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Coordinates: 20°02′34″N 110°20′30″E / 20.04278°N 110.34167°E / 20.04278; 110.34167
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Haikou is never referred to as Meilan in either English or Chinese - Meilan is a district of the city - population updated
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|name = Haikou
|name = Haikou
|official_name = 海口市
|official_name = 海口市
|other_name = <small>美兰 (Měi lán)</small>
|other_name = Coconut City (椰子市）
|native_name = 海口
|native_name = 海口
|nickname =
|nickname =
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|j=hoi<sup>2</sup>hau<sup>2</sup>
|j=hoi<sup>2</sup>hau<sup>2</sup>
}}
}}
'''Haikou''' ({{zh|c=[[wikt:海|海]][[wikt:口|口]]|p=Hǎikǒu}}), also known as '''Hoihow''', and sometimes referred to as '''Meilan''' (美兰 Měilán) (as it is located in [[Meilan District]]), is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] city of [[Hainan|Hainan Province]] of the [[People's Republic of China]]. It is situated on the north coast of Hainan island, and has an estimated population of 830,192 (2006), therefore by far the largest city on the island.
'''Haikou''' ({{zh|c=[[wikt:海|海]][[wikt:口|口]]|p=Hǎikǒu}}), also known as '''Hoihow''', is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] city of [[Hainan|Hainan Province]], [[People's Republic of China]]. It is situated on the north coast of Hainan island, and has an estimated population of 1.8 million (2010) making it by far the largest city on the island.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 09:02, 21 July 2010

Haikou
海口
Coconut City (椰子市）
Prefecture-level city
海口市
Haikou city skyline
Haikou city skyline
Location of Haikou Prefecture within Hainan
Location of Haikou Prefecture within Hainan
CountryChina
ProvinceHainan
Area
 • Total2,304.84 km2 (889.90 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total830,192
 • Density360/km2 (930/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8 (China Standard)
Postal code
570000
Area code898
Websitehttp://www.haikou.gov.cn/
Haikou
Chinese海口
Literal meaningSea Entrance
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHǎikǒu
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinghoi2hau2

Haikou (Chinese: 海口; pinyin: Hǎikǒu), also known as Hoihow, is the capital city of Hainan Province, People's Republic of China. It is situated on the north coast of Hainan island, and has an estimated population of 1.8 million (2010) making it by far the largest city on the island.

History

Haikou originally served as the port for Qiongshan, the ancient administrative capital of Hainan island, located 5 km inland. Haikou was a part of Guangdong province. In the 13th century it was fortified and became a military post under the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The port is located west of the mouth of the Nandu River, Hainan's principal river. When Qiongshan was opened to foreign trade under the Treaty of Tianjin (1858), Haikou started to rival the old administrative city. In 1926, Haikou overtook Qiongshan in population in the 1930s after it was declared a separate administrative county. Haikou was developed as a port during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–45) when the Japanese invaded and occupied Hainan Island from early 1939 to 1945.

Since 1949, Haikou has maintained its position as Hainan's main port, handling more than half of the island's total trade. It has replaced Qiongshan as the island's administrative capital. In 1988, Haikou was made a prefecture-level city as well as the capital of the newly-created Hainan Province.

Old Haikou, (the oldest buildings in the city) was largely built by wealthy Chinese from the mainland and some overseas Chinese who had returned to their homeland. The houses are a mixture of styles including Portuguese, French, and Southeast Asian. The streets used to be divided into different areas selling Chinese and western medicine, for silk and tailor-make clothes, one for fresh fish and meat, and others for the sale of incense, candles, paper, ink, and other goods.

Various projects are currently under discussion to decide the best way to restore and preserve these historical buildings.

