Hainan’s coast has no shortage of reasons to keep driving: fishing towns, volcanic shoreline, long beaches, headlands and stretches of road where the island feels far less developed than its resort image suggests.

Lighthouses offer another way to join those places together.

A circuit from Haikou down the east coast and back up the west takes in six very different structures, from a 72-metre modern tower at Mulan Bay to a Ming-era stone lighthouse built from basalt and a 19th-century steel lighthouse at Lingao.

The route is:

Haikou → Mulan Bay → Boao → Shenzhou Peninsula → Yulinjiao → Xisha Stone Lighthouse → Lingao Cape → Haikou

The appeal is not simply the lighthouses themselves. Each stop opens onto a different part of the island.

1. Mulan Bay Lighthouse, Wenchang

Mulan Bay Lighthouse is the natural first stop from Haikou.

Built in 1995, the tower rises 72.12 metres and has a nominal range of 25 nautical miles. It stands on Hainan’s northeastern coast, where the Qiongzhou Strait opens towards the South China Sea. 

What makes Mulan Bay particularly useful for a road trip is that there is now more here than the lighthouse.

The Mulan Bay Lighthouse Cultural Station began trial operations in May 2025. By June, the site included a lighthouse museum, observation hall, cultural-products area, café and sea-viewing platform. 

That turns what might otherwise have been a quick photo stop into somewhere worth spending some time.

2. Boao Lighthouse, Qionghai

Boao’s lighthouse is much newer.

The present tower entered service in 2011 and has a nominal range of 22 nautical miles. Published height figures vary depending on the reference point used, but roughly 75 metres gives a reasonable sense of its scale. 

It is also one of the easier stops on this route.

The lighthouse can be seen clearly from the public road, and there is street parking nearby. You do not need access to the lighthouse compound to appreciate it.

The setting is very different from Mulan Bay. Boao is more developed, with hotels, restaurants and the town close at hand, so it works equally well as a short stop or somewhere to break the journey.

3. Shenzhou Peninsula Lighthouse, Wanning

The red-and-white tower at Shenzhou Peninsula is one of the most distinctive landmarks on the route.

It stands at the end of a long breakwater on the Wanning coast, with open sea on one side and the developed peninsula behind it. State-media reporting has described visitors walking along the breakwater to reach the base of the structure.

This is primarily a landscape and photography stop: a long sea wall, a narrow line into the water and a lighthouse standing at the end of it.

A visitor report from January 2026 described a walk of more than two kilometres from the parking area, with a shuttle operating at the time. Those arrangements can change, so they are better treated as tentative rather than a permanent feature of the site.

4. Yulinjiao Lighthouse, Dongfang

Yulinjiao marks the shift from Hainan’s east coast to the much less developed western side of the island.

The lighthouse stands on Yulinzhou in Dongfang, overlooking the approaches to Basuo Port. It was first built in 1957 and has a reported nominal range of 18 nautical miles.

The lighthouse serves vessels entering and leaving Basuo Port and shipping using the western coastal route around Hainan.

The setting is the real attraction for drivers. Yulinzhou projects into the sea, with rocky coastline on one side and beach on the other, giving the lighthouse a much more exposed feel than the towers at Boao or Mulan Bay.

5. Xisha Stone Lighthouse, Danzhou

The fifth stop is unlike anything else on the route.

Xisha Stone Lighthouse, 细沙灯塔, sits on Danzhou’s volcanic coast. Instead of concrete or steel, the structure is built from blocks of basalt.

Hainan Daily reports that it dates back to the Ming dynasty and that for centuries it helped guide coastal fishermen home and that the tower has been included as a Hainan provincial protected cultural-relic.

There are stories linking the lighthouse to beacon fires and the local salt trade, a Ming-era lighthouse structure built from basalt on Hainan’s volcanic west coast.

6. Lingao Cape Lighthouse

Lingao Cape provides a strong historical finish to the circuit.

The lighthouse is the only one on this route with national-level cultural-heritage protection. It was included in the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, approved by the State Council in 2013.

Its history reaches back to the late nineteenth century. Sources date its construction to 1893 and its completion to 1894.

The lighthouse itself is a cylindrical iron or steel structure, very different in appearance from the tall concrete towers at Mulan Bay and Boao. It stands within the wider historical landscape around Hainan Liberation Park.

That makes Lingao more than a final lighthouse stop. It is also an opportunity to spend some time at one of the island’s better-known historical sites before turning east towards Haikou.

Turning the six stops into a road trip

Mulan Bay combines a working lighthouse with a new visitor facility. Boao is an easy roadside stop. Shenzhou Peninsula is about the breakwater and the coastal setting. Yulinjiao feels more exposed and distinctly west-coast. Xisha is the historical outlier, built from volcanic stone. Lingao closes the route with a nationally protected 19th-century lighthouse on the last leg back to Haikou.

If your permission to remain in China is approaching its expiry date, the first question is not simply how to “extend your visa”. China distinguishes between visas, stay permits and residence permits, and the procedure depends on the document you hold and why you need to remain.

For foreign nationals in Hainan, three routes may be relevant: extending an ordinary visa, obtaining a stay permit in one of the circumstances allowed under immigration rules, or extending an existing work-category residence permit.

At a glance

Your situation: You hold an ordinary visa and need additional time in China.
What to do: Apply to extend the visa.
When to act: At least 7 days before the permitted stay expires.

Your situation: You fall into one of the circumstances for a temporary stay permit.
What to do: Apply for a stay permit.
When to act: Before your existing lawful stay expires.

Your situation: You already hold a work-category residence permit and will continue working in China.
What to do: Apply to extend the residence permit.
When to act: At least 30 days before it expires.

There is one important exception to the first row. If your visa states that you must obtain a residence permit after entering China, you should not treat it as an ordinary visa-extension case. Chinese law requires the residence-permit application to be made within 30 days of entry.

If you hold an ordinary visa

A foreign national who entered China on an ordinary visa can apply for an extension where there is a continuing reason to remain.

The application must be made at least seven days before the permitted stay expires. Approval is not automatic: the exit-entry authorities consider the reason for the extension and the evidence provided. There is also a limit on how much additional time can be granted. The total extension cannot exceed the original period of stay stated on the visa.

For example, if the visa originally allowed a 30-day stay, extensions cannot add more than another 30 days in total.

Hainan’s provincial service asks for four basic categories of material: a valid passport or other international travel document, an application form, a photograph and documents supporting the reason for the application. The exact supporting evidence depends on the visa category and the reason for remaining.

The National Immigration Administration’s current guide gives further details. A business visitor holding an M visa, for example, may need a letter from the inviting or receiving organisation or individual, while other visa categories have their own supporting requirements.

Once an application has been accepted, the decision must be made within the validity of the acceptance receipt, which cannot exceed seven working days. Visa charges depend on the document issued and, in some cases, the applicant’s nationality.

If you entered Hainan visa-free

Do not assume that a stay permit is automatically the correct way to extend a visa-free visit.

Hainan’s own guidance says that foreign nationals using the province’s regional visa-free policy who need to remain longer for a legitimate reason should apply for a visa through the public security exit-entry authorities before the visa-free period expires.

The National Immigration Administration also lists visa-exempt entrants among the groups that may qualify for a stay permit in certain circumstances. The correct document therefore depends on the particular visa-free arrangement and the reason for remaining.

If you entered Hainan visa-free and need more time, confirm the appropriate route with the exit-entry authorities before your permitted stay expires rather than selecting a procedure based only on its English title.

When is a stay permit used?

A stay permit is not simply another name for a visa extension.

