The Tomb of Hai Rui is a majestic tomb representing China's admiration for Hai Rui, an honorable officer during the Ming Dynasty. It is under state protection as a historical and cultural relic.
The Background of Hai Rui and His Tomb
Hai Rui, born in 1514, is from the Hainan Province and is famous for both his ethical lifestyle and the performance of his duties. Following his death in 1587, the people of China selected the location of his tomb based on his spirit's instructions from heaven.
The Tomb of Hai Rui was originally constructed in 1589 during the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. Portions of the tomb garden still remain intact after all these years. The Tomb of Hai Rui is well worthy of a visit so that guests can view the amazing scenery and architecture, and learn more about Hai Rui.
The Tomb Grounds
When entering the tomb garden across the Hai Rui Bridge, guests are greeted by beautiful coconut palms and pines. The path to the tomb is lined with statues of goats, horses and lions, as well as three archways. Three levels of stairs lead to the tomb area, where a solemn incense burner is surrounded by four 13 feet (4 meter) high monuments by Hai Rui's colleagues and disciples.
After a short distance on the third level, guests reach the mighty tomb. It is surrounded by white granite with an octagonal base featuring four carved stories. The pavilion behind the tomb is also well worth visiting, as it displays Hai Rui's relics and stories.
The tomb and its garden cover an area of 4,800 square yards (5,700 sq m).
Travel Essentials
The Tomb of Hai Rui is open daily to visitors from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the admission fee is CNY 10.
Bus routes 2, 16 and 19 travel to the site. The Tomb of Hai Rui is on the western side of Haikou City, approximately three miles (5 km) from the city's civic center.
It is close to several other major attractions in Haikou, such as the Temple of the Five Lords, Dongjiao Coconut Plantation, Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove Natural Reserve Area, and Five Finger Mountain.
