Many of the best beaches in China are on Hainan Island, whose white-sand coastline has long provided visitors with a postcard-perfect backdrop. Holiday and Xixiu beach can be found along the long strip of sand heading west from the city – both of which are a must-visit on your Haikou holiday. While Holiday beach is more popular thanks to its gorgeous white sands, Xixiu is the beach of choice for water sports, such as SUP, sailing and windsurfing.

A few kilometres outside of the city lies one of Haikou’s greatest attractions: the Haikou Shishan Crater Cluster National Geological Park. There are more than 40 ancient volcanoes and 30 volcanic caves scattered throughout the luscious green countryside – but the star of the show is the Maanling crater, which visitors can descend into. Admire lava rock formations and volcanic tunnels alongside views of the lush UNESCO-listed park all the way out to the sea.

Once you’ve enjoyed Haikou’s stunning natural scenery, it’s time to explore the city’s beautiful old town and its lesser-known historical architecture. The buildings in Qilou Old Street combine Asian and European architecture (with hints of Arabic and Indian influences) - with some buildings dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Today, this area is filled with boutique stores and trendy coffee shops – visit one of the second-floor cafes for a great view of the streets below.

Hainan is known globally for its cuisine, with the island’s specialities being served up in restaurants across the world. Though there are many local delicacies to try, the four dishes every traveller should sample are Wenchang chicken (a soft, succulent yellow chicken, served on top a bed of rice), Dongshan mutton, Jiaji duck and Hele crab – each named after its village of origin and making use of local ingredients such coconuts, herbs and plants.

Haikou’s first-class golf courses draw big hitters from all over the world. It is home to the second largest golf complex in the world: Mission Hills, which boasts 10 beautiful volcanic golf courses, and the largest spa spring resort – the perfect place to relax after a long day on the fairway. Head to West Coast Golf Club for the largest driving range in Haikou – featuring stunning wide flat fairways and breathtaking views of the Haikou city skyline and the South China Sea.

Hainan Island became home for many banished writers and political reformers over the years. Just south-east of the city lies the Ming-era Temple of the Five Lords, which commemorates the officials once exiled to Hainan, with an adjacent temple honouring poet Su Shi. Another place to visit in Haikou is the tomb of Hai Rui. Built in 1589 and spanning 5,700sqm, it is dedicated to the exiled Chinese scholar-official and politician from the Ming dynasty – and is a key national cultural relic preservation of Hainan province.

Southwest of Haikou lies the Dongzhai Harbour Mangrove Natural Reserve Area: where hundreds of mangrove trees shoot out from the tides below. It is the largest and the first mangrove natural reserve area in China and a paradise for migratory birds during autumn and winter, with an estimated 200 species either living or migrating to this spot. A more relaxing thing to do in Haikou is enjoy a boat tour through the sprawling mangroves and out into the bay.

North of the Shishan National Geopark is Shishan Town – and a seventy-two cave lava tunnel protected area. This narrow tunnel is hundreds of metres long, with the only light streaming in coming from an occasional collapsed roof. Nearby are several ancient villages with buildings made largely of volcanic rock, including a five-storey watchtower in Meishe Village. It was built as a defence against bandit raids and later took on damage by artillery fire during the Japanese invaders, marks that are still visible today.

The 900-year-old village of Rongtang is a stunning historic lava rock village situated near the entrance of a lava cave system. Now almost completely abandoned, visitors can explore the village’s homes, walls, roads, shrines and tombs – all of which are made from volcanic rock and give a glimpse into the culture of the province's ancestors. A highlight is the ruins of the Rufu Pagoda, one of Hainan's oldest structures, built entirely of volcanic rock in a style more common to India.

A great day trip from Haikou is out to Wenchang County, where you’ll find the Dongjiao Coconut Plantation. There are said to be over 500,000 coconut trees at this Haikou attraction, which visitors can explore by foot along winding footpaths. Once you’ve had your fill of the coconut groves, head to the beach for a refreshing dip in the shallow blue sea and delicious seafood meal – accompanied by a fresh coconut water, of course.

Hainan is quickly becoming one of the top surfing destinations in Asia – if not the world. For those looking to enjoy the regions waves, surfers will find the two-hour trip to Riyuewan Beach well worth it. Thanks to the ideal surf conditions, it has played host to various international surfing competitions. Sun and Moon Bay also offer some of the area’s best swells – and all three of these beaches boast fine sand and plenty of surf clubs.