Nanyang Shophouses (Haikou Old Streets)

Nanyang Shophouses (Haikou Old Streets)

Highlights: Nanyang shophouses are the most distinctive cultural landmarks in Haikou.

Introduction: The Haikou Old Streets are located around Zhongshan Road, Xinhua South Road, Jiefang East Road, Bo'ai Road, and Deshengsha Road in the city center. Lining the streets are century-old shophouses rich in Nanyang architectural style. Most of these shophouses in Haikou were built in the early 20th century by overseas Chinese returning from Southeast Asia — originally Hainanese who went to seek their fortunes in the region. After years of working and doing business abroad, they returned to Haikou and constructed these buildings in the Nanyang style.

Shophouses are a distinctive type of architecture found across Southeast Asia. In China, similar structures can still be found in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian — all regions with large overseas Chinese communities. Shophouse designs are well-suited to the tropical climate of southern China: the covered walkways on the ground floor provide shade from the sun and shelter from wind and rain.

Hainan, Haikou