Discover Haikou: Hydropower History, Market and Cherry Growing

History, food culture and cultivation are distinct themes that can each carry different weight when deciding whether to visit Haikou. The following local features can help you weigh which aspect of the destination matters most for your stay.

Haikou Between River and Lake

Haikou lies on the Tanglang River, at its southwestern outlet from Dianchi Lake. To the east, it borders Dianchi Lake; to the north, the Xishan Longmen scenic area. These directions make it easier to get your bearings on the map: the lake marks the eastern reference point, and Xishan Longmen the northern one. The Shilongba Hydropower Station is also in Haikou, on the upper reaches of the Tanglang River. This gives the destination a setting in which its waterside location sits alongside a named scenic area. The orientation connects Haikou’s geographical setting with a specific place on the river, without narrowing the focus to a single attraction.

Industrial History on the Tanglang River

The Shilongba Hydropower Station was China’s first hydropower station. In 1997, it was recognized as a patriotic education site in Yunnan Province; in 2006, it was included in the sixth category of major nationally protected cultural heritage sites in China. These are two distinct forms of recognition: its educational role and its protection as a cultural heritage site. The facility connects early energy history with educational content delivered through institutions, including patriotism, red culture, Party education and integrity.

An institutional account from 2022 lists four workshops, eight indoor exhibition halls and an exhibition area of more than 2,100 square meters. For travelers interested in industrial history, the combination of pioneering engineering history and an educational role is a distinctive feature of the site. If you plan to include Shilongba in your itinerary, check the current access arrangements in advance.

Market and Cherry Growing

You can visit a market on Zhongtan Street and try local specialties. This offers a direct connection to Haikou’s food culture. The market represents a described experience of visiting and tasting, while the orchards add the agricultural side of the area. When weighing Haikou as a destination, you can consider these aspects separately: trying local specialties and cherry growing as a feature of the landscape. In Shima Shao, in Zhongbao Community, there are more than 600 mu of cherry orchards.

Qingyuwan Water Park

Qingyuwan Water Park in Xiaohai Kou, Qingyu Community, was completed and opened in 2016. Its establishment is therefore dated. If you plan to visit, check the current access arrangements in advance. For those choosing Haikou, the water park complements Shilongba’s historical industrial associations with a different point of interest. This lets you decide whether to base your choice of destination more on hydropower history or on the water park.

Discover more destinations: Xishuangbanna, Chuxiong, Baoshan, Yuxi, Nujiang, Dehong, Honghe, Lijiang

For the broader travel overview: Yunnan.