Geography

Haikou has an area of 2,304.84 square kilometers.[1] It is situated on the north coast of Hainan Island, facing the Leizhou Peninsula, across the Hainan Strait (15 km wide); in an area that reaches from Zengmu Ansha in the south to the Qiongzhou Strait in the north; bordering the sea areas of the South China Sea and facing Vietnam in the west across Beibu Bay. Part of Haikou city, the district of Haidian island, is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Nandu River. It is the northernmost part of Haikou, and is accessed by one of three bridges, the largest being Haikou Century Bridge which connects Guomao district with Haidian island at the west mouth of the Nandu river.

Climate

The city of Haikou is on the northern edge of the torrid zone, and is part of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. April to October is the active period for tropical storms and typhoons; most occur between August and September. May to October is the rainy season with most rainfall coming in September. Despite its location, Haikou features a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cwa), falling just short of a tropical climate. Nevertheless, Haikou generally features hot summers and very mild winters, usually with high humidity.[2].

Climate data for Haikou (1971-2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Source: 中国气象局 国家气象信息中心

Environment

Shopping street in Bo'ai Lu area (French colonial district)

Haikou has the second highest rated air quality in China, second only to Kunming.[3]

The groundwater is of international standard, and is classified as mineral water.

In 1995, the Haikou city government began an initiative to improve the quality of life for its residents. With the approval of the World Health Organization, and China's Ministry of Health, a ten-point plan was undertaken to address such issues as:

By 2004, the city had established 43 new community health service centers reaching 85 percent of the population. The initiative has increased the size of Haikou's green spaces to 2,000 hectares, with trees lining 40 percent of its roads. Noise pollution has dropped from 61.1db to 58.2db. 300 public toilets have been built. All industrial effluents, industrial waste water and solid waste, and all live sewage, is now processed through centralized treatment centers, and is disposed of without environmental impact. These improvements and others have increased life expectancy in Haikou to 78.26 years.[4]

Haikou city has also built 163 model ecological villages. Now, over 200,000 villagers in 933 villages have tap water in their homes.

Economy

Haikou Century Bridge

The GDP per capita was $3,573 USD in 2008, ranked number 43 among 659 Chinese cities.

Haikou exports great quantities of agricultural produce and livestock. There is a small amount of industry, including canning, textiles, rice hulling, and light engineering.

Transportation

Haikou is served by Haikou Meilan International Airport (IATA: HAK, ICAO: ZJHK[1]), which is located 25 km from the city.

A railway links Haikou to the mainland. A ferry service transports the railway cars, along with other motor vehicles across the strait.

Three main highways connect Haikou to other parts of Hainan, running east, west, and south through the middle of the province.

A new railway, the Hainan East Ring Intercity Rail will link Haikou and Sanya. Construction began in 2007, and is scheduled for completion in 2010. Travel time between Haikou and Sanya is expected to be approximately 80 minutes.

Tourism

Haikou received 4.11 million tourists in 2002, up 7.99 percent from 2001. The city earned approximately three billion yuan (361 million US dollars) from the tourism industry during that period, up 11 percent from the previous year.[5]

Subdivisions

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in China

Twin towns — Sister cities

Haikou is twinned with:

  • A view south from Bin Hai road
    A view south from Bin Hai road
  • Haikou Century Bridge connecting Hai Dian island over the Nadu river
    Haikou Century Bridge connecting Hai Dian island over the Nadu river
  • Skyline from Ever Green park
    Skyline from Ever Green park
  • The northern part of Guo Mao area
    The northern part of Guo Mao area
  • A view east from Ever Green park area
    A view east from Ever Green park area
  • The customs building
    The customs building

References

  1. ^ "Geography of Haikou" (in Chinese). Official website of Haikou government. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  2. ^ http://www.asia-planet.net/china/haikou.htm
  3. ^ http://www.yn.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2009-08/23/content_17478808.htm
  4. ^ http://www.china.org.cn/english/China/105308.htm
  5. ^ http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/59196.htm
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haikou.

20°02′34″N 110°20′30″E / 20.04278°N 110.34167°E / 20.04278; 110.34167

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