The National Immigration Administration lists a number of situations in which one may be issued. They include some visa-exempt foreign nationals who need to remain beyond the permitted visa-free period, foreign crew members and their accompanying family members who need to leave the port city, and people whose previous reason for residence has ended but who need to remain temporarily for humanitarian reasons.

The current national guide gives the basic application requirements as:

1. A valid passport or other international travel document.
2. A completed Foreigner Visa Application Form and a compliant photograph.
3. Evidence supporting the reason for the application.
4. Any additional material required for the particular case.

The Hainan provincial record is less detailed and refers simply to evidence relating to the reason for the stay.

Foreign-language supporting documents should be translated into Chinese. Applications are normally made in person, although national rules provide limited exceptions. Once accepted, a stay-permit application should be decided within no more than seven working days.

If you already hold a work residence permit

Foreign nationals who are already living and working in China under a work-category residence permit use the residence-permit extension procedure rather than the ordinary visa route.

The legal deadline is earlier: an application to extend a residence period must be made at least 30 days before the current residence permit expires.

For Haikou, the official work-category residence-permit procedure uses an interactive checklist that changes according to the applicant’s circumstances.

For a standard extension, the page asks for a 2-inch white-background front-facing photograph, a valid passport or other international travel document, an application letter from the employing organisation, and the Foreigner’s Work Permit or an electronic social security card carrying the work-permit information.

Additional documents may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances. These include a health certificate for permits valid for more than one year, employer registration documents where the employer has not already filed with the exit-entry authorities, and an explanation where the applicant did not enter China on an R or Z visa.

The official online checklist adjusts the requirements to the applicant’s situation, so it is worth checking before visiting the service centre.

The Haikou procedure gives a processing time of seven working days and a statutory limit of 15 working days. National guidance likewise gives a maximum 15-working-day period for residence-permit applications once they have been accepted.

The residence-permit fees are RMB 400 for a permit valid for less than one year, RMB 800 from one year inclusive to less than three years, and RMB 1,000 from three years inclusive to five years inclusive.

Where to apply in Haikou

For the work-category residence-permit procedure, the Haikou Public Security Bureau lists:

Haikou Citizen and Visitor Center / 海口市民游客中心
Comprehensive Service Window for Talent and Engineering Construction, Unit 01-15, Area B, 1st Floor, Government Service Hall
No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou
海口市龙华区滨海公园路1号

Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 08:30-12:00 and 14:00-17:30, excluding weekends and statutory holidays.

Consultation: 0898-12367

The Haikou procedure requires an onsite visit and collection of biometric information.

For ordinary visas and stay permits elsewhere in Hainan, the correct office will depend on where the application is being handled. Rather than travelling to the provincial address shown on the Hainan “One Thing” page without checking, call 0898-12367 first or use the National Immigration Administration’s office finder.

Find an exit-entry service office through the National Immigration Administration

Official sources

Haikou — Foreigner Residence Permit (Work Category)
Authority: Haikou Public Security Bureau
Official Haikou procedure

Hainan — Foreigner Stay and Residence “One Thing” / 外国人停居留“一件事”
Authority: Hainan Provincial Public Security Department
Official Hainan provincial service

National Immigration Administration

Visa extension, replacement and reissue service guide

Stay permit issuance, replacement and reissue service guide

Residence permit service guide

Foreign nationals who need an official health examination or vaccination in Hainan can use a combined service operated by Haikou Customs.

The official Hainan Government Service Network procedure covers both entry/exit health examinations and vaccinations, with service locations in Haikou and Sanya. You can make an appointment online, although the government procedure also says you can go directly to a service centre without booking online first.

At a glance

Services:
Entry/Exit Personnel Health Examination Appointment
出入境人员健康体检预约

Entry/Exit Personnel Vaccination Appointment
出入境人员疫苗接种预约

Who it is for: People requiring entry/exit health examination or vaccination services

How to apply: Online, or directly at a service location

In-person visits: The official procedure lists one visit. Further visits may be needed if a re-examination is required or if you choose to collect a paper certificate in person.

Processing commitment: 4 working days

Health examination fee: See the Fees section below.

Vaccination fees: Depend on the vaccine and eligibility. The government page is unclear about some vaccine charges.

Locations: Haikou and Sanya

Responsible authority: Haikou Customs (海口海关)

Who can use the service?

The service is for people who need an entry/exit health examination or vaccination for foreign nationals living or working in Hainan.

The combined service contains two separate options.

The first is:

Entry/Exit Personnel Health Examination Appointment
出入境人员健康体检预约

The second is:

Entry/Exit Personnel Vaccination Appointment
出入境人员疫苗接种预约

What you need

The materials required depend on the scenario selected in the system. Follow the current materials list shown by the online application system for the service and circumstances you select rather than relying on a generic document list. (Google translate is good enough to translate the page). 

You should also take the required original documents and photocopies with you to the service centre. Staff check these on-site before the examination.

How to apply

1. Start the application

Go to the Hainan Government Service Network (Haiyiban) and search for: 出入境人员健康体检和疫苗接种预约

Select 出入境人员健康体检和疫苗接种预约“一件事”, then click 在线办理 (Apply Online). You will be taken to Hainan's unified authentication platform to log in before continuing with the application.

2. Upload the required materials

Upload clear images of the original materials specified for your application.

3. Submit the application

Submit the information through the system.

4. Attend the service centre

Go to the relevant service location in Haikou or Sanya for your health examination or vaccination.

For a health examination, take the originals and photocopies of the required materials with you.

5. Complete the on-site document review

At the centre, staff check the original documents and photocopies.

If the materials meet the requirements, you can proceed to the examination. If they are incomplete, you will be told on-site what needs to be supplemented.

6. Complete the examination or vaccination

For a health examination, you undergo the required examination and the chief examining physician reviews and issues the results.

Vaccination is handled as the separate vaccination service within the same combined procedure.

7. Re-examination where necessary

Some health examination results may require a re-examination.

The government procedure says the timing of a re-examination cannot necessarily be determined in advance and will depend on the individual case.

Do you have to make an appointment online?

No.

The FAQ on the official government procedure says applicants can either make an appointment through the combined health examination and vaccination service or go directly to the offline service location for the examination or vaccination.

If you are making a special trip to the centre, it may still be sensible to telephone beforehand to confirm the current arrangements.

Processing time

The official procedure gives a committed completion time of:

4 working days

For health examinations, a paper certificate can be collected three working days after the medical examination or, where necessary, the re-examination.

If a re-examination is required, its timing cannot necessarily be determined in advance.

Receiving your health examination certificate

Where a paper certificate is required, the procedure states that it can be collected three working days after the examination or re-examination.

Applicants may:

• collect it personally;
• receive it by post; or
• authorise another person to collect it.

If examination results are abnormal and affect the certificate application, the applicant will be notified by telephone.

Fees

The application instructions on the official government procedure give the health examination fee as:

RMB 367

They also state that the amount may vary according to the examination items required.

Online payment is not supported. Charges for examination items that require payment are paid on-site.

Vaccination charges

The wording on vaccination charges is unclear.

The procedure gives RMB 101 for cholera vaccine, but its wording does not make the position on yellow fever vaccination clear enough to give a definitive charge.

Applicants should confirm the current charge for the particular vaccination they require directly with the centre.

Haikou: 0898-68651113
Sanya: 0898-88616530

Where to go in Haikou

Hainan International Travel Health Care Center
海南国际旅行卫生保健中心（海口海关口岸门诊部）

Address:
Building A, No. 6 Nanmao Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou, Hainan
海南省海口市美兰区南贸大道6号A座

Health examination hours:
Monday–Friday
08:30–12:00

Vaccination hours:
Monday–Friday
14:30–16:00

Weekends and statutory holidays are excluded.

