Hainan in May 2026 – is it worth going on vacation? Weather and reviews, sea and air temperature, is it possible to swim, how to dress and what to take with you, prices for tours, air tickets and hotels. What to do and what to see in Hainan in April, what fruits ripen – says Eurotraveler.
The Chinese island of Hainan is a popular and therefore rapidly growing beach destination. A trip in which is a real fashion trend for Russians this and, apparently, the coming seasons.
It doesn’t occur to anyone to be surprised by this – who doesn’t want to relax at sea in a tropical and quite exotic place? Moreover, the cost of such a vacation – and today this is the main point – is at an acceptable level even for slightly (crossed out) average earning people.
Yes, you can’t always go on vacation to Hainan – no matter what biased guidebooks and bloggers say. And yet, I want to do this even in seemingly not the best periods of the year.
In particular, I really want to go to Hainan in May. Deliberately ignoring climate statisticswhich hints that this time is “not suitable for everyone.” Well, or by convincing yourself with the help of a common cliché: “maybe everything is not as bad as they say”…
How justified is such frivolity and what do they say – in the same reviews? We’ve got it figured out!
Need to remember
The first week of May in China is almost entirely occupied by official holidays. And it is quite natural that the Chinese themselves at this time go on trips around their native country.
In particular, they are going to Hainan with great enthusiasm. Not just a tropical and beach island, but also a real wellness center. Where a larger number of centers for massage, acupuncture and other traditional techniques are located.
What are we talking about? Well, here’s the thing – the crowds everywhere during the period from May 1 to May 5, 2026 can be simply incredible.
Weather in Hainan in May
In full accordance with the location of the island in tropical latitudes, it is hot and humid. And if Russians, hardened by various life events, can somehow cope with the first, then it is difficult to “agree” with the second.
So if you cannot tolerate stuffiness or have severe problems with the cardiovascular system or breathing, then better refrain. In the sense, move your vacation to another time of the year – for example, go to Hainan in March.
Well, everyone else needs to keep in mind that the humidity on the island on some days can be above 80 and even 90%. And the air temperature in Hainan already at the beginning of May easily and easily reaches not only +30 degrees, but also +35 degrees.
Well, it continues to live in this range throughout the month…
It rarely happens below +30 during the day, above +35 is enough regularly. At night, however, you can take a breath, as air temperatures drop to +25, sometimes +27 degrees Celsius.
The likelihood of cloudless days is not very high, but they do happen. However, cloudy and partly cloudy ones are much more numerous.
Precipitation
You also need to be prepared for rain of tropical caliber, i.e. showers. In theory and on average, during a 10-day vacation you can encounter 2-3 such weather disasters in Hainan.
In general, the average monthly precipitation increases very significantly compared to April, at least 1.5 times. If in April in Hainan weather forecasters promise up to 110-120 mm, then in May you need to prepare for 180 mm.
And, by the way, this is not the limit – in July and August, especially September and October, it can be even worse.
At the same time, based on personal experience, it cannot be said that local downpours create serious problems – it’s still very warm – but it’s better to stop swimming in the sea at such moments. Doing other interesting things: visiting shops, tasting traditional Chinese cuisine in restaurants, getting a massage or acupuncture, finally.
Yes and simply relax It’s very pleasant in a hotel room at such moments. Although, of course, the mind is constantly disturbed by thoughts a la – “why am I wasting my time”?
Note that in the reviews you will not find any particular regret about the downpours in Hainan in May. On the contrary, they exude complete composure and contentment with the decision to go to the island at this particular time.
Water temperature
Allows you to swim at any time of the day. Well, that is, when it is not prohibited by flags – in the same Dadonghai and Yalunwan, vacationers are closely monitored on the beaches. And they literally drive them out of the water if the weather conditions (waves) do not look too safe.
In Sanya this is less strict…
The water temperature in Hainan in May reaches everywhere +29-30 degrees Celsius. Yes, water areas of this temperature are not particularly refreshing. But you definitely won’t freeze, no matter how much time you spend in the water.
