Haikou Night Tour Itinerary | My Top Picks After Three Nights of Research (A Beware of Common Pitfalls)

The most recommended night tour spots in Haikou are Wanlv Park, Century Bridge, and the Ocean University of China South Gate Night Market. However, many guides break these three points down, making it easy to get lost and neglecting the cultural charm of the Qilou Old Street area at night. I spent three evenings retracing my steps, following the order of "coastal lights - night market - old teahouse," cutting out two spots that are only worth visiting during the day, and keeping this route that runs from 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM without turning back or rushing.

18:00-19:20 Haikou Bay Coastline: When taking photos of the Century Bridge, avoid crowding at the main entrance of the Cloud Cave.

Entering the Haikou Bay Trail from the seaside of Wanlv Park, the outline lights of the Century Bridge are already on around 6:00 PM, but the sky is still bright, making it the best window for photographing the "bridge and sunset". I don't recommend going directly to the main entrance of Yundong Library, as it's packed with people queuing after 6:30 PM, many of them wedding photographers, making it impossible to move.

My personal experience suggests the best spot is about 800 meters west along the walkway, near the coconut grove by the Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center. From here, you can capture the Century Bridge and Yundong Library in the same frame across the sea, with coconut trees in the foreground and a gradient sky in the background. Between 6:40 PM and 7:10 PM, the sky changes from orange-red to deep blue, and the bridge lights and building lights gradually illuminate, creating a more layered effect than simply viewing the lights.

This entire section is on foot; do not use shared bicycles. The seaside path has steps and people strolling around, making cycling both dangerous and prone to causing you to miss changes in the sky. Once you reach the vicinity of the Cloud Cave Library, you can slow down and wait until around 7:15 PM when all the building lights are on before preparing to leave.

19:20-19:40 Ride a shared bike to the night market at the south gate of Ocean University: First, try the fermented rice noodles.

From near the Yundong Library, take a shared bike, then turn onto Renmin Avenue along Binhai Avenue. The journey to the Ocean University South Gate Night Market is about three kilometers and takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. There is a dedicated electric bike lane on Renmin Avenue at night, but there are often construction barriers near Haidian Third West Road, which may lead your navigation app into a residential area. Remember to park only when you see the "Night Market Entrance".

The Haikou University South Gate Night Market has the highest density of local students, and its biggest difference from other tourist night markets is that the food has a distinct Haikou flavor. Don't be attracted by the grilled skewers and fresh juices at the first row of entrances; you can find those in any city. My fixed order is to first find the fermented rice noodles, add seafood and noodles to the hot and sour soup base, then have a glass of salted lemon water, and finally decide whether to add some sweet soup.

This place is best eaten standing up or sitting on plastic stools; don't worry about the ambiance. A word of advice: Don't be fooled by places labeled "Hainan's First" or "Established Brand" in the night market. Just look for the stalls with long queues of local students – you can't go wrong there. Finish eating before 8:30 PM to allow for a more complete meal later.

20:50-21:20 Cross the People's Bridge to the Qilou Old Street: First, park the car at the entrance of the water alley.

After leaving the night market, I rented a shared bike and rode south along Renmin Avenue, crossing the Renmin Bridge and entering Changdi Road. It's about 2.5 kilometers long and takes about 12 minutes to ride. Along this section, you can see the outlines of the arcade buildings and the lights of old buildings on both sides of Haidian Creek. Especially when you look back at Haidian Island after crossing the bridge, it has a more authentic old Haikou atmosphere than during the day.

Upon arriving at the Qilou Old Street, don't rush into the main street of Zhongshan Road. My habit is to park near the entrance of Shuixiang Lane, which is a gathering place for locals to have late-night snacks. The spicy soup rice and stew stalls are still steaming, but this isn't on this route. Walk through Shuixiang Lane into Zhongshan Road. The warm light under the arcade pillars is perfect for looking up at the gray-plastered sculptures and gable flowers as you walk. By 9 PM, most of the tourists on the main Qilou Street have left, allowing you to take photos of the arcade with minimal disturbance.

21:30-23:00 Listen to a short excerpt from Hainanese opera at an old teahouse: Haikou's most underrated cultural venue at night.

Haikou has a tradition of traditional teahouses, but most close before 10 p.m.; ordinary taverns lack local character. I found a place near Zhongshan Road that brought excerpts from Hainanese opera into the teahouse. After 9:30 p.m., there were excerpts or a cappella performances. The venue wasn't big, and there weren't many tourists from other places. Sitting inside, you could clearly feel the difference from the daytime tourist attractions.

Order a pot of oolong tea or coffee milk, and it'll cost a few dozen yuan per person, enough to sit until almost 11 pm. Here's a tip to avoid: those outside who say "seats are available" sometimes charge an extra fee for an extra seat, so ask before you go in if there's a minimum spend requirement. I don't understand all the lyrics of the Hainanese opera, but the sound of coconut fiddles and gongs and drums suddenly gives the entire arcade street a layered feel to the night, making it feel closer to the local culture of Haikou than watching a light show by the sea.

23:00-23:30 Night photography session at the Bell Tower: capturing the lights of the entire night into the Haidian Creek.

It's about a five-minute walk from the teahouse to the Haikou Clock Tower. At this time, there are practically no tourists around the tower, and the Haidian Creek is calm. Standing on the opposite bank of the creek, you can simultaneously capture the clock tower, its reflection in the water, and the Century Bridge in the distance. If you want to photograph car trails, wait for the occasional night cyclist or electric scooter to pass by during a long exposure; this will create a more dynamic effect in the image.

This night tour route is a one-way trip, starting at Haikou Bay at 6:00 PM and ending at the Bell Tower at 11:30 PM. It involves both walking and quick cycling, and can be easily connected without taking a taxi. It's especially suitable for those who want to avoid the daytime sun, don't want to just visit the night market, but still want to experience Haikou's local culture.

Blogger's summary: 5 night shooting locations and 4 safety tips

Night photography locations: 1. Coconut grove walkway near Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center, for photos of the Century Bridge and Yundong Library together; 2. Waterside west of Yundong Library, for photos of building reflections and silhouettes; 3. Pedestrian walkway south of People's Bridge, for photos of the lights of the arcade buildings on both sides of Haidian Creek; 4. Middle section of Zhongshan Road, the old arcade street, for photos of the depth of the colonnades, recommended after 10 PM; 5. Haidian Creek opposite Haikou Clock Tower, for photos of the clock tower and its reflection, suitable for long exposure.

Safety Reminders: 1. There are cyclists and runners on the Haikou Bay Trail at night. Do not stand on the tactile paving when taking photos. 2. The night market at the South Gate of Hainan University is crowded. If you have a small bag, place it in front of you and do not put your phone in your pocket. 3. When crossing the People's Bridge with shared bicycles, please use the non-motorized vehicle lane and do not ride on the sidewalk. Vehicles travel at high speeds on Changdi Road. 4. Some alleys in the Qilou Old Street are dimly lit late at night. After watching the Hainanese opera, try to return to the main road via Zhongshan Road and do not go into unfamiliar alleys.