5 Days 4 Nights Exploring Danzhou, Hainan

🌅 Itinerary Overview & Budget Breakdown

- Core Route: Ocean Flower Island's Enchanting Night Scenery → Tracing Dongpo's Culture → Volcanic Coast Exploration → Cave Wonders Discovery → Old Town Charm Finale
- Budget Allocation (per person): Transportation 790 RMB + Accommodation 760 RMB + Dining 650 RMB + Tickets 80 RMB + Contingency 720 RMB = 3000 RMB
- Transportation Tips: Round-trip high-speed rail from Haikou + Renting an electric scooter/carpooling within the city, flexible and budget-friendly

📅 Daily Itinerary Details

Day 1: First Glimpse of Danzhou · Ocean Flower Island's Day and Night Romance

- Morning: Take the high-speed train from Haikou East Station to Baimajing Station (1 hour, 45 RMB). Exit the station and take Bus Route 1 (6 RMB) directly to Ocean Flower Island. First, check into a sea-view guesthouse on Island 2. Recommended: Slow Time Sea View Apartment, a first-row sea-view room for 180 RMB/person/night, fully equipped with appliances and cooking facilities.
- Afternoon: Explore the Food Street on Island 1. A must-try is Danzhou Milan (rice noodles) for 8 RMB a bowl, with rice noodles topped with peanut sauce and dried beef, offering a sour, fragrant, and smooth taste – a local breakfast staple. Stroll to the Wedding Manor to photograph the white church; the blue and white architecture with coconut groves makes for stunning photos, and it's completely free.
- Evening: At 19:30, head to the sea-view platform to watch the sunset. When the setting sun dyes the sea golden-red, every casual shot is a masterpiece. At 20:00, watch the free light show, with waves and dolphin patterns flowing across the building's exterior walls. The moment the three characters 'Ocean Flower Island' light up at the end is incredibly stunning.
- Cost for the day: Transportation 51 RMB + Accommodation 180 RMB + Dining 40 RMB = 271 RMB

Day 2: Tracing Cultural Heritage · Following Dongpo through the Ancient Prefecture

- Morning: Rent an electric scooter to Dongpo Academy (50 RMB/day, 1-hour drive). Entry ticket is 25 RMB. Focus on seeing the replicated Dongpo manuscripts and the "Dongpo Liji Tu" stone carving in Zaijiu Hall. It's cool and great for photos under the ancient banyan trees, and you can also experience free calligraphy tracing.
- Noon: Eat at a local farmhouse restaurant in Zhonghe Town. Order a 40 RMB salt-baked chicken, baked with sea salt from the thousand-year-old salt fields. The skin is fragrant, the meat is tender and not greasy, and it's super satisfying with a bowl of sweet potato rice.
- Afternoon: Carpool for 30 minutes to the Millennium Ancient Salt Field (20 RMB/person for carpooling). The 1200 volcanic rock salt pans here are spectacular. You can spend 30 RMB to learn salt drying with salt workers and buy a bag of 20 RMB sea salt to take home for cooking.
- Evening: Return to Nada Town and stay at Yiduo Movie Hotel (170 RMB/night, near the night market). Explore Nada Night Market and try 10 RMB mango shaved ice and 5 RMB Luoji Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), with a rich and fragrant salted egg yolk and pork belly filling.
- Cost for the day: Transportation 70 RMB + Accommodation 170 RMB + Dining 80 RMB + Tickets 25 RMB = 345 RMB

Day 3: Volcanic Wonderland · The Wild Charm of E'man Coast

- Morning: Carpool to E'man Volcanic Coast (35 RMB/person, 1.5-hour drive). Wear non-slip shoes to walk the volcanic rock boardwalk. At the "Longmen Jilang" (Dragon Gate Surging Waves) spot, waves crashing against the rocks can splash up to 3 meters high. During low tide, you can also collect conchs and volcanic crabs.
- Noon: Eat seafood at a local farmer's home in Yanding Village. Freshly caught shrimp is 15 RMB/jin, and processing costs 10 RMB for a seafood meal, averaging 40 RMB per person for a full meal.
- Afternoon: Visit the free Yanding Village Salt Culture Museum to see old salt drying photos and tools. Experience making salt paintings for 40 RMB, using sea salt to create volcanic patterns as souvenirs. In the evening, go to Lover's Cliff to watch the sunset, with fishing boats, cacti, and the golden sea in the same frame, creating a full atmospheric vibe.
- Evening: Return to the city to eat Qianniudao Zazha Beef. A 40 RMB portion of zazha beef with free-refill rice, spicy and flavorful.
- Cost for the day: Transportation 70 RMB + Accommodation 170 RMB + Dining 80 RMB = 320 RMB

