Glass Sea and the Atmosphere of Life: A Three-Day Stroll on Xidao Island

When visiting Hainan, you have to go to an outlying island. After hesitating between Wuzhizhou Island and Xidao Island and consulting online recommendations, I made my choice. Wuzhizhou Island is famous for its seaside scenery and marine entertainment, while Xidao Island not only offers seaside views and entertainment but also has cultural attractions—a century-old fishing village with a lower degree of commercialization, which suits me better. Complete Record of the Three-Day Trip 🗓️Day 1: Starting the Fishing Village Journey We took a ferry from Xiaoqigang to Xidao Island in the afternoon. The homestay owner was very enthusiastic and came to pick us up at the tourist pier. Walking into the homestay was a pleasant surprise; the courtyard was full of flowers, with hanging baskets and rocking chairs. The European-style decorated room was warm and comfortable. In the evening, the owner drove us on an electric cart to Niuwangling to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, the park closed at 17:30, and we arrived too late to enter. 🍛: The homestay owner's wife is a great cook; it was my first time eating stir-fried cactus🌵. 🗓️Day 2: 🛵 Leisure Time on Xidao Island 🌄 Xidao Island Sunrise and Beachcombing: Chasing the First Ray of Sunshine Early in the morning, with beachcombing tools prepared in advance by the homestay owner's wife, we rode electric scooters to the fishing village pier. Although we didn’t catch the sunrise as hoped, the morning light on the five-star red flag, the breakwater, and the pale blue sky was as serene as a painting. Children excitedly picked up shells and crabs by the sea, fully enjoying the fun of beachcombing. 🛌 Back to Sleep: A Lazy and Cozy Afternoon After watching the sunrise and having breakfast, we went back to the homestay for a good nap and woke up at lunchtime. It had been a long time since I felt so relaxed sleeping. 🪸 Coral Old House Area: Decoding Time Among Stone Walls Strolling through the century-old buildings made of gray-black coral stones felt like traveling back in time. Each coral stone displayed unique patterns, exquisite and full of charm. The cultural and creative shops here display various exquisite handicrafts with fishing village characteristics, making it an ideal place to buy souvenirs. Whether in the corners of buildings or street turns, the strong retro fishing village atmosphere makes it a perfect backdrop for photos. 🌟 Xidao Women’s Militia Memorial Hall: Listening to Stories of Heroic Women The memorial hall showcases the glorious years of the Xidao Women’s Militia since its establishment in 1959 through detailed exhibitions, highlighting the spirit of women who are as capable as men. The classic film "Haixia" was inspired by this legendary place (free admission, open 9:00-18:00). 📖 Sea Book House: Reading Wherever the Wind Turns the Page A book house converted from an old fishing boat, where you can casually pick a book and read by the window, "reading whichever page the wind turns." It is also a popular photo spot to capture your artistic moments on Xidao Island. 🐢 Turtle Beach: Encountering the Natural Beauty of Coral Reefs We rode electric scooters eastward to Turtle Beach but ended up at a garbage dump with no way forward. After turning back a bit, we found a gap in the fence by the roadside to get down to the sea. This is a coral reef nature reserve, with coral stones of various shapes scattered along the shore. Local women were busy bending over in the water picking something. Huge reef rocks were scattered along the shore, where people could lie comfortably and enjoy the sunshine, offering a wild charm. Although Turtle Beach was right in front of us, it is guarded by security and requires taking a scenic area electric cart to enter, but seeing this beach was still worth the trip. 🛳️ Tourist Pier: Experiencing the Island’s Entertainment Feast Many tents⛺️ were set up on the beach near the tourist pier, where children played freely. On the sea, parasailing and other marine entertainment projects were exciting and attracted many tourists. The marine project center and diving center are also gathered here, providing a variety of sea activities to meet different needs. Additionally, we experienced a short 5D movie lasting only a few minutes, feeling the unique charm of technology combined with entertainment. 🌠 Fishing Village Market: Tasting a Fresh and Delicious Seafood Feast We originally planned to have dinner at an island restaurant, but when we returned to the fishing village market square, fresh squid🦑 had just arrived. Local women crowded around to buy it, and I also bought more than a pound, then took it back to the homestay for the owner’s wife to cook. Fresh seafood indeed has a unique flavor, delicious beyond words, leaving a lasting impression. 🗓️Day 3: Morning Market Life and Popular Photo Spots 🐟 Fishing Village Pier: Feeling the Lively Morning Market Life The daily morning market is where fishermen sell fresh catches, offering a strong local life atmosphere. Watching fishermen with freshly caught seafood bargaining with locals felt like immersing in the most authentic fishing village life. 🌟 Popular Photo Spots: Capturing Beautiful Moments on Xidao Island The heart-shaped photo wall, seaside wooden boats, seaside photo frames, and coral wall photo spots are all popular places on Xidao Island. It’s recommended to go early in the morning before many tourists arrive to take photos freely; otherwise, you’ll have to wait in long lines. After finishing the photo tour, we took a boat back to Xiaoqigang. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit Niuwangling Scenic Area, which will have to wait for next time. If we hadn’t taken a nap yesterday, maybe there would have been enough time. Practical Tips: 🅿️: Xiaoqigang Pier 🚢: Take a boat to Xidao Island; guests must board by 17:00 at the latest. 🎫: 92 RMB/person (includes scenic area ticket and round-trip ferry ticket, ferries run continuously) 🛏️: Sanya Xidao Xiaokang Bieyuan Homestay 🛵 Island Transportation: Renting an electric scooter🛵 is the most convenient way to get around Xidao Island. However, pay special attention to parking regulations; our scooter was almost towed. Sightseeing buses are required to go to Niuwangling and Turtle Beach. 🍤 Food Recommendations: Shrimp cakes are crispy outside and tender inside, Qingbuliang (a local dessert) is refreshing and delicious, and various seafood is fresh and tasty—definitely a must-try. Epilogue The beauty of Xidao Island lies in the mottled patterns of the century-old coral walls, in the rustling sound of pages turning in the sea book, and in the bougainvillea in the homestay courtyard along with the stir-fried cactus dish served by the owner’s wife. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle and find an island that is "just slow enough," this is the answer.