Stories
Dad Tea: The Slow Life of Haikou
In Haikou's old streets, the afternoon belongs to "dad tea" — sweet milk tea, steamed buns and endless conversation. A window into the island's unhurried soul.
Li Brocade: 3,000 Years of Weaving
The Li people of Hainan's highlands weave one of China's oldest textile traditions — patterns passed down mother to daughter for three millennia, now a UNESCO intangible heritage.
Why Hainan Is the Coconut Island
Half of China's coconuts grow on Hainan, and Wenchang's Dongjiao grove alone stretches along the coast for kilometres. The story of how the palm took over the island.
Boao: From Fishing Village to Asia's Forum Town
How a quiet fishing village at the mouth of the Wanquan River became the permanent home of Asia's most famous forum — and what the town is like when the delegations go home.
Dongfang's Salt Fields: The West Coast's Oldest Industry
Sun, sea water and patience — Hainan's west coast has made salt this way for a thousand years. A visit to the salt pans of Dongfang is a visit to the island's oldest working landscape.
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Hainan in November: The Month We Would Book Again
We have been to Hainan in every season, and if we could only pick one month, it would be November. Here is why — with the numbers, the crowds and the packing list we actually used.