Consultation telephone:
0898-68651113

Where to go in Sanya

Hainan International Travel Health Care Center — Sanya Branch
海南国际旅行卫生保健中心三亚分中心

Address:
No. 475 Hedong Road, Jiyang District, Sanya, Hainan
海南省三亚市吉阳区河东路475号

Health examination hours:
Monday–Friday
08:30–12:00

Vaccination hours:
Monday–Friday
14:30–16:00

Weekends and statutory holidays are excluded.

Consultation telephone:
0898-88616530

The government procedure states that Hainan does not use separate seasonal opening hours for these services.

Contact details

Haikou consultation:
0898-68651113

Sanya consultation:
0898-88616530

Government service supervision/complaints:
0898-12345

Responsible authority:
Haikou Customs
海口海关

Official source

Service:
Health Examination and Vaccination Appointments for Entry/Exit Personnel “One Thing”
出入境人员健康体检和疫苗接种预约“一件事”

Linked procedures:
Entry/Exit Personnel Health Examination Appointment
出入境人员健康体检预约

Entry/Exit Personnel Vaccination Appointment
出入境人员疫苗接种预约

Authority:
Haikou Customs (海口海关)

Official source:
Hainan Government Service Network, Health Examination and Vaccination Appointments for Entry/Exit Personnel

Hainan has plenty of obvious places to visit, beaches, rainforests, old streets and the larger provincial museums.

But scattered around the island are some much smaller museums devoted to subjects you probably would not expect: tropical seeds, old railway locomotives, shells, antique cameras, historic coins and even coconut carving.

Some are substantial collections. Others are the kind of small local museum you might combine with a day trip rather than cross the island specifically to see.

Here are six worth knowing about.

Last checked: September 2026. Admission prices below are those currently published by the Hainan Provincial Government. Opening arrangements for some of the smaller museums are not consistently published online, so check before making a special journey.

1. Ding’an Seeds Museum九所种子博物馆

This is probably the strangest museum on the list, and potentially one of the best if you have children.

The museum is in Jiusuo Village in Ding’an and focuses entirely on seeds. More than 800 kinds of plant seeds and specimens are displayed, with exhibits explaining how seeds develop, spread and interact with people and the natural environment.

One of the exhibits is the enormous coco de mer seed, which gives some perspective on just how different seeds can be once you get beyond the familiar ones we see in fruit and vegetables.

The museum was created from an old village building and forms part of a wider rural project that also includes a café and restaurant, so this makes more sense as part of an afternoon in the area rather than simply driving in, walking around the museum and immediately leaving.

Good for: Families, children and anyone interested in plants or nature
Where: Jiusuo Village, Fuwen Town, Ding’an County
Admission: Free
Opening hours: Check before travelling

2. Hainan Seaworld Museum of Shell Culture — Haikou 海南海世界贝壳文化博物馆

If you have ever picked up a strange shell on a Hainan beach and wondered what it was, this may be worth a look.

The museum is located on Huahui Dadao in Qiongshan District and contains several thousand shells, shell specimens, shell carvings and other objects connected with shell culture. Local reporting also describes fossils and more unusual specimens among the collection.

It is not one of Haikou's big headline attractions, which is partly the point. This is the sort of smaller museum that could work well for families or as an indoor stop when the weather is less cooperative.

Good for: Families, marine life, shells and natural history
Where: Huahui Dadao, Qiongshan District, Haikou
Admission: RMB 39
Opening hours: Check before travelling

3. Hainan Railway Museum — Dongfang 海南铁路博物馆

For me, this is one of the more interesting museums on the list because much of the collection is immediately understandable even if you cannot read the exhibit labels.

Outside are old locomotives, carriages and railway equipment. Inside, the museum traces the development of railways on Hainan through photographs, objects and historical material.

Among the exhibits is the last steam locomotive to operate on Hainan's railway network, along with historic rolling stock including the so-called "Meiling" carriage.

The museum is also an interesting stop if you are exploring the west coast. Hainan's official tourism material includes it on a Dongfang–Ledong–Changjiang driving route alongside places such as Yulinzhou Beach, Jianfengling and Qizi Bay.

Good for: Trains, industrial history, photography and families
Where: Binhai Nanlu, Basuo Town, Dongfang
Admission: Free
Opening hours: Published information has varied, so check before travelling

Local Octopus tip

This is probably the museum on the list where bringing a camera makes the most sense. The old locomotives and rolling stock are much more visually interesting than a conventional glass-case museum.

4. Numismatic Museum of Haikou University of Economics 海口经济学院钱币博物馆

A museum devoted to money may sound dry, but the collection is actually a way of looking at trade, travel and economic history.

The museum holds more than 10,000 coins, notes, vouchers and related items covering different periods of Chinese history. The collection includes ancient Chinese currency as well as coins connected with overseas trade and exchange.

That makes it particularly interesting in Hainan, given the island's long connections with maritime trade routes.

The catch is that this museum is inside Haikou University of Economics rather than in a conventional public museum building. The provincial government lists admission as free, but I would check current campus access arrangements before setting off.

Good for: History, coins, trade and collectors
Where: No. 1001 Haitao Dadao, Meilan District, Haikou
Admission: Free
Before you go: Check university visitor-access arrangements

5. Camera Museum of the University of Sanya三亚学院照相机博物馆

This one immediately caught my attention.

Hidden inside the University of Sanya is a collection of more than 500 antique cameras spanning more than a century of photographic technology. The collection includes wooden box cameras, folding cameras, twin-lens and single-lens reflex cameras, miniature cameras and equipment from manufacturers including Leica, Kodak, Konica and several historic Chinese brands.

There are some genuinely unusual pieces. The university describes a tiny Minox "spy camera", early wooden cameras and equipment dating back to the early days of commercial photography.

The collection was donated to the university and the museum is also used for teaching photography students.

The university has previously stated that the museum is open to the public free of charge, but because it sits inside an active university campus, it would be sensible to check access before travelling there.

Good for: Photography, cameras, technology and design
Where: No. 191 Xueyuan Lu, Jiyang District, Sanya
Admission: Free
Before you go: Check current campus access arrangements

6. Hainan Coconut Carving Exhibition Center — Wenchang 海南椰雕文化展览馆

Coconuts are everywhere in Hainan. Turning the shells (and trees) into detailed works of art is something else entirely.

The Hainan Coconut Carving Exhibition Center in Wenchang contains more than 1,000 examples of coconut carving, many associated with Fu Shiqiong, a recognised inheritor of Hainan's traditional coconut-carving craft.

The pieces range from vessels and decorative objects to surprisingly elaborate scenes and sculptures.

Coconut carving has a long history on the island. Hainan government material traces references to the craft back to the Tang Dynasty and notes that carved coconuts were later sent to the imperial court as tribute during the Ming and Qing periods.

This is another museum that makes more sense as part of a wider Wenchang trip. The exhibition centre is in Dongjiao, close to one of Hainan's best-known coconut-growing areas.

Good for: Hainan culture, traditional crafts and photography
Where: Hangtian Dadao, Wenchang
Admission: RMB 20
Opening hours: Check before travelling

Which one should you visit?

If you are travelling with children, I would start with the Seeds Museum or Shell Culture Museum.

If you like photography, the Camera Museum is the obvious choice.

For something that feels particularly connected to Hainan itself, the Railway Museum and Coconut Carving Exhibition Center are probably the most distinctive.

And if you already happen to be travelling through Dongfang, Ding’an or Wenchang, these smaller museums give you another reason to stop rather than simply drive through.

Before you go

These are not all large, professionally staffed museums with sophisticated English-language websites and constantly updated visitor information.

