Lingshui - During the National Day–Mid-Autumn holiday, Hainan once again stood out as one of China’s top seaside getaways. Though not as packed as during the Spring Festival, Bridging News reporter found visitor flows varied widely across the island.

The journey often began in Sanya, Hainan’s favorite getaway. At the iconic Atlantis resort, families and young travelers lingered before the vast aquarium, mesmerized by the marine life and eager to snap photos against its blue glow.

While entry allowed free exploration, staff confirmed that paid experiences, especially diving, remained in highest demand. "Diving is our most popular choice," one staff said, noting that the activity was considered cost-effective compared with offshore tours, offering an up-close encounter with abundant marine life right in the downtown hotel setting. Holiday prices, however, carried a seasonal premium—1,288 yuan (about 177 U.S. dollars) per session—with in-house guests enjoying a 100 yuan discount.

At the Sanya Atlantis, the large aquarium was bustling with families. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

Not far away, the CDF Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex marked its 11th anniversary with special holiday promotions. As a benchmark in offshore duty-free retail, the complex offered shoppers ten-times membership points, instant prize games, and luxury gift draws. 

The Moodie Davitt Report, a leading global publication covering travel retail and duty-free markets, revealed that customers spending over 10,000 yuan were eligible for weekend raffles, while those spending more than 2,000 yuan could try their luck with scratch-off cards.

The reporter found many stores quiet, perhaps because of the shopping hours or visitor flow at the time. Some big names like Lululemon offered holiday deals—200 yuan off purchases over 2,000—while others had no special discounts at all.

The CDF Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex marked its 11th anniversary with special holiday promotions. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

Traveling eastward to Lingshui presented a stark contrast. Located about an hour’s drive from Sanya, this coastal county is known for its quiet bays, fishing villages, and newly developed resorts tucked between palm groves. 

The beaches and streets moved at a calmer, more relaxed rhythm. Families deliberately chose this setting over Sanya’s hot spots, preferring slow days by the sea to escape the crowds and queues.

Yet, even in Lingshui, the holiday season shaped daily life. At the local market, seafood prices edged up by about 20 percent compared to ordinary days. One stall owner told the reporter, "Because a typhoon hit during the holiday, fishermen couldn't go out to sea, which reduced the seafood supply. So we raised prices, though not as high as during the Spring Festival."

Still, not all businesses passed costs onto customers. A small restaurant staff member insisted their prices remained unchanged: "We usually keep prices low. This year's National Day is quieter than previous years, and with the economy not very strong, we just want to keep our doors open rather than raise prices." 

During the National Day holiday, the Lingshui Tropical Forest Park (Daxiling Park) opened for trial operations. Built around ecological restoration and leisure tourism, the park hosted a mix of events—from a “Sing for My Motherland” choir and photography contest to family games and an ethnic costume show. At night, visitors enjoyed outdoor movies, DJ parties, and camping with local cuisine.

A Lingshui official said the Tropical Forest Park embodies the county’s vision of green development. It aims to become a model of eco-tourism that blends conservation, education, and leisure, adding fresh vitality to Hainan’s international tourism hub.

Sanya Lingshui's beaches carried a calmer rhythm. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

Across Hainan, the double holiday brought both celebration and change. In Sanya, crowds packed malls and beaches; in Lingshui, new eco-tourism projects like the Tropical Forest Park drew families seeking slower escapes. Behind the festivities, residents adapted their livelihoods to shifting economic realities, revealing the island’s diversity and quiet resilience.