Haikou

Haikou
海口市
Hoihow
City of Haikou
Top: Panoramic view of Haikou from Xixiu Beach, Middle from left: A facade building in Zhongshan Road in Qiongshan District, Hainan Performance of Art Center, Haikou Century Bridge and Nandu River, Bottom: Haikou People's Park in Lonhua District
Nickname: 
Coconut City (椰城)
Interactive map of Haikou
Haikou
Location of the city centre in Hainan
Coordinates (Hainan People's Government): 20°01′07″N 110°20′56″E / 20.0186°N 110.3488°E / 20.0186; 110.3488
CountryChina
ProvinceHainan
Government
 • TypePrefecture-level city
 • BodyHaikou Municipal People's Congress
 • CCP Committee SecretaryDing Hui
Acting
 • Congress ChairmanHan Yingwei
 • MayorDing Hui
 • CPPCC ChairmanGuo Yanhong
Area
2,237 km2 (864 sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018)
427 km2 (165 sq mi)
 • Metro
2,280 km2 (880 sq mi)
Population
 (2020 Census)
3,001,600
 • Density1,342/km2 (3,475/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018)
2,250,000
 • Urban density5,270/km2 (13,600/sq mi)
 • Metro
2,046,189
 • Metro density897/km2 (2,320/sq mi)
GDP
 • Prefecture-level cityCN¥ 235.8 billion
US$ 33.4 billion
 • Per capitaCN¥ 80,837
US$ 11,408
Time zoneUTC+08:00 (China Standard)
Postal code
570000
Area code898
ISO 3166 codeCN-HI-01
Websitehaikou.gov.cn
Haikou
"Haikou", as written in Chinese
Chinese海口
PostalHoihow
Literal meaningMouth of the sea
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHǎikǒu
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinghoi2hau2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHái-kháu
Hainanese RomanizationHái-khāu

Haikou is the capital and most populous city of the Chinese province of Hainan. Haikou city is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River. The northern part of the city is on the Haidian Island, which is separated from the main part of Haikou by the Haidian River, a branch of the Nandu. Administratively, Haikou is a prefecture-level city, comprising four districts, and covering 2,280 square kilometres (880 sq mi). There are 2,046,189 inhabitants in the built-up area, all living within the four urban districts of the city.

Haikou was originally a port city, serving as the port for Qiongshan. During the Chinese Civil War, Haikou was one of the last Nationalist strongholds to be taken by the Communists with the Battle of Hainan Island in 1950. Currently, more than half of the island's total trade still goes through Haikou's ports with the Temple of the Five Lords located to the southeast of the city.

The city is home to Hainan University, a comprehensive research university under the Project 211 and the Double First Class University Plan in certain disciplines, which has its main campus on Haidian Island.