Several are small museums, private collections, village attractions or university collections. That means opening hours and visitor arrangements can be harder to confirm than at places such as Hainan Museum.

If you are travelling any distance specifically to visit one, check the current arrangements first.

It is also worth saving the Chinese museum name and address on your phone. Even when an English name exists, the Chinese name will usually be much more useful in a taxi or navigation app.

Local Octopus tip

Don't expect every one of these places to feel like a polished national museum.

Some are small, slightly eccentric collections built around one person's interest, one local craft or one surprisingly specific subject.

That's actually part of what makes them interesting.

Arriving in Hainan with foreign cash and wondering where to change it?

You have several options. You can exchange money at Haikou or Sanya airport, visit a bank or licensed currency-exchange outlet, use a self-service exchange machine, or simply withdraw RMB from an ATM with an overseas bank card.

There is also an official Hainan payment map that can help you find the nearest exchange point.

Last checked: September 2026.

If you've just arrived

The easiest option is usually to sort out a small amount of RMB at the airport.

Both Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport have foreign-currency exchange services in their international terminals.

You can also withdraw RMB from an ATM if your overseas bank card is supported.

There is no need to exchange a large amount immediately. Get enough for your first day or two, then find a convenient exchange point once you have settled in.

Exchanging money at Haikou Meilan Airport

Haikou Meilan International Airport has three currency-exchange locations in Terminal 2:

• to the left of the International Arrivals exit
• behind check-in island A in the Departures Hall, before security
• opposite Gate 46 in the international departures area after security

The location opposite Gate 46 also provides departure tax-refund services.

Opening times follow the airport's international flight schedule. ML Airport

For current airport information, see Haikou Meilan International Airport's passenger facilities page.

Exchanging money at Sanya Phoenix Airport

Sanya Phoenix International Airport also has dedicated foreign-currency exchange counters in its international terminal.

You can find them:

• opposite the baggage sorting area in the International Arrivals Hall
• opposite the duty-free shop inside the international terminal's restricted area

The counters operate around international flights, with services available from two hours before international arrivals and departures. Sanya Airport

The airport currently lists currencies including US dollars, euros, British pounds, Hong Kong dollars, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, Japanese yen, Korean won, Thai baht, Malaysian ringgit, Philippine pesos and several others.

You can check the latest information on Sanya Phoenix International Airport's currency-exchange page.

What about banks?

Many bank branches around Hainan provide foreign-currency exchange, particularly in Haikou and Sanya.

But don't assume that every branch of a major bank will exchange every currency.

A branch that handles US dollars and euros, for example, may not necessarily handle a less commonly exchanged currency.

If you are exchanging a large amount or an unusual currency, checking with the branch before travelling there can save a wasted trip.

Take your passport with you, as identification may be required.

The easiest way to find an exchange point near you

First, download the Nihao China app

The app you need is called Nihao China. Be careful not to confuse it with Nihao Mobile, which is a separate SIM-card service.

Nihao China is developed by China UnionPay and is available for both iPhone and Android.

On iPhone

Open the Apple App Store and search for:

Nihao China

Check that the developer is listed as 中国银联 / China UnionPay before installing it.

Download Nihao China from the Apple App Store

On Android

Open Google Play and search for:

Nihao China

Again, check that the developer is China UnionPay.

Download Nihao China from Google Play

UnionPay also has an official Nihao China information and setup page, which is useful if you want to check that you have the correct app. UnionPay International

Official Nihao China page from UnionPay International

Once installed, register using your email address or mobile number and log in. UnionPay's own setup guide confirms both registration methods.

Finding the Hainan Payment Service Electronic Map

Once you are logged in:

1. Open Nihao China
2. 2. Tap “Payment Methods”
3. 3. Select the Hainan Payment Service Electronic Map

The digital map allows international visitors to easily locate and use payment services throughout the island.

Hainan's official guidance specifically says the map is accessed through the Payment Methods section of Nihao China.

From there you can find nearby currency-exchange services, ATMs, bank branches and other payment facilities around Hainan.

You may not need to exchange cash at all

If you have an overseas bank card, another option is simply to withdraw RMB from an ATM.

The Hainan payment map can identify ATMs supporting networks including Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay.

Your own bank may charge an overseas withdrawal or currency-conversion fee, so check the amount shown before confirming the transaction.

For many visitors, withdrawing a modest amount of RMB is simpler than carrying a large amount of foreign currency around looking for an exchange counter.

Mobile payment is another option

Cash is no longer the only practical way to pay in Hainan.

Foreign nationals can register for services such as WeChat Pay and Alipay and link supported overseas bank cards. Current Hainan guidance lists Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover among the supported card networks.

That means you may only need a relatively small amount of RMB cash as a backup.

Cash can still be handy, though. Phones run out of battery, cards occasionally fail, and sometimes handing over cash is simply easier.

Keep your exchange receipt

If you exchange foreign cash for RMB, don't immediately throw away the receipt.

Foreign visitors can change unused RMB back into foreign currency using valid identification and the original exchange receipt.

The receipt remains valid for this purpose for 24 months.

For smaller amounts, there are circumstances where identification alone is sufficient, but keeping the receipt avoids unnecessary complications. The current SAFE guidance confirms the 24-month rule and the simplified arrangements for smaller exchanges. Safe.gov.cn

Can you bring RMB into China?

Yes.

The current limit for carrying RMB cash into or out of China is RMB20,000 per person, per trip. The People's Bank of China continues to publish the RMB20,000 limit under its rules on carrying Chinese currency across the border. People's Bank of China

Different rules apply if you are carrying large amounts of foreign-currency cash.

For an ordinary holiday or business trip, though, there is rarely much reason to arrive carrying a large amount of RMB.

Local Octopus tip

If you've just landed, keep it simple.

Exchange a little money at the airport or withdraw some RMB from an ATM. Once you're checked into your hotel or apartment, use the Hainan Payment Service Electronic Map to see what is nearby.

And if you're carrying a currency that isn't commonly exchanged, check before travelling across town to a particular bank.

A five-minute check can save a surprisingly long taxi ride.

Closing a company in Hainan is not a single administrative act. The market regulator’s deregistration procedure is the step that formally ends the company’s registration, but tax, banking, employment, social insurance and other closure matters may still need to be dealt with separately.

This guide covers that deregistration step. It uses the current Hainan registration forms and document standards, which took effect on 1 May 2026.

At a glance

Who it is for: Companies applying for formal deregistration in Hainan
Responsible authority: Hainan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation
How to apply: Online or at a service window
In-person visits required: 0, as listed on the government procedure
Statutory time limit as listed: 20 working days
Promised processing time: Immediate processing; the FAQ states one working day
Fee: No government fee
Result: Deregistration Approval Notice (注销核准通知书)
Appointment required: No
Courier service: Available

Who can apply

The procedure does not set out a separate eligibility test for company deregistration.

What matters is which route applies to the company. Hainan provides different requirements for ordinary deregistration, simplified deregistration, bankruptcy or compulsory liquidation, and companies being dissolved following a merger or division.

Who usually handles the process?

For an ordinary deregistration, responsibility starts with the company’s directors. Under the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China, the directors are responsible for arranging the liquidation and must normally form a liquidation group within 15 days after the company enters dissolution.

The group is usually made up of the directors unless the company’s articles of association provide otherwise or the shareholders appoint someone else. Its work includes identifying the company’s assets and liabilities, notifying creditors, settling taxes and debts, and preparing the liquidation report.

The person who submits the deregistration application does not have to be one of the directors. Hainan e-Registration guidance allows a designated representative or authorised agent to handle the filing on the company’s behalf. The administrative application can therefore be submitted by someone appointed by the company, while responsibility for completing the liquidation remains with the company and the people legally responsible for it.

