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In Haikou, it's worth visiting local specialty shops and picking up Xinglong coffee, pepper, coconut sugar, and other goodies to take home. These are great for both personal consumption and gifts. Hainan pepper is especially fragrant and well worth buying. These local specialties are generally sold directly from the manufacturer, so they're reasonably priced. You should also stock up on dried seafood. Dadongmen Market is a popular destination for dried seafood, where you can pick up some delicious dried red snapper or squid.
Pepper purchased in Hainan is divided into white pepper, black pepper, and wild pepper. Wild pepper is smaller than cultivated pepper and has a lighter brown color. It is generally considered to be purely natural and has a stronger aroma.
Hainan is my country's main coffee producing area, and many international coffee brands source their ingredients from Xinglong coffee. Xinglong coffee retains the original aroma and flavor of coffee, offering a rich, smooth, and unique flavor.
Coconut sugar is a Hainan specialty, especially the Nan Guo and Chun Guang brands. Its sweet yet non-greasy taste and unique aroma make it a popular choice among tourists both at home and abroad.
Haikou's Yellow Lantern Chili Sauce is very famous. Those who like spicy food should not miss it. There are two kinds of spicy sauce: regular and extra spicy. You can choose according to your taste. It is generally sold in ordinary supermarkets.
In Haikou, you can see handicrafts made from coconut shells almost everywhere on the streets. They are great souvenirs and gifts, and they are very affordable, usually around 10 yuan.
Haixiu Avenue is Haikou's bustling commercial street. Near the Haikou Hotel, you'll find numerous souvenir shops. The most elegantly decorated shops are usually jewelry stores, specializing in Hainan specialties like South Pearls, crystals, and tortoise shells. When buying these items, bargain hard and, ideally, have someone knowledgeable with you to avoid being ripped off.
Address: Haixiu Avenue Commercial City, Haikou City, Hainan Province, Guangdong Province
Dadongmen Market is a hub for dried seafood, where you can buy delicious red fish, dried squid, and other dried seafood. Across from Dongmen Market, at Ximen, lies Antique Street, lined with antique stalls of all sizes. Finding a few treasures, such as a string of Buyi bells or a large piece of Li ethnic group tie-dyed fabric, is a truly rewarding experience.
Address: Near No. 143 Boai North Road
You can buy a variety of Hainan's seasonal tropical fruits at the North-South Fruit Wholesale Market on Zhongshan South Road in the city.
The Aquatic Products Wharf is Hainan Province's largest wholesale market, trade base, and cargo transit and distribution center. It's a great place to buy Hainan's local specialties, coconut products, and more.
Address: Aquatic Products Wharf, Longhua District, Haikou City, Hainan Province
Lepusheng (Haixiu East Road), Wanghai International Plaza (Haixiu East Road), DC City (Haixiu East Road), and Pearl Plaza (Haixiu East Road).
Shengsheng Department Store (diagonally opposite Wanlv Park on Binhai Avenue), Guangbai Department Store (intersection of Yusha Road and Jinlong Road), Yixin Shopping Plaza (intersection of Guomao Road and Jinlong Road).
Oriental Plaza (diagonally opposite Longhua Road and No. 1 Middle School), Friendship Shopping Mall, Tailong City (diagonally opposite Oriental Plaza), etc.