to the 2010 CensusSixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China
The Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China, also referred to as the 2010 Chinese Census, was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China with a zero hour of November 1, 2010....
, the prefecture-level city of Haikou has a registered population
Permanent residency
Permanent residency refers to a person's visa status: the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen. A person with such status is known as a permanent resident....
of 2,046,189 inhabitants, 537,848 more than the population declared on the past census in 2000. The average annual population growth during the period 2000-2010 was of 3.1%.
Most of the population of Haikou are Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
(around 97.75%, according to the 2010 Census).
Subdivisions
| English Name | Simplified | Traditional | Pinyin | Area | Population | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiuying District Xiuying District Xiuying is a county-level district under the jurisdiction of Haikou city, in Hainan, a province of the People's Republic of China. The district's total area is 512 square kilometers, and its population was 290,000 people in 2002.-Administrative regions:... |
秀英区 | 秀英區 | Xiùyīng Qū | 512 | 349,544 | 683 |
| Longhua District Longhua District Longhua is a county-level district under the jurisdiction of Haikou city, in Hainan, a province of the People's Republic of China... |
龙华区 | 龍華區 | Lónghuá Qū | 275 | 593,018 | 2,156 |
| Qiongshan District Qiongshan District Qiongshan District , formerly Qiongzhou , is one of the four county-level districts which make up the city of Haikou, the capital of Hainan province of the People's Republic of China.The Qiongshan dialect of Lingao is spoken in Qiongshan.... |
琼山区 | 瓊山區 | Qióngshān Qū | 940 | 479,960 | 511 |
| Meilan District | 美兰区 | 美蘭區 | Měilán Qū | 553 | 623,667 | 1128 |
Parks
- Evergreen Park (万绿园) is a 71.3 hectare park located on Bin Hai Road about 200 m west of the southern foot of Haikou Century Bridge. It is the largest park in Haikou, containing approximately ten thousand coconut trees and several hundred species of South Asian ornamental plants.
- Baishamen Park (White Sand Beach) was created in 2010 and is located on the north shore of Haidian Island.
- Hainan International Friendship Park is planned to occupy 180,000 sq. metres of land area, with length of over 2000 metres.
- Renmin Park is a recently refurbished park is located in the downtown area on Haixiu Road next to East Lake.
- Jinniuling Park (Golden Bull Mountain-Peak park) includes a small zoo, and is located on Haixiu Road, west of Longquan Road, the main north-south avenue in Haikou.
Environment
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
. However, since approximately 2009, due to an increase in automobiles, there has been a substantial increase in air pollution.
According to the 2005 statistical book issued by the National Bureau of Statistics, Haikou scored the highest among China's main cities in air quality, with 366 days (2004) of ambient air quality equal to or above grade II, with only 0.033 milligrams/m2 of particulate matter (the least of all main cities), 0.003 milligrams/m2 of sulphur dioxide (only Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
had less), and 0.013 milligrams/m2 of nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula it is one of several nitrogen oxides. is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid, millions of tons of which are produced each year. This reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor and is a prominent...
(the least of all main cities).
In 1995, the Haikou city government began an initiative to improve the quality of life for its residents. With the approval of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, and China's Ministry of Health, a ten-point plan was undertaken to address such issues as:
- Community health careHealth careHealth care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
- Vaccinations for children
- Waste recycling
- Green beltGreen beltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
s and urban trees - Environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
construction - Public toilets
- Sewage treatmentSewage treatmentSewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
- Communications
- Noise pollutionNoise pollutionNoise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
The groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
is of international standard
International standard
International standards are standards developed by international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use, worldwide...
, and is classified as mineral water
Mineral water
Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value, generally obtained from a naturally occurring mineral spring or source. Dissolved substances in the water may include various salts and sulfur compounds...
.
By 2004, the city had established 43 new community health service centers reaching 85 percent of the population. The initiative has increased the size of Haikou's green spaces to 2,000 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s, with trees lining 40 percent of its roads. Noise pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
has dropped from 61.1db
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
to 58.2db. 300 public toilets have been built. All industrial effluents, industrial waste
Industrial waste
Industrial waste is a type of waste produced by industrial activity, such as that of factories, mills and mines. It has existed since the outset of the industrial revolution....
water and solid waste, and all live sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
, is now processed through centralized treatment
Waste treatment
Waste treatment refers to the activities required to ensure that waste has the least practicable impact on the environment. In many countries various forms of waste treatment are required by law.-Solid waste treatment:...
centers, and is disposed of without environmental impact
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
. These improvements and others have increased life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
in Haikou to 78.26 years.
Haikou city has also built 163 model ecological villages. Now, over 200,000 villagers in 933 villages have tap water in their homes.
Climate
The city of Haikou is on the northern edge of the torrid zoneTorrid Zone
Torrid Zone is a 1940 adventure film starring James Cagney, Ann Sheridan and Pat O'Brien.-Plot summary:Steve Case has to deal with trouble at his tropical fruit company's Central American banana plantation...
, and is part of the Intertropical Convergence Zone
Intertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
. April to October is the active period for tropical storms and typhoons, most of which occur between August and September. May to October is the rainy season with most rainfall coming in September. Despite its location, Haikou has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cwa), falling just short of a tropical climate
Tropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
. Nevertheless, Haikou generally has hot summers and mild winters, usually with high humidity. Extremes temperatures have ranged from 2.8 °C (37 °F) to 42 °C (108 °F)
Economy
The GDPGross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
per capita was $3,573 USD in 2008, ranked number 43 among 659 Chinese cities.
Haikou exports substantial quantities of agricultural produce and livestock. There is a small amount of industry, including canning
Canning
Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food contents are processed and sealed in an airtight container. Canning provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years, although under specific circumstances a freeze-dried canned product, such as canned, dried lentils, can last as...