Bankruptcy and compulsory-liquidation cases are different. Once the matter is being handled through a court process, the relevant bankruptcy administrator or court-appointed liquidation personnel handle the steps required to conclude that process before deregistration.

What you need

Hainan introduced new company deregistration forms and document requirements on 1 May 2026. The new standards replaced the province’s 2024 standards and introduced separate forms for ordinary and simplified company deregistration. Hainan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation

The relevant official documents are available here:

Enterprise Deregistration Application Form — Ordinary Procedure (企业注销登记申请书（普通程序）)

Enterprise Deregistration Application Form — Simplified Procedure (企业注销登记申请书（简易程序）)

2026 Hainan deregistration document requirements

Ordinary deregistration

Companies using the ordinary procedure should use the Enterprise Deregistration Application Form, Ordinary Procedure (企业注销登记申请书（普通程序）).

This is the route for companies going through the normal winding-up process.

Before applying, the company must complete the required liquidation steps. For ordinary deregistration in Hainan, the 2026 Hainan deregistration document requirements require the relevant creditor announcement and a public deregistration notice through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System to run for at least 45 days before the application proceeds.

Depending on the company’s circumstances, the application may also require:

• a court judgment on dissolution, or an administrative document ordering closure, revoking the business licence or cancelling registration, where applicable;
• tax-clearance documentation, unless the registration authority can obtain the information directly through government data-sharing;
• a copy of the newspaper notice where creditors were notified solely through a newspaper;
• identification for the person submitting the application or authorised representative;
• copies of approval documents where prior approval is legally required;
• the original and duplicate paper business licence, if one was issued.

The company’s dissolution resolution or decision and its liquidation report do not normally need to be submitted under the current Hainan standards, but they must be retained for inspection where applicable.

Simplified deregistration

Companies using simplified deregistration should use the Enterprise Deregistration Application Form, Simplified Procedure (企业注销登记申请书（简易程序）).

Hainan’s market regulator describes this route as applying to companies that have not incurred debts, or have settled their debts and liabilities and otherwise meet the conditions for simplified deregistration.

The current Hainan materials standard requires:

• the Simplified Procedure application form;
• the Simplified Deregistration Commitment of All Investors (简易注销全体投资人承诺书);
• a copy of the identity document of the person submitting the application;
• the complete shareholder register, for a non-listed joint-stock company.

The current standard does not list return of the paper business licence as a required material for this route.

Before applying, the company must publish its simplified deregistration notice and investors’ commitment through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System.

There is, however, a point applicants should confirm before filing. Hainan’s 2026 materials standard requires a notice period of at least seven days, followed by a 20-day period in which to apply if no objection is raised. Article 240 of the national Company Law refers to an announcement period of at least 20 days.

Applicants using simplified deregistration should therefore confirm the notice period currently being applied in Hainan before submitting the application.

Bankruptcy or compulsory liquidation

Hainan’s 2026 standards provide a separate route where bankruptcy proceedings or compulsory liquidation have been concluded by a People’s Court.

The Enterprise Deregistration Application Form, Ordinary Procedure (企业注销登记申请书（普通程序）) is used for this route.

The relevant court rulings must be provided. Depending on the case, these include:

• the ruling declaring the company bankrupt and the ruling terminating the bankruptcy proceedings; or
• the ruling terminating compulsory liquidation.

Where the liquidator or bankruptcy administrator submits the application, proof of their appointment is also required.

The original and duplicate paper business licence must be returned if one was issued.

For electronic applications, the current 2026 Hainan standards allow document images to be submitted where permitted by the registration system.

Merger or division

Companies dissolved through a merger or division follow a separate set of requirements.

The current Hainan standard requires, as applicable:

• the merger or division resolution or decision;
• the merger or division announcement, evidenced through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System or the relevant newspaper;
• copies of the business licences of the companies involved;
• return of the paper business licence, if one was issued.

The deregistration application can be filed only 45 days after the merger or division announcement.

Documents you must keep

Some documents form part of the company’s winding-up process but do not need to be submitted with the deregistration application.

Under Hainan’s current standards, these can include the company’s dissolution resolution or decision and its liquidation report.

The company should therefore keep these documents even where the registration authority does not ask for them as part of the application.

Signatures and company seals

Where a document expressly requires both a signature and a company seal, both must be provided.

Where the requirement is not specified, a legal person or other organisation may either have the document signed by its legal representative, responsible person or authorised signatory, or affix its official seal.

Where someone signs on behalf of another person, the relevant power-of-attorney requirements apply.

Foreign-language documents

Foreign-language documents, notarised documents or authentication documents must be accompanied by an accurate Chinese translation.

Where a translation company prepares the translation, the current Hainan standard requires the translation to:

• carry the company’s seal or translation seal;
• state that the translation is accurate;
• include a copy of the translation company’s business licence or other qualification document;
• give the translator’s name and contact details.

Where an individual prepares the translation, the translator should sign it, provide contact details and provide the identification or qualification documents required by the registration authority.

Identity verification

Applicants must complete the registration authority’s real-name verification requirements. The procedure states that facial recognition and other electronic verification methods may be used.

Where an individual cannot complete electronic verification for a special reason, the procedure allows either a legally notarised identity document or attendance in person with the relevant identity document.

For a foreign national acting as the designated representative or authorised agent, the procedure accepts a copy of a foreign passport or a Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

How to apply

1. Identify the correct deregistration route

First establish whether the company is using ordinary deregistration, simplified deregistration, bankruptcy or compulsory liquidation, or deregistration following a merger or division.

The forms, preliminary steps and supporting documents differ.

2. Complete the required notice or liquidation steps

Ordinary deregistration generally requires the 45-day creditor and public-notice periods to be completed before the application can proceed.

Simplified deregistration also requires prior publication through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System.

Court-based and merger or division cases have their own preliminary requirements.

3. Prepare the current form and supporting documents

Use the current 2026 Hainan form for the applicable route.

Check signatures, seals, identity documents, translations and any route-specific supporting material before submitting.

4. Submit the application

Applications can be submitted online or at the service window.

The government procedure identifies the online registration system as Hainan e-Registration 2.0 (海南e登记2.0).

The official procedure page is here:

Company Deregistration, Hainan Government Services Network

The procedure states that electronically processed applications do not require paper application materials. The current standards nevertheless still require the return of a paper business licence under the ordinary and court-based routes.

The published procedure does not explain how a paper licence is handed over during a fully online application. Companies in this position should confirm the current arrangement through the consultation line before submitting.

5. Acceptance and decision

The authority checks whether the application is complete and in the required form before deciding whether to approve the deregistration.

The workflow shown on the government procedure page assigns one working day to acceptance and one working day to the decision stage.

6. Receive the result

If approved, the company receives a Deregistration Approval Notice (注销核准通知书).

Courier delivery is available.

Processing time

The government procedure page gives several different processing times:

Statutory time limit as listed on the procedure page: 20 working days
Promised processing time: Immediate processing (即办)
FAQ: One working day
Workflow: One working day for acceptance and one working day for the decision

These figures do not align with the current general registration rules.

Article 19 of the Regulations on the Administration of Registration of Market Entities states that an application with complete materials in the required legal form should be registered on the spot. Where that is not possible, registration should normally be completed within three working days. A further three working days can be added in complex cases after approval.

The Hainan Free Trade Port Market Entity Deregistration Regulations use the same on-the-spot, three-working-day and possible additional three-working-day framework.

The company deregistration procedure nevertheless continues to display 20 working days in its statutory-time field. Applicants for whom timing matters should confirm the current handling period with the authority.

Fees

No government fee is charged for company deregistration.

What you receive

The official result is the:

Deregistration Approval Notice
注销核准通知书

Courier delivery is available.

