Hainan～Here we come! Listen to the wind under the coconut trees, jump on the waves, and taste fresh seafood at the fish market!

As a travel blogger who loves cost-effective in-depth travel, I’m excited to tailor a high-value 10-day, 9-night travel guide for Hainan, with a total budget controlled within 4800 RMB. It covers sunshine, beaches, islands, food, and slow living, perfect for students, freelancers, or travelers wanting to slow down.

📍 Destination: Hainan (Haikou + Wenchang + Boao + Wanning + Sanya)
📅 Duration: 10 days 9 nights
💰 Total budget: 4800 RMB
🌞 Style: Island slow travel + cultural experience + food exploration + light surfing/diving
✅ Highlights
From north to south, traverse the essence of Hainan’s east coast
Stay in seaside homestays, eat local qingbuliang, ride electric scooters around the coast
Deeply experience fishing village life, beachcombing, surfing, diving
Spend little, stay well, eat well, and play worthily!
🎒 Detailed itinerary (East Coast slow travel version)
D1: Departure → Haikou Meilan Airport | First encounter with Coconut City
✈️ Transportation:
Book tickets early: Off-season round-trip tickets often cost ¥600-800 (e.g., from Guangzhou/Changsha/Wuhan)
Recommend choosing an early flight to start the trip immediately upon arrival
🚇 Airport → City:
Take airport shuttle or bus under ¥10, or carpool for ¥30
🏨 Accommodation:
Recommended to stay near Qilou Old Street in a hostel/homestay for easy food and sightseeing
Cost: ¥80/night × 9 nights = ¥720 (some upgraded sea view rooms)
🍽️ Meals:
Lunch: Hainan rice noodles ¥6, qingbuliang ¥10 at “Shuixiangkou” on Qilou Old Street
Dinner: Try Dad’s Tea ¥15 + Wenchang chicken rice ¥25 at Fucheng Night Market
🚶 Activities:
- Afternoon: Walk Qilou Old Street (Nanyang-style architecture, free)
Evening: Watch sunset at Holiday Beach
D2: Haikou Culture Day + Depart for Wenchang
🏛️ Morning:
Visit Hainan Provincial Museum ✅ Free, reservation required
Learn about Li ethnic culture and the Maritime Silk Road
🍍 Noon:
Eat small portion coconut chicken hotpot ¥98, shared by two, about ¥50 per person
🚗 Afternoon:
Haikou East Station → Wenchang by bullet train ¥20 (30 minutes)
🏖️ Arrive at Wenchang East Suburb Coconut Grove:
Free scenic area, thousands of coconut trees by the sea
Rent electric scooter ¥30/day, shuttle through coconut grove paths
🍤 Dinner:
Eat fermented vinegar hotpot ¥68 at a fishermen’s family restaurant, sour and spicy, about ¥35 per person
🏨 Accommodation:
East Suburb seaside homestay bed ¥70
D3: Wenchang Tongguling + Distant View of Qizhou Archipelago + Beachcombing
🌄 Morning:
Climb Tongguling, ticket ¥30, student ¥15
Overlook Moon Bay, distant view of Qizhou Archipelago, China’s version of the Maldives
🐚 Afternoon:
Visit Stone Park (free) to see sea erosion landforms
Beachcombing at low tide (bring small bucket and shovel, can collect snails and crabs)
🍍 Specialty:
Buy fresh Wenchang coconuts ¥5 each, freshly opened to drink
🏨 Continue staying in East Suburb, fall asleep listening to the sea at night
D4: Bullet train south → Boao | Stroll on Yudai Beach
🚄 Wenchang → Boao bullet train ¥35 (about 1 hour)
🏨 Accommodation:
Boao town homestay ¥80 (some with sea view balconies)
🌊 Afternoon:
Free stroll on Yudai Beach (the spectacle of three rivers flowing into the sea)
View Boao Forum for Asia permanent venue from outside, ticket ¥108, optional
🍽️ Dinner:
Eat sea urchin fried rice ¥30, steamed small grouper ¥68 at a small fishing village
🌌 Evening:
Walk along Wanquan River, gentle night lights
D5: Boao → Wanning Xinglong | Tropical plants + Coffee aroma
🚗 Bus/carpool → Wanning Xinglong about 1 hour, ¥20
🏨 Accommodation:
Xinglong hot spring town homestay ¥70, tropical garden environment
🌿 Morning:
Visit Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden, ticket ¥50, student ¥25
Learn about coffee, cocoa, pepper, coconut, and other tropical crops
☕ Afternoon:
Free coffee tasting at Xinglong (locals often go to “Sun River Coffee” ¥15/cup)
Can buy vacuum-packed coffee beans as souvenirs ¥30/package
🍽️ Dinner:
Nanyang flavor: curry beef brisket rice + coconut jelly ¥35
D6: Wanning Riyue Bay | First surfing experience
🏄 Morning:
Head to Riyue Bay (China’s surfing hotspot)
Choose a formal surfing club experience class: 90 minutes teaching + equipment = ¥198/person
Can bargain down to ¥160-180, off-season discounts common
Includes coach, board, sun protection shirt
🌊 Afternoon:
Free photo shooting, beach daydreaming, play frisbee
Or rent electric scooter to ride around the bay ¥30/day
🍨 Dinner:
Seaside food stall: salt and pepper mantis shrimp small portion ¥48, fried noodles ¥15
🏨 Stay at Riyue Bay homestay ¥80 dormitory, strong surfing atmosphere
D7: Wanning Shenzhou Peninsula + Lighthouse check-in
🌅 Morning:
Head to Shenzhou Peninsula (free)
Hike or bike to the lighthouse (popular check-in spot)
Clear seawater, good for photos and quiet sitting
🐚 Afternoon:
Swim freely on the coastal beach (safety first)
Or visit nearby Bali Village, ticket ¥38, optional
🏨 Return to Xinglong or stay near Shenzhou Peninsula ¥80
🍽️ Dinner: Local favorite “Wanning Hou’an noodles” ¥12
D8: Bullet train → Sanya | First impression of Yalong Bay
🚄 Wanning → Sanya bullet train ¥50 (about 1 hour)
🏨 Accommodation:
Yalong Bay hostel bed or budget homestay ¥90 (5-minute walk to the beach)
🌊 Afternoon:
Free play at Yalong Bay beach “The World’s Number One Bay”
Fine sand, clear water, suitable for swimming and photos
🍍 Dinner:
Snacks near First Market: qingbuliang ¥12, mango fried ice ¥15, Baoluo noodles ¥10
🌙 Evening:
Walk by the sea, feel the night atmosphere of Sanya
D9: Wuzhizhou Island day trip (budget version)
🎫 Tickets + ferry:
Buy tickets in advance on “Wuzhizhou Island Scenic Area” WeChat official account
Adult package ¥144 (includes ticket + round-trip ferry), student ¥120
⚠️ Electric cart on the island extra (recommend buying A-line island tour ticket ¥138, student ¥118)
🕐 Suggest arriving at the dock before 8:00 (boarding at Yalong Bay/Haitang Bay)
🏝️ On the island:
Climb “Sunrise Rock,” check in at “customized” filming locations
Free snorkeling area (bring snorkel and selfie stick)
Optional paid activities: jet ski ¥180, deep diving ¥380, optional
🍱 Meals:
Bring your own snacks + bottled water (island food is expensive)
🚤 Leave the island before 4 PM
🏨 Stay in Sanya ¥90
D10: Departure day | Sanya Bay Coconut Dream Corridor + Return
🌅 Morning:
Watch sunrise at Sanya Bay Coconut Dream Corridor
Bike or walk, check in at the Sea Oath and Mountain Promise monument
🛍️ Morning:
Buy souvenirs: coconut candy ¥20/package, noni fruit enzyme ¥50, vacuum-packed coconut ¥15
✈️ According to flight time:
Airport shuttle ¥25 or Didi carpool ¥40 to Phoenix Airport
💼 End a perfect island trip!
💰 Budget breakdown (based on student tickets + off-season prices)

