Haikou

Haikou is a big city.

It sits on the north coast of an island. The city is by a river and the sea.

Most of the land is very flat.

Many people live in the city. They live in four main areas. Some people live on a small island too. This island is part of the city.

The city is a busy port. Ships bring many things to the island. This helps the city grow.

Old streets have many pretty buildings. These houses have many styles. Some look like they are from far away.

It can be very rainy here. Big storms sometimes come in the summer. The air is very clean to breathe.

Haikou is a big city in China.

It is the capital of Hainan island. The city sits on the north coast. It is near the mouth of the Nandu River. Most of the land is very flat.

Haikou is a busy seaport. This means it is a place for ships. More than half of the island's trade goes through its ports. Many people live here. Over two million people live in the city. Most live in four main districts. Some people live on Haidian Island. This island is part of the city.

Old streets show the city's history. The Qilou Old Street has many special buildings. They mix styles from China and other places. Some look like they are from France or Portugal.

The weather is tropical. This means it is warm. It can be very rainy from May to October. Big storms called typhoons sometimes arrive in late summer. The air is very clean to breathe. The city works hard to keep its trees and parks green.

Haikou is a large city in the Hainan province of China.

It sits on the northern coast of Hainan Island. The city is located right by the mouth of the Nandu River. Most of the land in Haikou is very flat and close to sea level. The city is divided into four main districts. One part of the city sits on Haidian Island. This island is separated from the main land by the Haidian River.

You can reach the island by crossing one of four bridges. The largest of these is the Haikou Century Bridge.

This city is a very important place for trade. It serves as a major seaport for the whole island. In fact, more than half of all trade on Hainan goes through the ports in Haikou. The name "Haikou" actually means "seaport" in Chinese. This is similar to the name Portsmouth in Britain. The city is also a center for learning. Hainan University has its main campus on Haidian Island. This university is a place for important research.

History has shaped the look of the city. Long ago, Haikou was part of Guangdong province. In the 13th century, it became a military post during the Ming dynasty.

The city was once known as "Hoihow" by British officers. In 1926, Haikou grew larger than the old capital, Qiongshan. The city and the island changed hands during the Chinese Civil War in 1950. Since 1988, it has been the capital of the Hainan Province. Many old buildings still stand in the old town area.

Visitors can see many different styles of buildings in the Qilou Old Street. These buildings mix styles from Southern China with colonial designs. You might see influences from Portugal, France, or Southeast Asia. In the past, different streets sold different things. Some streets were for silk and clothes, while others sold fresh fish or meat. Today, people are working to protect and fix these historical buildings. The city is also very green with many parks and trees.

The weather in Haikou is tropical and warm. It has a wet and dry climate. The rainy season lasts from May to October. This is also when tropical storms and typhoons can happen. Most of these storms come in August or September.

Even with the rain, the city works hard to stay clean. It has very good air quality and clean drinking water. The government has built many green spaces and new roads to help people live well. This makes the city a pleasant place to visit and live.

Haikou is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province in China.

It is located on the northern coast of Hainan Island. The city sits near the mouth of the Nandu River, which is the island's principal river. Most of the city is almost completely flat. It sits only a few metres above sea level. Haikou is a prefecture-level city. It is divided into four distinct administrative districts: Longhua, Xiuying, Qiongshan, and Meilan. The built-up area contains 2,046,189 inhabitants according to the 2010 Census. Most of these residents are Han Chinese, making up about 97.75 percent of the population.

The geography of Haikou is defined by its water features. The northern part of the city occupies Haidian Island. This island is separated from the mainland by the Haidian River. The Haidian River is a tributary of the Nandu River.

To reach the island, people use one of four bridges. The largest connection is the Haikou Century Bridge. This bridge links the Guomao district to Haidian Island at the river estuary. The other three connections are the Renmin, Heping, and Xinbu Bridges. To the east of Haidian Island lies Xinbu Island. The city also sits near Haikou Bay. Across the Qiongzhou Strait, you can see the Leizhou Peninsula.

Haikou's climate is categorized as tropical wet and dry, known scientifically as Köppen Aw. The city sits within the northern tropical zone. It is also part of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. This location means the weather is generally warm. The rainy season lasts from May to October. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs during the month of September.

Tropical storms and typhoons are also common. The active period for these storms is April to October. Most of these weather events happen between August and September. Temperature extremes have been recorded since 1951, ranging from 12 degrees Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius.

The history of Haikou shows its evolution from a small port to a major capital. Originally, the city served as a port for Qiongshan. Qiongshan was the ancient administrative capital located inland to the southeast. In the 13th century, the Ming dynasty fortified the area as a military post. Haikou was once part of Guangdong province. In 1858, the Treaty of Tianjin opened Qiongshan to foreign trade. This caused Haikou to become a rival to the old administrative city. British Raj officers used to call the city "Hoihow" based on Cantonese pronunciation. By 1926, Haikou had a larger population than Qiongshan. It then became a separate administrative city. During the Chinese Civil War, the Battle of Hainan Island took place in 1950. This was one of the last Nationalist strongholds to fall to the Communists.

Today, Haikou is a vital economic hub for the region. It serves as the main port for Hainan Island. More than half of the island's total trade goes through the ports in Haikou. The city's name reflects this maritime importance. In Chinese, the characters for Haikou mean "ocean" and "mouth." This makes the name a synonym for "seaport." The city is also a center for higher education. Hainan University is located on Haidian Island. This is a comprehensive research university. It is part of the Project 211 and the Double First Class University Plan.

The architecture in the old town reveals a diverse cultural history. The Qilou Old Street features arcaded buildings. These structures blend Southern Chinese styles with colonial influences. You can see architectural elements from Portugal, France, and Southeast Asia. These buildings were often constructed by returnees from overseas. In the past, the streets were organized by the goods sold there. Some areas specialized in silk and bespoke clothes. Others focused on fresh fish, meat, or incense. Today, the government is discussing ways to restore and preserve these historical sites.

Environmental management is a major focus for the city's administration. Haikou has historically had very high air quality. In 2005, it scored the highest among China's main cities for air quality. Since 2009, however, air pollution has increased due to more automobiles.

To improve life for residents, the city follows a ten-point plan. This plan includes community healthcare, vaccinations, and waste recycling. It also focuses on green belts and sewage treatment. The city's groundwater is classified as international standard mineral water. The wastewater and tap water are managed by the French company Veolia Water. This is a 30-year joint venture with the Haikou Water Group. These efforts have helped increase the local life expectancy to 78.26 years.