Wenchang
Rockets among coconut palms, the ancestral home of the Soong sisters — and the island's largest coconut forest.
| Hotel | 2 nights Holiday Inn Express Wenchang, Longlou |
| Light | East coast — morning light on the sea · sunrise approx. 06:44, sunset approx. 17:58 |
| Spaceflight | Launch site only from outside · science centre and beaches accessible |
| Food | Wenchang chicken and coconut chicken |
What this section is about
Wenchang is Hainan's far north-east and brings two eras together in a tiny space. On one side China's most modern spaceflight launches from here, among coconut palms and fishing villages. On the other, Wenchang is the homeland of the overseas Chinese: for centuries people left from here for Southeast Asia and beyond — one of them became the father of the famous Soong sisters.
Add to that a very simple Hainan: the island's largest coconut forest, the coconut farmers and the chicken the town is named after. Wenchang chicken counts as one of Hainan's four famous dishes.
Getting around Wenchang
The hotel is in Longlou, on Qishui Bay right next to the spaceport, about 30 kilometres from Wenchang town and its station. The sights are widely scattered: the Soong house in the north, the coconut forest in the south.
Without a car Didi is the best option here too. Few cars are about in the villages in the evening — so book return trips early.
- Check launch dates shortly before the trip. If a rocket launches on these days: get to the beach early; roads are closed on launch days.
- The launch site is not open to foreigners. For the science centre at the entrance, check in advance whether foreign passports are accepted.
- Plan on Didi for the way from Wenchang station to the hotel — it's about 30 kilometres.
Turquoise = blue hour · Gold = golden hour · Light = harsh midday light
Day by day
About 100 kilometres, roughly an hour and a half by Didi. Compare train and bus in Amap on the day.
At the entrance to the launch site: models, exhibition, view of the facilities. The site itself is not open to foreigners.
Volcanic rocks and tide pools by the hotel, behind them the towers of the launch site.
The farmhouse where the father of Soong Ching-ling and Soong Mei-ling was born as Han Jiaozhun.
One of Hainan's four famous dishes, in its home town.
Through the palm villages to the sea, a coconut straight from the farmer. Coconut chicken in the evening.
Order Didi early; few cars are about in the villages in the evening.