Qilou Old Street is a distinctive street landscape in Haikou City, mainly distributed along Deshengsha Road, Xinhua South Road, Zhongshan Road, Boai Road, and Jiefang Road.
The Qilou buildings, inspired by the architectural styles of Southeast Asia, were constructed by overseas Chinese returning from the region, and now these Southeast Asian-style buildings house a variety of shops.
At first glance, the old street appears weathered and quaint, but upon closer inspection, one can discover that the buildings are adorned with elegant and intricate sculptures as well as Western-style decorations, giving them a Baroque flair. The winding streets and the crowd of people passing by create a unique atmosphere, and it’s important to note that bargaining is required when shopping here, and it’s essential to be assertive. Deshengsha Road is a larger clothing wholesale market in Hainan. Xinhua South Road features traditional tailor shops, various affordable clothing and shoe stores, tea houses, and snack shops. Zhongshan Road, once known for its hardware and lighting stores, now boasts numerous cafes, galleries, and craft shops, exuding a strong sense of bourgeoisie and artistic atmosphere. Boai Road’s street-side shops sell home appliances, small goods, clothing, fresh flowers, and gifts, giving off a strong sense of daily life. Running through Boai Road are the East and West Gate markets. The East Gate is a seafood and dry goods market, while the West Gate is an antique street with a variety of antique stalls lining the streets. The relatively famous Qilou Snack Street is not located in Qilou Old Street but in Datong Street. It is accessible by a two-station bus ride or a 1.1-kilometer walk from Qilou Old Street. After shopping, one can visit there to enjoy snacks such as Bao Luo Fen, Qing Bu Liang, Fan Sha Taro, Durian Crisp, Coconut Rice, and Papaya Snow Frog… which are irresistible to food enthusiasts. The entire area is open all year round and accessible at all times. A must-visit tip here is that you can taste authentic Hainanese snacks and learn about the local customs, culture, and history of Haikou.
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