Where and how to apply

Online

Use the official Hainan Government Services procedure:

Company Deregistration, Hainan Government Services Network

The procedure states that no appointment is required and lists zero required visits.

In person

1. Enterprise Start-up Registration Comprehensive Service Window, 1st Floor, Hainan Provincial Government Service Center
   海南省政务服务中心1层企业开办登记综合窗口

English address:
No. 3 Wuzhishan South Road, Haikou, Hainan Province

Chinese address:
海南省海口市五指山南路3号

The source states that there is no specific window number.

Opening hours:
Monday–Friday
08:00–12:00
14:30–17:30

Closed on weekends and statutory public holidays. The procedure states that these hours do not vary by season.

Consultation: 4007965656
Press 1 for business enquiries
Press 2 for technical enquiries

Complaints: 0898-12345

The procedure also lists the following numbers for the acceptance and decision stages:

0898-65203570
0898-65323018
0898-65203262

Points to confirm before applying

Two areas are worth checking directly with the registration authority.

For simplified deregistration, Hainan’s 2026 materials standard and Article 240 of the national Company Law give different notice periods. Confirm which period is currently being applied before starting the process.

For ordinary and court-based deregistration, the current standards still require return of a paper business licence where one was issued, while the procedure also supports online applications and lists zero required visits. If the company holds a paper licence, confirm how it should be returned.

Important point

Company deregistration formally ends the company’s registration with the market regulation authority.

It does not necessarily complete every task involved in closing the business. Tax, employee, social insurance, banking, licensing and other obligations may need to be dealt with separately.

Legal basis

The procedure page cites several laws and regulations, including:

• Company Law of the People’s Republic of China
• Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China
• Implementing Regulation of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China
• Regulations on the Administration of Registration of Market Entities

Hainan also has separate deregistration rules under the Hainan Free Trade Port Market Entity Deregistration Regulations.

The current forms and document requirements are contained in the 2026 Hainan registration standards issued by the Hainan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation.

Official source

Official source: Hainan Government Services Network, Company Deregistration (公司注销登记)

Authority:
Hainan Provincial Administration for Market Regulation
海南省市场监督管理局

• From the time you stop paying your bill, there is a period during which your number will eventually be cancelled and then reassigned to someone else, depending on your carrier’s specific suspension and recycling rules.
• A new holder of your old number can receive SMS codes and alerts intended for you, which may enable them to attempt WeChat logins, trigger Alipay verification, and see bank alerts, depending on the other security checks in place.
• There is an official government tool to audit which apps are bound to your number. Foreign passport holders cannot use it.
• There is also a newer service that clears prior account bindings when a number changes hands. Here is how it affects you.

Many expats who let a Chinese number lapse assume that once the SIM goes quiet, its link to their accounts goes with it. It does not. The number may be gone, but the bindings remain, and the number itself will eventually reach someone else.

Under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) Telecom Service Standards (Article 2.1.7), the minimum freeze period after a number is formally deregistered is 90 days. Beyond that, carriers typically allow a further suspension period of several months from the point of non-payment. The two stages combined mean the total window before reassignment is often around six months, though the exact timing varies by carrier and plan and is not fixed in law.

During that period, the number remains associated with your account in the operator’s systems, and apps relying on it for verification will continue to send messages to that number until you update your details.

What the New Holder Can Access

When a recycled number is assigned to a new user, what they can access depends on the platform.

WeChat

Based on Tencent’s documented user reports, WeChat currently behaves roughly as follows when a recycled number is used to register a new account: the system can detect that the number was previously used and ask whether the existing account is theirs. If the new user confirms it is not, the number is typically removed from the old account’s profile.

In this scenario, the phone number is removed as a login method from the previous account. The account itself is expected to remain in place with its contacts, chat history, and WeChat Pay balance intact, unless it has been separately cancelled or deleted.

One key vulnerability is the window before the new user registers.

During that period, the recycled number can still receive SMS verification codes. Those codes can, in principle, be used as part of the process to log into the previous owner’s account, if the other required login details are also known.

A case reported by Xinhua in January 2026 illustrates the kind of access risk that can occur when a recycled number is still tied to an active WeChat account: a Mr Wang in Inner Mongolia had his former number reclaimed by his carrier and reissued to a new user, who used it to log into his WeChat account, which contained 100,000 RMB. Police identified the new user and recovered access to the account, preserving the funds.

Alipay

Alipay’s publicly available user agreement and help materials do not, as of the time of writing, describe in detail what happens when a bound Chinese mobile number is recycled and taken over by a new user.

What is documented: Alipay typically requires a payment password and, for some higher-risk operations, face or ID verification, which means that SMS alone is generally not enough for large transfers.

While SMS alone is rarely sufficient for large Alipay transfers, it may be enough to exploit small-sum no-password payment settings, if those have been enabled.

In one 2024 media report, branch staff at Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China said the risk ‘should be relatively small,’ though both acknowledged it cannot be completely ruled out. Staff specifically noted that no-password payment settings 免密支付 (no-password small payments) could be affected.

Bank Accounts

In the case described in that same report, bank staff said SMS alerts only display the last four digits of the card number. On their own, such truncated details reveal little beyond confirming that a card ending in those digits exists, though they could still contribute to wider social-engineering risks.

Mobile banking apps in China generally require a password or PIN and are tied to a verified real-name account, a phone number alone is not enough to log in. A key concern is not the SMS in isolation, but what a new number holder might be able to do by combining those messages with other information they obtain.

The Tool That Should Help, But Doesn’t Work for You

In July 2022, MIIT launched 一证通查 2.0 (One ID, One Search 2.0), a service that allows users to see which internet accounts are bound to their Chinese phone number and access each platform’s individual unbinding process.

By 2025, official reports indicated that 一证通查 (One ID, One Search) had been connected to around 25 major internet platforms.

It is not a one-click removal tool, unbinding must be completed separately on each platform.

Access is via the WeChat official account 工信微报 (MIIT Micro-Report) or the Alipay 一证通查 (One ID, One Search) mini-program, among other official channels.

The system requires three inputs: a Chinese phone number, a verification code, and the last six digits of a Chinese national resident ID card.

No passport-based login option has been identified in the system’s design or in MIIT documentation as of April 2026. The practical result is that, at present, foreign passport holders have no officially supported way to use the service to audit which apps are bound to their Chinese mobile numbers.

It is worth noting, that once a number is formally cancelled, 一证通查 (One ID, One Search) cannot be used to query linked accounts even by Chinese national ID holders, the tool only functions while the number remains active.

The Newer Service, And What It Means for You

Since around 2024, MIIT has driven the rollout of a second service, 二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal).

This service is designed for the new holder of a recycled number, not the previous one. When the new user activates it, carriers and participating platforms coordinate to remove historical bindings with more than 200 major apps, typically completing the process within five working days.

Note that the service does not cover bank apps, overseas internet services such as Apple ID, or some niche Chinese apps.

At a State Council Information Office press conference on 21 January 2026, MIIT spokesperson 谢存 (Xie Cun) reported that carriers had batch-refreshed over 250 million secondary numbers before reissuance, completing over one billion internet app unbindings.

The proactive renewal service, available via official carrier apps and mini-programs, supports removal of historical bindings with 239 common internet apps and had processed more than 360 million unbinding requests for over 5.8 million users.

If the new user activates 二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal), the service will remove historical bindings on the 239 participating apps, including any accounts you previously linked to that number. This can reduce your residual exposure, but only if the new holder chooses to activate it.

There is currently no standard way for former users to be notified that it has been done.