Day 4: Journey to the Earth's Core · Healing Caves and Hot Springs

- Morning: Carpool to Shihuashuidong (Stone Flower Water Cave) (40 RMB/person, 1.5-hour drive). Buying the 79.9 RMB Danzhou Tourist Pass is super cost-effective, including admission and an electric cart. Inside the cave, stalactites resemble a crystal palace under the lights, and you can hear water dripping during the underground river boat ride.
- Noon: Eat white steamed buns with Danzhou rice wine at a farmhouse restaurant near the scenic area, 35 RMB per person for a satisfying meal.
- Afternoon: Stop by Lanyang Hot Spring Park. The pass includes hot spring tickets. Soak in the zinc and strontium-rich hot springs, where the 97℃ water temperature can wash away fatigue. The outdoor pools also offer coconut grove views.
- Evening: Go to Afang Laoba Tea House for evening tea. The 28 RMB seafood braised noodles and 9.9 RMB taro tiger skin rolls offer excellent value for money.
- Cost for the day: Transportation 80 RMB + Accommodation 170 RMB + Dining 75 RMB + Pass 79.9 RMB = 404.9 RMB

Day 5: Old Town Charm Finale · Memories of the Old City and Local Specialties

- Morning: Stroll through Nancha Park to experience Danzhou's slow pace of life, watching locals play chess and drink tea. The park's lush greenery is perfect for forest-themed photos, and it's free to enter.
- Noon: Go to Hejiayue for pandan desserts. 5 RMB pandan cold shrimp and 10 RMB for 3 pandan egg tarts, refreshing and perfect before heading back.
- Afternoon: Visit a Danzhou specialty store to buy souvenirs. 35 RMB/bag vacuum-packed Zongzi and 88 RMB/box salt-baked chicken gift sets, bringing the volcanic flavor home. Take the high-speed train back to Haikou (45 RMB) to end the trip.
- Cost for the day: Transportation 45 RMB + Dining 55 RMB = 100 RMB

🍤 Must-Try Food List (under 50 RMB per person)

1. Afang Laoba Tea: Seafood braised noodles, taro tiger skin rolls, a top choice for brunch/lunch, 35 RMB per person.
2. Yanding Village Salt-Baked Chicken: Freshly made by local farmers, crispy skin and tender meat, 40 RMB per person.
3. Nada Night Market Snacks: Luoji Zongzi, mango shaved ice, Yiba (sticky rice cake), a one-stop shop to taste Danzhou flavors.
4. Food Street Milan: 8 RMB a bowl, a taste memory for locals.

💡 Blogger's Tips to Avoid Pitfalls & Helpful Advice

1. Save on Tickets: Definitely buy the 79.9 RMB Danzhou Tourist Pass, which covers 3 attractions including Shihuashuidong and Lanyang Hot Spring, saving half the money compared to buying individual tickets.
2. Transportation Pitfalls: Be cautious with expensive boat tours on Ocean Flower Island; you can see the entire sea view by walking along the boardwalk. Don't take a taxi to E'man Coast; carpooling can save about 30 RMB per person.
3. Outfit Suggestions: Wear non-slip shoes for the rocky volcanic coast, bring a light jacket for the cool caves, and sunscreen and sunglasses are essential.
4. Accommodation Tips: Staying in a guesthouse on Island 2 of Ocean Flower Island saves half the money compared to hotels on Island 1. In Nada Town, choose accommodation near Zhongxing Avenue for convenient transportation and dining.

Danzhou's romance is hidden in Dongpo's poems, nestled in the silver gleam of the salt fields, and floating on the waves of the volcanic coast. With a 3000 RMB budget, you don't have to compromise; you can touch a thousand years of history and embrace the wild charm of nature. That's what a truly relaxing trip is all about!