The melting-pot population of Haikou makes for an eclectic dining scene, enhanced by its seaside location, which brings quality seafood to the table. The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou’s culinary repertoire draws inspiration from this variety to create fresh takes on fine dining. At the elegant Tin Lung Heen, enjoy the best of Cantonese cuisine while listening to a master recite classic Tang Dynasty poetry. And get unparalleled views of the dramatic sunset from the hotel’s rooftop bar, Flair. For something more casual, visit one of the night markets in town, where vendors sell street food like BBQ, chao bing (a sorbet-like dessert) and qingbuliang (a refreshing sweet drink). 

After a day on the fairways or exploring the city, recover at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Haikou. Golfers can repair aching muscles with the Golfer’s Recovery, which includes a foot soak, scrub and powerful hot stone massage. Then prepare for your next round with yoga on the lawn. Local ingredients are incorporated in the Agar Wood & Coconut Oil Ritual to balance and restore the body and mind. For those who spent too much time in the sun, atone with the Aloe Vera Sun Soother Body Wrap, then take a relaxing dip in the indoor vitality pool.

The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou sits on the world-class golf resort of Mission Hills, which boasts 10 18-hole championship courses designed by the sport’s greatest architects. To tee off on a sprawling lava rock-strewn landscape dotted with ancient trees and sweeping wetlands is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and with this much variety, you can’t possibly get bored. Options include the 350-acre Blackstone, which weaves through lakes and village ruins; Sandbelt Trails, dotted with its fragrant eucalyptus trees; Meadow Links, which is based on U.S. Open courses in the states; and the palm tree-shaded Preserve.

Just a few miles outside the city is the picturesque Haikou Volcanic Cluster Geopark, which is home to dozens of dormant volcanic craters left over from the Holocene period (about 10,000 years ago). At Dongjiao Coconut Plantation, walk among 500,000 kinds of coconut trees before heading to the beach, where you can participate in a variety of watersports. For a lesson in conservation, volunteer with Sea Turtles 911, the only nonprofit promoting sea turtle conservation in China, and learn about the creatures, which have been in existence for 150 million years.

Morning

Breakfast for every taste. Take the first meal of the day at the Ritz-Carlton, haikou’s elegant yet approachable all-day dining restaurant, terra. The sumptuous breakfast buffet features both local and international favorites and opens at 6:30 a.M. Every day.

Afternoon

Beach fun. Holiday beach is not only white sand and ocean breezes, but it’s also the site of a fun zone with attractions for the kids like music square and the kingdom of butterflies. Don’t miss World of Water’s diving and water ballet performances.

Evening

Centreville style. The Haikou outlets at mission hills Centreville is a shopping and dining mecca, with more than a dozen eateries and restaurants and hundreds of your favorite international brands. A stroll through the grounds is extra fun for little ones, with attractions for them at seemingly every turn.

Morning

Meet tropical wildlife. The 800-acre Hainan tropical wildlife park and botanical garden is the largest tropical wildlife- and botanical-themed garden in china. More than 4,000 birds and 200 animal species live here, including lions, tigers, ostriches, and crocodiles.

Afternoon

Tee off. Kids and adults alike will love the miniature golf experience on the outdoor lawn at the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou. You can work on your short game while the little ones take their first swings.

Evening

Local flavor. Meander the Qilou old streets in Haikou’s Longhua district, where marvelously restored arcade-style buildings line the pedestrian-friendly streets, full of local shops and eateries.

Morning

Haikou history. In Haikou, you’ll find two easy-to-access historic relics from the ming dynasty in close proximity to each other: Tomb of Hairu and Wugong ci (also known as the temple of five lords). The tropical grounds of Wugong Ci are particularly breathtaking.

Afternoon

Underwater mystery. Head over to Donghai harbor to glimpse the sunken villages, called submarine villages, a fascinating sight of well-preserved homes and buildings on the ocean floor. The structures are believed to have been drowned more than 300 years ago by a massive earthquake.

Evening

Camping adventure. The little ones can have a camping adventure right in the room, courtesy of the ritz kids program, which provides a tent and featherbed, a lantern, an activity book with crayons, and a s’mores kit.

Morning

Just for kids. Ritz Kids offers a separate children’s pool, playground toys, games and daily activities for kids ages 3–10. Meanwhile, mom and dad can play nine holes at one of mission hills’ 10 championship golf courses.

Afternoon

Introduction to tea time. Between 2 and 5 p.M., the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou hosts its signature afternoon tea in the cozy lounge and bar, complete with sweet and savory small plates. Well-behaved children are welcome.

Evening

Go Hollywood in China. Check out the action in movie town, in mission hills Centreville, a must-see fantasy village built to replicate eras of Chinese history, movie sets and European cities. Besides being a tourist attraction, it’s also a movie and television filming location with a variety of dining options.

Morning

Eco trail excursion. Pick up the eco trail at hole 9 at the vintage course. This 2.5-mile walking path winds through both forest and grassland, with signage to point out the ecological highlights and diverse flora and fauna, including the Hainan Gibbon, the world’s rarest ape. Only 20 to 25 are known to exist.

