Tourists flock to Hainan for May Day holiday

Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, Hainan province, on May 2, 2026. [Photo by Chen Wenbin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

China's southern island province of Hainan recorded a surge in tourist flows on the first day of the May Day holiday, as seasonal demand and government incentives boosted travel activity across the island.

From mountain trails to coastal viewpoints, major scenic areas reported heavy foot traffic on May 1. At Baishiling Scenic Area in Qionghai, hundreds of visitors took part in a hiking event, while families explored volcanic landscapes at Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark, according to Hainan Daily.

Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, Hainan province, on May 2, 2026. [Photo by Chen Wenbin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

At the same time, visitors sought relief from the heat in the rainforest at Baihua Ridge in Qiongzhong in the central part of Hainan. At Tongguling Scenic Area in Wenchang, tourists enjoyed sea views and posed for photos with space-themed installations, it added.

Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, Hainan province, on May 2, 2026. [Photo by Chen Wenbin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

China's May Day holiday, coinciding with general spring travel demand and the lingering impact of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya which concluded on April 30, has driven an increase in visitors. A key factor has been a 30 million yuan ($4.4 million) subsidy program launched on April 25, which offers bundled "air ticket + tourism" vouchers covering flights, hotels, attractions and duty-free shopping.

Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, Hainan province, on May 2, 2026. [Photo by Chen Wenbin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Data from Qunar, a major domestic online travel platform, showed that since the rollout of the "air ticket + tourism" vouchers, flight bookings to Hainan for the May Day holiday rose 113 percent. Bookings to Qionghai nearly doubled, while hotel reservations in destinations such as Ding'an county, Ledong Li autonomous county and Qionghai also recorded notable growth, according to the report.

Visitors at a fireworks carnival at the Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort in the Lingshui Li autonomous county, Hainan province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Transport indicators also pointed to rising flow. Passenger traffic across the Qiongzhou Strait increased steadily, while the island's three major airports, including Haikou Meilan and Sanya Phoenix international airports, are expected to handle about 749,000 passengers during the holiday period.

Visitors at a fireworks carnival at the Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort in the Lingshui Li autonomous county, Hainan province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To accommodate the influx, authorities have planned more than 80 events, including promotional campaigns, cultural performances and sports activities. Measures to strengthen services, market supervision and safety management have also been put in place to ensure a smooth and orderly travel experience.