The Hainan island’s capital is a busy port and transport hub, with the ambience of a tropical Asian city. To its southeast, Wugong Ci (Five Officials Memorial Temple) was built in 1889 to honor a group of scholars who were banished here during the Tang dynasty for criticizing their government. One of its halls commemorates the Song-era poet, Su Dongpo, who was also exiled here between 1097 and 1100.

To the west of the city center is a massive fortification at Xiuyang, constructed by the Chinese in the 19th century to resist the French. It is surrounded by thick stone walls concealing six large cannons, that are connected by subterranean passages. Farther southwest is the tomb of Hai Rui, an upright Ming dynasty official who was exiled to Hainan for criticism.