"Did you know Hainan is cooler than Shanghai!"

Ms. Wang, a tourist from Shanghai, recently posted on social media describing her visit to Hainan.

Expecting the tropical island to be "very hot", she was pleasantly surprised by the cooler conditions. With summer showers helping moderate temperatures, outdoor activities proved particularly comfortable.

Her experience is far from unique.

As demand for cool summer escapes continues to rise across China, Hainan is challenging the conventional perception of tropical islands as "too hot for summer travel". Ocean breezes, the moderating influence of the surrounding sea, passing showers and abundant vegetation all make it far more comfortable than in many of the country's inland "furnace cities", creating a new appeal for Hainan as a summer retreat.

Data from travel platform Trip.com show that the number of online travel bookings for Hainan during the 2026 summer travel season rose a staggering 10.8 percent year on year, as travel spending increased 13.4 percent.

Data from Fliggy similarly show that bookings for tourist attractions in Hainan increased 30 percent year on year during the summer, while bookings for customized tours have more than doubled.

This summer, one of Hainan's most surprising cool escapes can be found among the streams and valleys of its tropical rainforests.

As younger Chinese tourists seek more personalized experiences away from major attractions, Baoting, Wuzhishan and Qiongzhong, which areall located in central Hainan, have emerged as popular destinations for rainforest and valley excursions.

According to Tongcheng Travel, as of Aug. 3, search interest in Hainan destinations with stream trekking, rafting and waterfalls had risen by more than 160 percent from the previous month.

Tourists stroll through the tropical rainforest at the Baihualing Tropical Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Qiongzhong.

The rainforest streams in Wuzhishan are famous for their clear water, dense tree cover and waterfalls scattered throughout the valleys.

Search interest in attractions including the Baihualing Waterfall in Qiongzhong and Taipingshan Waterfall in Wuzhishan, have also continued to climb, driving a more than 55 percent increase in bookings for combined attraction-and-hotel packages.

On July 15, the 123 Adventure Park at the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baotin officially opened to the public. Making use of the area's natural rainforest canyons and streams, the new attraction offers two major outdoor experiences: a canyon via ferrata, and canyon rafting.

"Our Adventure Park takes advantage of the local environment," said a

representative of the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone. "Since its opening, visitor numbers have steadily increased, with the naturally cool environment and outdoor experiences proving particularly attractive to tourists."

To better integrate the rainforest tourism resources of central Hainan, Wuzhishan, Baoting, Baisha, Qiongzhong and Tunchang have jointly established the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Tourism Alliance.

The five cities and counties have launched a signature tourism route titled "Rainforest Oxygen: Five-Destination Tour," bringing together a range of experiences including rainforest hiking, waterfall exploration, canyon rafting, hot spring wellness, and tea picking and processing.

The initiative offers visitors a broader range of ways to enjoy Hainan’s cooler summer landscapes.

From rainforest hot springs in Baoting and the tropical rainforests and Red Canyon rafting experiences of Wuzhishan, to the meteorite crater tea gardens of Baisha, Baihualing Waterfall and the highland villages of Qiongzhong, and the fragrant flower fields and luxury rural experiences among rice paddies in Tunchang, the five destinations complement one another.

Together, they are creating a central Hainan rainforest tourism network featuring distinct local attractions and a diverse range of experiences along a single route.

Coastal resorts are also getting a summer refresh.

Operating daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sanya Phoenix International Airport has introduced the "Airport · Cloudscape Cool Corridor", a mist-based cooling system in its domestic arrivals area.

Popular attractions including Wuzhizhou Island and West Island have also added misting facilities and begun offering free summer drinks such as mung bean soup and herbal tea.

From airports and scenic areas to hotels and parks, a chain of cooling measures is being introduced throughout.

Relatively new experiences for the Chinese market (such as surfing in Houhai, beachcombing at Xiaodonghai and low-altitude flights over Haitang Bay) are attracting younger travelers.

At Wuzhizhou Island, a 300-meter-long via ferrata route has been built along nearly 50-meter-high volcanic cliffs, combining climbing, panoramic sea views and seaside café experiences.

Tourists enjoy the cool waters and scenery at the Red Canyon Cultural Tourism Zone in Wuzhishan.

For the 2026 summer season, Sanya has also launched 10 signature summer tourism routes under "A Cool Summer Awaits You in Sanya" theme, while working with platforms including Meituan, Tongcheng Travel and Douyin to provide a range of consumer benefits for visitors.

Xue Bingbing, a researcher at the Tongcheng Research Institute, said that Hainan's summer tourism had traditionally been dominated by beach holidays. This year, however, the growing popularity of rainforest streams and valleys marks an expansion of the island's tourism appeal from the "blue" ocean to the "green" rainforest.

From mountains to sea, and from active adventures to leisurely escapes, Hainan is turning the conventional image of a scorching tropical summer into a genuine peak season for summer travel — with a winning combination of cool experiences, fun activities and affordable options.