When visiting the beach, be sure to remember that the sun at this latitude is very active. And it will easily burn the skin of northerners, not protected by appropriate cream, even on a cloudy day.
In May, the sun rises over Hainan around 6 am and sets below the horizon at the beginning of 8 pm. The duration of the daylight hours is about 13 hours.
What to take with you
If this is not your first time going to tropical regions, then you should know very well what you need to take with you on vacation. If you don’t know yet, read our detailed review on this topic.
As for the trip to China itself, when packing you need to take into account that this country has quite strict Internet censorship. And many applications and sites familiar to Russians are simply blocked.
Also, when traveling to the Celestial Empire, you need to take with you a certain amount of local cash currency (RMB). And also make sure that your bank card can pay for purchases and “make friends” with local ATMs.
It would also be a good idea to install some kind of offline translator on your smartphone ahead of time, which will help you communicate with the local population.
In cafes and restaurants in Hainan, there are unlikely to be any problems with misunderstandings – in many, even the menu has already been translated into Russian. But on excursionswhen ordering a taxi, in hotels, you may need the help of an electronic dictionary.
Let’s hope that you won’t need it, but you should still have a bulky first aid kit in your suitcase. Where all “first aid” supplies will be present (bandages, plasters, antiseptics, adsorbents, antipyretics, antiallergic drugs, sunburn ointment). As well as those medications that you take on your own.
Here is what else a tourist needs to take on a trip to China.
Prices
tours to Hainan even in early May deserve praise. Probably even so – they look so attractivethat not everyone can resist temptation.
In particular, for a week-long vacation in Dadonghai in May 2026, a couple of Muscovites will pay only 115-120 thousand rubles. The hotel will not be the worst, and the price of the tour includes not only flights, but even breakfast.
Independent travelers
perhaps they will spend more (depending on the starting place, however), but they will be able to choose more comfortable travel dates for them. And the hotel will probably be better – on the shores of Yalong Bay, for example.
For our part, we especially recommend the Holiday Inn & Suites Sanya Yalong Bay – an excellent hotel with its own beach. Excessively expensive for the May holidays (from 90 € per day for a double room), but rapidly falling in price (from 60 € per day) starting from the end of the first ten days of the month.
A much more modest option (only 30 € for two), but also with a large pool, is Sanya Yalong Bay Jinglai Resort. Accommodation in which, however, will require some sacrifices and – perhaps – even renting your own vehicle.
Since it’s inconvenient to get to the beach (Yalun Bay!) from this hotel. But on foot, in the heat, it’s completely impossible!
Air tickets from Moscow to Sanya and back in May will cost almost the standard 50 thousand rubles (~500 €) per passenger and his not the smallest (up to 23 kg) luggage.
As for excursions in Hainan, their market is still emerging. And prices go up a lot.
Things to do
For some reason it seems that you can think about this later. When you arrive, acclimatize, relax on the beach – in general, come to your senses.
Yes, we agree that with entertainment not so much in Hainan. But perhaps this is even good when there is no alternative to hot weather with a high probability of heavy rain?
Therefore, just relax. Spend a lot of time near the sea, swim whenever possible. Visit local cafes and restaurants, try local exotic fruits and berries (mangoes in May are in their juice), all those lychees and passion fruits, papayas, jackfruits and pitahayas.
You’ll almost certainly spend some time shopping. Moreover, in Hainan you can buy not only souvenirs, but also more practical items (tea, pearls, even clothes).
Those that you, no matter how hard you try, won’t be able to find at home. Or you will find it, but for exorbitant prices!
Is it worth taking the excursions? Only if you are completely bored on vacation!
In May, we recommend limiting yourself to the easily accessible Deer Turned its Head Park, which offers truly excellent views. On some days you can go to the Nantian thermal springs.
Numerous and varied. And also – an excellent tonic for organisms weakened by the long cold winter!
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© Eurotraveler