How the new holder accesses the service, by carrier:

China Mobile (中国移动): Open the 中国移动 (手机营业厅) (China Mobile Mobile Business Hall) app. Search for 二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal) available in the Chinese version only.

Note: there is a limited English version of the app, but the Secondary Number Renewal option is available in Chinese app only. The service is available to current China Mobile users and those who ported their number to China Mobile after June 2021.

China Unicom (中国联通): Open the China Unicom (中国联通) official app, navigate to 服务 (Services) → 通用服务 (General Services) → 二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal), and submit. Alternatively, search for “二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal)” in the app’s search bar.

China Telecom (中国电信): Open the China Telecom (中国电信) official app, navigate to 查询办理 (Query/Apply) → 全部 (All) → 生活服务 (Life Services) → 便民 (Convenience) → 二次号码焕新 (Secondary Number Renewal). Alternatively, search for “号码焕新 (Number Renewal)” in the app’s search bar.

Whether the service is accessible to foreign passport holders who registered their number with a passport rather than a Chinese national ID card has not been confirmed in any official source as of April 2026.

What You Can Actually Do

One particularly effective preventive measure (covered in our previous article) 停机保号 (suspend service, preserve number), the number preservation service available from all three major carriers for roughly 5–10 RMB per month depending on operator, plan, and region.

Keeping your number on a preservation plan keeps it from being cancelled and reassigned for as long as that plan remains in effect, which removes the specific risk tied to number recycling, though other account security risks remain.

For those who have already let a number lapse, or who are about to:

Before the number lapses, while it is still active

If you visit a carrier service hall to cancel your number, all three major carriers now state they will remind you to unlink your accounts before the cancellation is processed. Take that reminder seriously, it is the last practical checkpoint before the exposure window opens.

WeChat: Change your bound number in-app. Navigate to 我 (Me) → 设置 (Settings) → 账号与安全 (Account Security) → 手机号 (Phone) → 更换手机号 (Change Mobile). The system sends a verification code to the old number, which must still be active to receive it. In straightforward cases this is a quick process.

Alipay: In current versions, update your number under 我的 (Me) → 设置 (Settings) → 安全中心 (Security Centre) → 手机号 (Phone Number), provided the old number can still receive codes.

Bank accounts: For foreign nationals, updating a bank-bound number typically requires an in-person branch visit with a passport and residence documents, as remote updates are often restricted for non-ID card holders.

In practice, a number of national banks are able to process this at branches in major cities, though some branches may be more familiar with the procedure than others. Allow at least half a day.

After the number has already lapsed

WeChat account recovery: Via help.wechat.com or in-app. The recovery form asks for detailed information, WeChat ID, registration and last login dates, at least three WeChat friend IDs, a new SMS-capable number, and device and location details. Some users report receiving replies within several working days, but Tencent does not publicly guarantee a specific timeline.

Alipay: If your old number is gone, Alipay directs users to its 95188 hotline or in-app support for identity verification and account changes. Alipay does not publish a detailed foreigner-specific process, so be prepared to provide passport details and allow time on the call.

Banks: If you believe your bank account has been accessed and suspect a recycled number might be involved, contact your bank immediately to freeze or restrict the account and consider filing a report with the local public security bureau.

If you suspect compromise

WeChat general account issues: 4006700700 (mainland) / +86 571 95017 (overseas WeChat Pay support)

Alipay: 95188

Bank: contact your branch directly, request an immediate freeze, file a report with local public security 派出所 (local police station)

This article is the companion piece to Your Chinese SIM Card: 6 Things Every Expat Should Know, which covers balance checking, number preservation, and the 无忧行 (Wuyouxing) app for China Mobile (中国移动) users travelling abroad.

Updated 27/09/2026

With Apple’s iPhone Duo now eSIM-only in mainland China, anyone considering buying one needs to understand how Chinese carrier eSIM works before making the switch. The process is straightforward, but device compatibility, in-store activation and the differences between domestic and travel eSIMs are worth knowing in advance.

Smartphone eSIM is now available from China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom across mainland China. The service is still officially described as being in commercial trial, but device support has expanded significantly since the three operators launched smartphone eSIM services in October 2025.

For foreign residents in Hainan, the practical process is similar to getting a conventional Chinese SIM: check that your phone supports mainland-China eSIM, go to a carrier-owned service hall and complete the identity verification in person.

For iPhone users, Apple's current mainland-China eSIM instructions specifically tell customers to bring an identity card or passport.

The bigger issue is device compatibility. An overseas phone may support eSIM elsewhere but still be unable to use an eSIM issued by a mainland Chinese carrier.

At a glance

Carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom

Current status: Commercial trial

Foreign nationals: A foreign passport is accepted for Chinese mobile real-name registration. Apple specifically instructs iPhone eSIM customers to bring an identity card or passport.

Activation: In person at a carrier-owned service hall

Physical SIM to eSIM: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

eSIM back to physical SIM: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

Move eSIM to another phone: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

Hainan: Use your carrier's app or customer-service hotline to find a carrier-owned hall that handles smartphone eSIM

China Mobile: 10086

China Unicom: 10010

China Telecom: 10000

Main limitation: Your exact phone model must support mainland-China carrier eSIM

What is eSIM?

An eSIM performs the same basic job as the physical SIM card traditionally inserted into a phone, but the subscriber information is stored electronically on hardware built into the device.

For everyday use, a domestic Chinese eSIM can provide voice calls, SMS and mobile data in much the same way as a conventional SIM.

The main difference is that there is no removable card to insert or replace.

Can foreigners use eSIM in China?

Foreign nationals can use a passport for Chinese mobile-service real-name registration.

China's telephone-user real-name registration rules expressly recognise a foreign citizen's passport as an accepted identity document.

For iPhone eSIM activation, Apple's current mainland-China instructions tell customers to take an identity card or passport to the carrier service hall.

If you already have a Chinese physical SIM registered using your passport, the identity-verification side of the process should therefore be familiar.

Which Chinese carriers support smartphone eSIM?

All three major mainland operators provide smartphone eSIM:

• China Mobile
• China Unicom
• China Telecom

Current guidance from Apple, Huawei and Samsung confirms support from all three operators.

The service is still described as being in commercial trial, and it is not yet available as a fully remote service.

Huawei's current smartphone eSIM guidance says smartphone eSIM business is currently handled through carrier-owned service halls.

How to activate eSIM in Hainan

1. Check your phone first

Before going to a carrier, make sure your exact phone model supports mainland-China eSIM.

For iPhone, check Apple's official mainland-China eSIM page.

Huawei users should check the specifications for the exact handset. For example, the HUAWEI Pura 90 Pro Max supports eSIM from China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series also supports domestic carrier eSIM.

Do not assume that because a phone supports eSIM internationally it will automatically work with a mainland Chinese carrier.

2. Find a carrier-owned service hall

Huawei's current eSIM guidance gives routes through the three carrier apps for finding service locations.

For China Mobile, open the China Mobile app and search for eSIM. The eSIM service section allows you to select a processing location.

For China Unicom, open the China Unicom app and go to:

Services → eSIM Zone → eSIM Mobile Number Card

For China Telecom, open the China Telecom app, search for eSIM, enter the reservation section and select a service hall.

The important point is to use a carrier-owned or self-operated service hall rather than assuming every small agent or franchised shop can process smartphone eSIM.

If in doubt, call the carrier first:

China Mobile: 10086
China Unicom: 10010
China Telecom: 10000

Huawei's eSIM guide includes the current carrier-app routes.

3. Take your phone and identification

For iPhone, Apple says to take:

• your supported iPhone;
• an identity card or passport;
• your existing SIM where applicable.

The carrier completes the identity check and eSIM activation at the service hall.

Before leaving, check that calls, SMS and mobile data are working.

