Haikou originally grew up as the port for Qiongshan, the ancient administrative capital of Hainan Island, which is situated some 3 miles (5 km) inland.
The American officials were driven to the Hainan provincial government compound in downtown Haikou.
As a result, the People's Republic is now home to the two biggest golf clubs in the world: Mission Hills Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, which features seven 18-hole resort and championship courses, and Mission Hills Haikou, still under construction on the tropical island of Hainan and which will have 22 golf courses on offer.
ON MAY 1st, the Coconut Fragrance Princess, a former cargo vessel refitted as a cruise ship, docked at Haikou on the southern island of Hainan after a three-day cruise to the Paracel islands, the first of many expected Chinese excursions to the islands.
In 2011 the events business received a boost when a large convention centre costing $230m opened in Haikou, the island's capital.
Haikou, Wade-Giles romanization Hai-k'ou, conventional Hoihow, city and capital of Hainan sheng (province), southern China.
Since the 1950s, machinery, farm equipment, and textiles have been manufactured in the Haikou area for local consumption.
Among the cultural attractions of Haikou are the Hainan Provincial Museum and the Hainan Biodiversity Museum, both completed in the early 21st century.
The ports at Haikou and neighbouring Qiongshan were opened to foreign trade in 1858.
In 1876 Qiongshan was opened to foreign trade, but thereafter the outport of Haikou began to outstrip it in size and importance; Haikou separated from Qiongshan in 1926 and became an independent city.
The capital is Haikou, on Hainan Island's northern coast.
