【World at My Stride】Hainan Island Self-Driving Tour Begins: Haikou Arcade Old Street

Setting off from Huangyao Ancient Town, we first arrived in Yulin just to have a famous fragrant meat hotpot. The owner closes at two o'clock, but seeing that we came from afar especially to dine, they were willing to wait for us, thumbs up👍. The hotpot was indeed delicious, especially after eating the meat and then boiling the vermicelli, it made me, someone who doesn't like vermicelli, eat two bowls. After a satisfying meal, we set off for Zhanjiang. By the time we arrived, it was evening. This is the place where we want to retire, with its slow-paced life, the sea and seafood, a mild climate, and a good geographical location. To the north, there's Hunan and Hubei; to the west, Guangxi and Yunnan; to the east, Guangdong and Fujian; and to the south, Hainan. The options for self-driving tours in the surrounding areas are plentiful. Zhanjiang's city center is quite bustling, and the infrastructure is not bad either. The road conditions on the way to Xuwen Port are a bit poor, especially at night some sections lack street lights. Speaking of Xuwen Port, let's talk about the long queues to Hainan. Actually, when we entered the island, it was okay. We queued for an hour in vain. After coming off the highway, because large and small vehicles were mixed without segregation, we got stuck in the large vehicle formation. Small cars boarding the ferry had a smooth passage. Some small cars were driving in the opposite direction on the opposite lane, which is said to be allowed by the traffic police. At this moment, I feel sympathy for the drivers who were driving normally in the opposite direction, and also for ourselves in the next eleven days. The reverse driving in the early morning really gave us a shock! We took the Shuangtai 37 ferry, and coincidentally, it was the same ferry for our return trip. The crew basically had no sense of service, were not very responsive to inquiries, especially when the drivers went to get their cars before disembarking, there was no guidance, and they were chased around by the crew. The broadcast in 'plastic' Mandarin was hard to understand for northerners; the most enthusiastic were those selling massage chair services, driven by profit. The urban construction in Haikou's new district is quite good, with well-built houses but lacking some amenities. The streets were not very crowded, which might also be due to the temperature drop. Wearing a down jacket in Haikou was just right. The Arcade Old Street was the first scenic spot we visited, and it was very lively. Strolling along the street, tasting local snacks, and walking deeper into residential areas, we experienced the atmosphere of the old city. Many alleys in the south are like this, distinguishable by the dialects you hear. The Hainan Island tour officially starts, first experiencing the eastern route amidst the drizzle, with better weather to follow.