Afternoon

A museum for kids. In the china grove section of mission hills Centreville, you’ll find a first-of-its-kind establishment called the teddy bear museum, a truly adorable way to introduce young ones to the wonders of museums.

Evening

An unforgettable water show. At dusk, head to the quarry lake section of mission hills Centreville to catch the massive water fountain show, a mesmerizing multi-sensory experience that mimics the energy of a volcanic eruption.

Morning

Pastries to go. On your way out, stop by the ritz-carlton, haikou’s patisserie, in the lobby, for exquisite breakfast pastries, confections and coffee.

Hit the beach. The aptly named Holiday Beach is Haikou’s top public beach, with nearly 4 miles of white sand to enjoy the azure-blue water, tropical breezes and palm trees. Stake your claim at one of the rentable beach umbrellas, complete with beach chairs, and relax or explore from there. Swimming, sea kayaking, riding personal watercraft, sailing and fishing are all in play.

Midday

Explore Qilou street. As the only area in Haikou where the old buildings have been preserved, this is the perfect place to experience the region’s authentic atmosphere. Peruse the variety of shops and explore the bustling Dongmen market.

Afternoon

Go back in time. Visit the temple of five lords, also known as Wugong Ci, for a glimpse of ancient Chinese architecture and sculpture during the ming dynasty (1368–1644). The grounds are stunning, with winding walkways, exotic flowers and ponds dotted with lily pads.

Explore volcanoes. At Haikou volcanic cluster global geopark, 9 miles west of Haikou, more than 40 volcanoes lie dormant, covered in a dense blanket of tropical trees including banyans, lychee and pear blossom. Make your way to fengluling (“furnace mountain”), a 730-foot volcano with a series of steps to peer into its crater. Be sure to walk the surreal basalt garden corridor, and check out the lava rock villages.

Evening

A dinner to remember. Dine at the park’s volcano restaurant for authentic local dishes prepared in a tranquil garden setting. Afterward, enjoy a moving live performance by Li and Miao ethnic folk dancers.

Morning

Tee time. The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou sits on the mission hills golf resort, where you’ll find 10 18-hole championship courses set in Hainan’s lush tropical landscape and an ideal climate. Not a golfer? There’s no better place to learn. The golf academy opens at 8:30 a.M.

Midday

Unwind. Visit the hotel’s well-appointed spa and fitness center for the golfer’s retreat, designed to release tension in the back and neck, and revitalize legs and feet. After the foot soak, scrub and hot-stone massage, you’ll do outdoor yoga to increase flexibility and mental focus.

Afternoon

Island bird haven. Head to Dongzhai harbor to see china’s largest mangrove preserve, 8,245 acres of tropical wetlands that are home to 159 species of birds. Don’t miss the nearby submarine villages, where you can swim and dive in the well-preserved remains of 72 ancient villages that were submerged by a massive earthquake in 1605.

Seaside lunch. Dongzhai harbor is a delightful place to eat, with several small port villages and numerous restaurants at the ready-to-share the area’s specialty: succulent oysters harvested directly from the shallow harbor.

Evening

One-of-a-kind dining. Head to Tin Lung Heen at the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou for dinner. Partake in authentic Chinese culinary traditions with a family-style dinner, specially prepared by chef Alan Chen.

Late-night hotspot. Lan Kwai Fong is a 21st-century version of the famed hong kong bar strip. Don’t miss birdcage, a Polynesian-style tiki bar with killer cocktails.

Morning

Breakfast in bed. Ring the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou’s room service for breakfast in bed from terra, the hotel’s contemporary kitchen serving up the best of both Chinese and western cuisines.

Midday

Essential sightseeing. Visit the tomb of Hairui, an official of the Ming dynasty famous for his incorruptible character. Built in 1589, the granite tomb is lined with ancient stone statues and memorials. Also on the property, you’ll find the Hairui Cultural Exhibit Hall, an ornate landmark building.

Afternoon

The real coconut city. Dongjiao coconut plantation is a bit outside of the city but worth a visit for nature lovers. Walk winding trails through a massive forest of every type of coconut tree, relax on pristine beaches and dive into the world-class seafood of the town of Dongjiao. Check with the concierge at the Ritz-Carlton, Haikou to arrange transportation.

Volcanic hot springs. Mission Hills is home to Haikou’s largest natural volcanic mineral hot springs with nearly 200 hot- and cold-water pools. Each pool has a therapeutic health benefit, infused with its own unique blend of herbs, like ginseng or lavender, and its own healing modality like waterfalls or mud.

Evening

Drinks at sunset. Watch the tropical sunset over the golf course at flair’s chic rooftop lounge with a handcrafted cocktail and perhaps some Asian-style tapas.

Farewell dinner. The Ritz-Carlton, Haikou’s Tin Lung Heen accentuates classic interior design with a backdrop wall of abstract Chinese landscape embroidery artwork that gracefully echoes a low-key, classy setting. Diners can enjoy the best of the highly-revered Cantonese cuisine as well as regional delicacies while listening to a master recite classic T’Ang dynasty poetry.