People’s Park is situated pretty centrally within Haikou city. The park is free to enter and will take around 2-3 hours to walk around its 350 acres.
The best time to visit is early mornings when the park is full of interesting characters. Dancers, opera singers, ping-pong players and people practising tai chi all frequent the park daily.
Address: People’s Park (人民公园) is located in the centre of Haikou city.
People’s Park is a public park in Haikou, it is located in the centre of the city and is bordered by Haixiu Road on the south and Datong Road and East Lake on the northern boundary.
Established in 1954, the park covers a total area of over 300 acres and was renovated during the late 2000s with new pathways installed. The park comprises a single large hill with a plateau at the summit, which is unusual in Haikou as the city is almost entirely flat. Hundreds of winding narrow pathways are present among a wide variety of flora.
The park is popular with local Hainan residents, particularly senior citizens. Each morning, beginning at dawn, thousands of people arrive to partake in exercises.
Ad hoc groups form to participate in activities such as badminton, ping pong, tai chi, square dancing, kung fu, jianzi, and aerobics. Tai chi and fitness dancing congregations dominate, with dozens of separate groups present throughout the park. The park contains many features and amenities including a ping pong area with several tables, public bathrooms, a convenience store, a police outpost, exercise equipment and a gateball area.
Related article: Cycling in Hainan – Routes, rentals and where to stay
