On August 19, four Filipino content creators toured Haikou, exploring everything from historic neighborhoods shaped by Southeast Asian culture to a Laobacha tea bus that offered a "moving" experience and a century-old fishing village turned boho art hub.

Through their lenses, the creators captured the distinctive rhythm of this tropical island metropolis where tradition blends with modernity.

Filipino social media influencers visit and check in at Haikou's Qilu Historical & Cultural Quarter.

Qilou: Arcade Streets and Tea on the Move

Their first stop was Haikou's Qilou Historical & Cultural Quarter.

Built largely by returned overseas Chinese, this century-old district's streets are lined with arcade buildings. Reconstructed old shops now sit alongside displays of intangible cultural heritage, offering a glimpse into Haikou’s history as an outward-looking port city.

Filipino creator Roce Ordoñez said that far from feeling like a historical relic, the antique streets bustled with the humdrum of daily life.

The group then boarded the Laobacha Bus, a double-decker sightseeing bus-slash-restaurant, where they enjoyed pandan coconut buns and partridge tea while viewing the coastal scenery along the route.

Filipino social media ride on the Laobacha Bus.

Roce described the "tea party on wheels" as more like a relaxed gathering with friends, with music and laughter filling the bus.

At noon, the creators also tried qingbuliang, a traditional Hainan dessert, in a qilou courtyard and enjoyed a slower pace of life in the heart of the city.

Filipino social media influencer Kevin Montillano makes pizza.

Rongshanliao: New Cultural Spaces in an Old Fishing Village

In the afternoon, the group traveled to Rongshanliao Village, a fishing community with over 200 years of history near Haikou's West Coast.

In recent years, the village has adopted a model that blends fishing, culture, and tourism, preserving its traditional fishing identity while expanding its recreational offerings.

In a village garden, the creators tried baking pizza in a wood-fired oven. At the Shihuai Art Museum, they used paintbrushes to depict the hues of the coastal sunset. They then visited Xinsheng Book House by the sea, exploring books among plain stone walls and handcrafted shelves.

Filipino creator Kevin Montillano stated that Rongshanliao showcased a quieter, more poetic side of Haikou, where visitors can relax and appreciate daily life. He also intends to recommend this experience to more friends in the Philippines.