Can I convert my existing Chinese SIM to eSIM?

Huawei's current smartphone eSIM guidance lists four types of carrier transaction:

• opening a new eSIM number;
• converting a physical SIM to eSIM;
• moving an existing eSIM to another phone;
• converting an eSIM back to a physical SIM.

The exact conditions and procedure are set by the individual carrier.

This means changing to an eSIM phone does not necessarily require opening a completely new Chinese mobile number.

Which iPhones support Chinese carrier eSIM?

Apple's current mainland-China eSIM guide lists:

• iPhone Air — A3518
• iPhone 17e — A3635
• iPhone 18 Pro — A3715
• iPhone 18 Pro Max — A3718
• iPhone Duo — A3721

There is an important difference between the models.

The iPhone Air and iPhone Duo are eSIM-only.

The iPhone 17e, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max can use either eSIM or a physical nano-SIM.

Apple also states that supported mainland models can store and use up to two eSIMs.

Buying an iPhone outside mainland China? Check carefully

This is particularly important for foreigners.

Apple states that an iPhone bought outside mainland China cannot install an eSIM issued by a mainland Chinese carrier, even if that phone supports eSIM in another country.

In other words, having an “Add eSIM” option on your phone does not automatically mean China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom can activate a domestic Chinese eSIM on it.

If you are buying a phone specifically for use with a Chinese eSIM, check the exact mainland model number before buying.

Apple explains the mainland-China restrictions here.

What about Huawei phones?

Huawei now has several mainland models with domestic eSIM support.

The HUAWEI Pura 90 Pro Max, for example, lists China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom as supported eSIM operators.

Huawei's current eSIM guidance also covers models including the Pura series and other recent flagship devices.

Do not assume that every Huawei phone supports eSIM. Check the specifications for the exact model before buying.

What about Samsung?

Samsung has also added domestic Chinese carrier eSIM support.

The Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra support eSIM from mainland operators.

Unlike Apple's eSIM-only iPhone Air and Duo, the Galaxy S26 family also retains physical-SIM capability.

Samsung states that eSIM service is currently handled through offline carrier service halls.

Chinese domestic eSIM versus a travel eSIM

These are different products.

A domestic eSIM from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom is a Chinese mobile subscription. It can provide a mainland +86 number, ordinary calls, SMS and mobile data.

A travel eSIM sold by an international provider is usually designed primarily to give visitors mobile data while roaming in China.

Many travel eSIMs do not provide a mainland Chinese phone number.

That matters because a Chinese +86 number is commonly used for:

• bank verification;
• WeChat and Alipay;
• government services;
• delivery apps;
• account recovery;
• SMS verification codes.

A travel eSIM can be extremely useful for internet access, but it should not automatically be treated as a replacement for a domestic Chinese phone number.

Apple provides separate guidance on using eSIM while travelling internationally.

Can I use foreign eSIMs on a mainland-China iPhone?

Apple's mainland models have specific rules.

A supported mainland-China iPhone can activate a non-mainland carrier eSIM while you are outside mainland China.

Apple states that Location Services must be enabled during activation.

A non-mainland carrier eSIM cannot be installed on the relevant mainland models while the phone is physically in mainland China.

If you delete a mainland Chinese eSIM and later need to restore it, Apple instructs users to return to the carrier service hall.

Apple explains these restrictions in its mainland-China eSIM guidance.

What does eSIM cost?

There is no single nationwide smartphone-eSIM fee that can be applied to every carrier and every transaction.

Activation, conversion, replacement and mobile-plan charges should therefore be confirmed with the carrier when arranging the service.

The eSIM is simply the way your mobile subscription is stored on the phone. Your voice and data plan remains a separate service.

Does eSIM make your connection faster?

No.

Changing from a physical SIM to an eSIM does not itself improve mobile-network speed.

Performance still depends on factors such as:

• the phone;
• network coverage;
• signal strength;
• congestion;
• the carrier;
• your mobile plan.

The main practical difference is that the mobile subscription no longer requires a removable SIM card.

What has changed since 2025?

When smartphone eSIM launched nationally in October 2025, device support was much more limited and the focus was on the start of the commercial trials.

By September 2026:

• China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom all continue to provide smartphone eSIM;
• the service is still officially described as being in commercial trial;
• Apple now lists five mainland-China eSIM-capable iPhones;
• the iPhone Air and iPhone Duo are eSIM-only;
• Huawei has expanded its supported mainland models;
• Samsung now clearly supports domestic carrier eSIM on its Galaxy S26 range;
• physical SIM-to-eSIM conversion and eSIM migration are recognised service options, subject to carrier requirements;
• smartphone eSIM transactions are still handled through carrier-owned service halls.

For most users, the practical sequence is simple: check the exact phone model, locate a carrier-owned service hall, take the phone and required identification, and complete the activation in person.

Quick reference

Carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom

Status: Commercial trial

Foreign passport: Accepted for Chinese mobile real-name registration; Apple specifically instructs iPhone eSIM users to bring an identity card or passport

Activation: Carrier-owned service hall

New eSIM number: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

Physical SIM → eSIM: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

eSIM → physical SIM: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

Move eSIM to another phone: Supported, subject to carrier requirements

Imported iPhone with mainland Chinese carrier eSIM: Not supported

China Mobile: 10086

China Unicom: 10010

China Telecom: 10000

Official sources

MIIT — Telephone User Real-Name Information Registration Regulations

Apple — Using eSIM with iPhone in Mainland China

Huawei — Smartphone eSIM Guide

Huawei — Pura 90 Pro Max Specifications

Samsung China — Galaxy S26 Series

Apple — Using eSIM While Travelling Internationally

This short video looks at how that model is beginning to take shape, including the example of trilaciclib, which moved from use in Lecheng to production in Haikou, and what this could mean for the development of a broader medical industry in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Read the full analysis HERE:

From Lecheng to Production: How Hainan Is Building a Medical Innovation Pipeline

Looking to hire a car and go on a short road-trip this summer or just get off the island for a short mini break to the mainland?

Good news, since June 1^st, Haikou Xinhai Port has opened a new ferry link to Xuwen Port on the mainland just for cars and passengers.

The “special passenger car” ferry only carries cars and passengers, but not trucks, buses or other vehicles.

The ferry leaves Xinhai port Haikou at 10:30 and 14:30, and Xuwen port at 11:05 and 14:05 every day.

The ferry:

According to the ferry authorities, in order to improve the experience of drivers and passengers on board, the route uses large ships for transportation, equipped with business class with dining and comfortable seating etc. 

If the original ship is temporarily replaced due to production needs, a ship of the same level will be selected as a replacement.

Q: How long does it take to cross?

Crossing time for the ferry is about 90 minutes.

Q: Is there anything I should pay attention to when taking the ferry?

Drivers and passengers should arrive at the port at least 60 minutes early.

Q: How to contact the port customer service?

24-hour customer service hotline:

Xinhai: 0898-9693666

Xuwen Port: 400-9300003

Drivers and passengers can also scan the Qr code below for related consultation.

Q: How to buy a ferry ticket?

Step 1. Copy and paste 琼州海峡轮渡管家 into wechat search bar and click search.

Tip: tap the image and pinch out to zoom in. 

Step 2. Follow the official account

Step 3. Booking tickets

Step 5. Select your leaving port

Step 6. Selecting tickets

Step 7. Choosing dates and ferry times

Step 8. filling in your information

Note: if you wish to avail of the extra services you must choose business class. At the time of writing, business class tickets cost 90 Yuan and ordinary class tickets cost 41.5 Yuan.

Click submit and pay for your tickets, you’ll receive a prompt to double check license plate and other info as it cannot be changed afterwards.