Visitors enjoy themselves at Haikou's Historic Qilou Street. (Photo: Su Bikun / Haikou Daily)

The eight day long joint Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday is here, and Hainan's capital city of Haikou is bursting at the seams with all kinds of events, vacation destinations, and excitement. Planning to spend your holiday in the city? You'll have over 50 different cultural and sports activities to choose from!

Rock Out

These days, music festivals and concerts are becoming a popular way to enjoy Haikou, with many music lovers traveling to the city just to catch their favorite show.

The Firmon Music Festival, headlined by Chinese music stars Xu Wei, Zhao Yingxin, Lu Xiansen, and more, will be held from Oct. 3-4 in Evergreen Park. In addition to the music, the festival will also offer a variety of dining options, a market, and a game area, so be sure to stop by and chill with some tunes, treats, and toys for all.   

You'll be in good company as you sing along with the 30,000 music fans expected to turn out for the Firmon Music Festival. If that’s not enough for you, you’ll also want to snag tickets to the Walk in the Light concert scheduled for Sept. 6 at the Wuyuanhe Stadium. Better buy them soon, as around 35,000 fans are likely to attend.

Make Mine a Combo

Why not combine your Haikou trip with another hobby? During this year's extra long double holiday bonanza, there's plenty of time to add on a few extras.

The Haikou Cup Regatta will be held from October 2-4, and besides the main sailing event there will also be sailing lessons, knot-tying challenges, balance board challenges, and other games and carnival activities.

Contestants show off their electric surfboard moves at the 2023 Haikou Cup Regatta.(Photo: Su Bikun / Haikou Daily)

Popular Haikou destinations and hangouts include the waterfront, stations such as Sky Mountain, and the bustling shopping districts. During the National Day holiday, the 2023 Haikou City Run will be staged at Sky Mountain and the Wormhole Library, bringing together running enthusiasts from the city and beyond to enjoy a running tour of the city’s beautiful coastline. Sun Xiaohan, a Haidian Island resident, is looking forward to camping on the beach during the holiday so that the whole family can enjoy the sea, sky, and sunset together.

New Ways to Enjoy Old Places

Haikou's traditional spaces and places are coming alive once more thanks to new options that bring history and culture to life.

During the combined Mid-Autumn and National Day holiday, there will be a wide variety of activities in Haikou's Historic Qilou Street area, including cultural performances and exhibitions, parades, and more. Sun Yonggang, deputy director of the Longhua District Tourism and Culture Bureau, said that the historic street had become a must-see attraction for visitors to the city. The area offers a number of cultural activities and products that are sure to please all comers.

Looking for a bit of perspective on the city? Hike up to the top of the Haikou Volcano, and while you are there be sure to check out the geological relics and grab a bite of local volcano cuisine. Haven't been to the volcano in a while? It's time to go again, as improvements and additions are being made to the park all the time. During this year's eight day long holiday, there will also be several cultural and food related activities highlighting the lifestyles of the local volcano area residents.

The 2023 West Coast Sand Sculpture Culture and Art Festival, themed ‘Developing a Dream FTP and Sculpting the West Coast' attracted quite a few visitors. (Photo: Su Bikun / Haikou Daily)

Jiang Zuhua, deputy director of the Haikou Tourism and Culture Bureau, announced the launch of the Haikou Safe Travel Platform, which provides a 200,000 yuan compensation fund covering travel related complaints involving local attractions, travel agencies, hotels, and other merchants. This fund ensures that travelers coming to the city can relax and enjoy themselves to the fullest.