, textiles, rice hulling, and light engineering.
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines Company Limited is an airline headquartered in the HNA Development Building in Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China. It is the largest privately-owned air transport company and the fourth-largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China...
has its headquarters in the HNA Development Building in Haikou.
Education
Several major educational institutions are located in Haikou.- Hainan UniversityHainan UniversityHainan University -History:The original Hainan university was established in 1983. It was a key provincial university. On August 14, 2007, the Ministry of Education approved the merger of the South China University of Tropical Agriculture and Hainan University merged into a single which kept the...
has its main campus on Haikou's Haidian IslandHaidian IslandHaidian Island is an island that forms part of the city of Haikou, Hainan province, China.Hainan University's main campus is located on Haidian Island which is also home to Baishamen Park, an ocean-side recreational leisure facility located on the north coast.-Access:The island is accessible via...
, with the South China Tropical Agricultural University, now part of the university, located in the southern part of the city. - Hainan Normal UniversityHainan Normal UniversityHainan Normal University , is located in Haikou city and is the province's oldest institution for higher learning. Over 20,000 students are enrolled, including about 200 foreigners.The 3,347 sq...
is the oldest institution for higher learning. It has an enrolment of more than 20,000, including approximately 200 foreigner students. - Hainan Medical CollegeHainan Medical College', or HMC is a university established in 1993 which offers degrees in medicine.-History:The current college was created in 1993 with the approval of the central government. In 1951, two private medical colleges were merged to form the Hainan Specialized Medical School...
, founded in 1993, offers degrees in medicine. - Qiongzhou UniversityQiongzhou UniversityQiongzhou University is a university located in the Sanya , in Hainan, China.Quongzhou University is in the process of moving from its old location in the center of the island to its current location in Sanya, which is at the most southern part of the island of Hainan...
, located in Qiongshan DistrictQiongshan DistrictQiongshan District , formerly Qiongzhou , is one of the four county-level districts which make up the city of Haikou, the capital of Hainan province of the People's Republic of China.The Qiongshan dialect of Lingao is spoken in Qiongshan....
.
Transportation
Urban
Haikou has an extensive urban bus service. Standard fare is 1 yuan, with no bus pass or ticket system in place. Urban minibuses operated prior to 2009, but have since been phased-out. Taxi automobiles and electric motorbikes operate throughout the city. During 2009-2010, petrol-fueled motorbike taxis were banned and seized by police at numerous checkpoints within the city.During the past few years, Haikou has experienced a substantial increase in cars. Traffic on main streets, once light, is now similar to other major cities, with rush hour problems that have prompted the city to expand several main roads.
Many main roads in the city have a side lane, separated by a median, exclusively for two-wheeled vehicles.
Physical barriers have been installed on many main streets that separate opposing lanes. These were installed for safety reasons to prevent pedestrians from crossing the streets at locations other than intersections.
Roundabouts are not prevalent in Haikou, being used mainly on Hai Xiu road, and a few other locations.
Traffic cameras are used at many main intersections in the city, with tickets being issued by post for traffic light infractions.
Public bicycle system
Currently, 60 bicycles are available for rent at four bicycle service stations within the city, in a newly established rental system. A further 1,000 service stations are planned to open within two years providing 20,000 bicycles.Air
Haikou is served by Haikou Meilan International AirportHaikou Meilan International Airport
Haikou Meilan International Airport is the largest and newest airport on the island of Hainan in the People's Republic of China...
(IATA: HAK, ICAO: ZJHK[1]), which is located 25 km from the city.
In January 2011
January 2011
January 2011 was the first month of the current year. It began on a Saturday and ended after 31 days on a Monday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from January 2011....
, Haikou was selected to be the first test site for an experiment allowing private helicopter flight in China.
Intercity highways
Three main highways connect Haikou to other parts of Hainan, running east, west, and south through the middle of the province.Rail
A railway links Haikou to the mainland. A ferry service transports the railway cars, along with other motor vehicles across the strait.The Hainan East Ring Railway links Haikou and Sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
. There are 15 stations in between, either in operation or still under construction. Trains are designed to travel at 250 km/h (155 mph). Travel time from Haikou to Sanya is approximately 1 hour and 22 minutes. The main station in Haikou is Haikou East Central Railway Station
Haikou Railway Station
Haikou Railway Station is a railway station of Hainan Eastern Ring Railway located in Hainan, People's Republic of China....
(东环铁路海口东站) located near the southern end of Long Quan Road.
An announcement was made in December 2010, that another high-speed railway will be built along the west coast of Hainan connecting with the Hainan Eastern Ring Railway.
Seaports
Haikou has two seaports for passenger and cargo service. Haikou New PortHaikou New Port
Haikou New Port is a seaport in Hainan, China. Formerly known as the Inner Harbour, this port is located on the southern side of the mouth of the Nandu River 7 km west of Haikou Xiuying Port. It is the main distribution centre for cargo entering Hainan, and is also a major port for immigration...
, formerly known as the Inner Harbour, is located on the southern side of the mouth of the Nandu River 7 km (4 mi) west of Haikou Xiuying Port
Haikou Xiuying Port
Haikou Xiuying Port , is a seaport located 7 km east of Haikou New Port, in Hainan, China....
. It is the main distribution centre for cargo entering Hainan, and is also a major port for immigration onto Hainan Island.
Tourism
Haikou received 4.11 million tourists in 2002, up 7.99 percent from 2001. The city earned approximately three billion yuan (361 million US dollars) from the tourism industry during that period, up 11 percent from the previous year.Twin towns — Sister cities
Haikou is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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