Haikou History

Located in the north of Hainan Province, Haikou has a history of thousand years as a commercial port from Song Dynasty (960-1127). Since the capital of Hainan Province in 1988, Haikou is the political, economical, scientific and technological center of Hainan. In 2002, Haikou merged with Qiongshan city, and Haikou city’s development entered into a new page.
 

Historical Administrative Division

Haikou has a long history. It was under the direct rule of Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-9 A.D.). The name “Haikou” first appeared in Song Dynasty. Since Han, Haikou belonged to Guangxi; in 1370 of Ming Dynasty, it affiliated itself under Guangdong; from 627 of Tang Dynasty, Haikou was always attached to Qiongshan County. Haikou was built as Haikou City under Guangdong Province marked off from Qiongshan County in December, 1926. It was founded as Haikou City under Hainan special administrative region in 1949. Haikou City was liberated peacefully on April 23, 1950. Haikou is the capital of Hainan Province since 1988.
 

Cultural History

Haikou shows us a rich humanity history. Since Qin (221-206 B.C.), Han (202B.C.-220A.D.), Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907) and Five Dynasty (907-960), central government extended the governed area of Hainan Island, and people in Han nationality migrated continuously into Hainan Island, which improved the economical and cultural exchange. Especially, many famous officials and scholars were relegated to Hainan Island, who made a great contribution to cultural development of Hainan, and the most known one was the famous poet Su Dongpo in Song Dynasty.
 

Historical Sites

Besides, Five Official Memorial Temple in Haikou City was built in memory of relegated officials Li Deyu from Tang Dynasty, Li Gang, Li Guang, Hu Quan and Zhao Ding from Song Dynasty. Sugong Ancestral Hall built for Su Dongpo was located in the east of Five Official Memorial Temple. Hairui Tomb was built to commemorate the honest and upright official Hai Rui in Ming Dynasty who was a Haikou native. Xiuying Fortress was a historical site built in 1891 to resist foreign aggression. In order to liberate Hainan in 1950, there were 20,000 soldiers died when crossing the sea and Hainan Revolutionary Martyr Monument in Haikou People Park was built for them.