Item Cost (RMB)
Round-trip air tickets booked early ¥700
|City transport (bus/bullet train/carpool) ¥200
Accommodation (9 nights × ¥80 average) ¥720
Meals (10 days × ¥60) ¥600
Attraction tickets (with student discounts)
Wuzhizhou Island ¥120
Tropical Botanical Garden ¥25
Tongguling ¥15
Other small attractions ¥200
Surfing experience class ¥180
Water/snacks/souvenirs ¥150
Emergency fund ¥100
Electric cart/rental and other fees ¥100
Souvenirs ¥100
Total ¥3150

✅ Surplus: ¥1650
Can be used for:
Upgrade to sea view room in Sanya for 2 nights +¥200
Try one deep-sea dive ¥380
Buy more specialties or upgrade return flight
📸 Travel blogger tips:
1. Student ID is a trump card: almost all attractions are half price, even Wuzhizhou Island!
2. Wear the three-piece sun protection set: hat + sunglasses + arm sleeves, Hainan’s UV is very strong!
3. Bring your own toiletries: eco-friendly travel, some hostels don’t provide them
4. Check tide times for beachcombing: search “Tide Table Elf” on WeChat
5. Food recommendations:
Qingbuliang (with coconut milk, taro, mung beans)
Hainan rice noodles (pickled noodles + peanuts + cilantro)
Hou’an noodles (pork bone soup base)
Coconut chicken (with bamboo fungus, water chestnut)
🌴 **Conclusion:**
Travel Hainan for ten days with 4800 RMB, not settling but refined.
Listen to the wind under the coconut trees, jump on the waves, taste fresh seafood at the fish market—this is how island travel should be.
Slow down, let the sunshine soak your backpack, let the sea breeze blow away your worries.