Wenchang Coastal Trip: Romance of Lighthouses and Windmills

🌈Today's Itinerary Haikou 🚗 Xinhu Hai Viewing Platform 🚗 Mulan Bay 🚗 Windmill Coast Viewing Belt 🚗 Baohujiao 🚗 Changsa Town (🛏️) Leaving Haikou, we officially started our first day in Wenchang. On this day, we traveled clockwise along the Hainan Island Tourist Highway, checked in at several unforgettable attractions, and finally settled in Changsa Town. 1️⃣ Xinhu Hai Viewing Platform: The Overture to the Journey Departing from Haikou, the Xinhu Hai Viewing Platform seems to be the first check-in point along the Hainan Island Tourist Highway. Here, the view is wide, and the sea and sky are the same color, as if opening the prelude to our journey. On the viewing platform, the breeze is blowing, and the distant waves are gently beating the shore, quiet and beautiful. We stopped here for a while, took a few photos, and continued on. There are not many cars on the Hainan Island Tourist Highway, so you can drive slowly and enjoy the scenery along the way, which is very comfortable. However, we also saw the trauma caused by the typhoon along the way. Many casuarina trees on the roadside were broken in the middle, and many coconut trees were bald. 2️⃣ Mulan Bay: Symphony of Lighthouse and Sea 🌊 Geographical coordinates: 19°36′ north latitude, the northernmost "end of the land" of Hainan Island, with a long coastline, crystal clear water, turbulent waves, and jagged rocks on the shore, the scenery is very spectacular. The most eye-catching is the No. 1 lighthouse in Asia standing by the sea - Mulan Lighthouse. The lighthouse is 97.2 meters above sea level and 74.2 meters in height. It is like a sea-stabilizing needle inserted into the sea and sky. Its light can cover a range of 24 nautical miles along the coast, guiding passing ships. 3️⃣ Windmill No. 3 Viewing Platform: The Beauty of Windmill's Agility Leaving Mulan Bay to the south, you will enter the 12-kilometer-long windmill landscape avenue. Windmills stand along the road, forming a unique landscape. The windmills on the roadside are also painted with cute patterns, adding a bit of agility and fun to this seaside. We stopped at Windmill No. 3 Viewing Platform. The huge windmills turned slowly in the sea breeze, making a slight buzzing sound. Looking at these towering windmills, I couldn't help but wonder how they were erected, and my heart was full of admiration for the Chinese workers. 4️⃣ Baohujiao: Quiet Seaside Time Baohujiao is a relatively deserted attraction, but the scenery here has a unique flavor. A boardwalk extends into the sea, and at the end is a blockhouse-like observation station. The sea water is crystal clear, and the waves beat against the boardwalk, making bursts of roar. We strolled on the beach, feeling the sea breeze blowing on our faces, as if isolated from the world. There are no noisy crowds here, only the sound of waves and wind, allowing the soul to have a moment of tranquility. 5️⃣ Changsa Town: The Daily Life of the City and Avoiding Pitfalls In the evening, we arrived at Changsa Town and stayed in a hotel near the bus station. It is very close to the Song Family Ancestral Residence and has convenient transportation. 🥣 Late Night Canteen: In the evening, we strolled around the town. Although we had already eaten dinner, we couldn't help but buy a bowl of chicken feces vine noodles when we saw them on the street. This local specialty snack has a soft and glutinous taste with a light fragrance, which is unforgettable. Not far away, local people were buying grilled sugar cane. It is said that grilled sugar cane can cure sore throats. We also bought a section for CNY 3. In addition to being hot to chew, the taste and sweetness seemed to be no different from ordinary sugar cane. 🌌 Town Night Talk: The night in Changsa Town is relatively deserted, with few pedestrians on the road, but the teahouses are very lively. People sit around low tables, sipping tea from rough porcelain cups. There are few snacks on the table, but the chatter is constant - this is the essence of Hainan "Old Dad Tea". Tea is the introduction, and human affection is the taste. ⚠️ Avoiding Pitfalls Reminder: The town center is close to the highway, and the noise of large trucks is obvious at night. It is recommended to choose a homestay on the back street or bring your own earplugs; the garbage trucks on the street in the middle of the night, the noise of the bus station in the early morning, and the street singers rise and fall, making it difficult to fall asleep. Next time, I might choose a quieter place to spend the night.