From dawn to dusk: A day in Hainan

Before dawn has fully spread across the sky, the dockside morning market is already alive with activity. Fishing boats pull in, and fresh seafood – still carrying the salty scent of the sea breeze – is swiftly unloaded.

In the afternoon, waves roll in at Riyue Bay in Wanning, white crests sparkling under the sun as surfers ride the swells, releasing a sense of motion and freedom across the water.

By evening, the sky over the bay is bathed in layers of pink, purple and crimson as the sun sinks below the horizon. As night falls, street markets light up one by one, the aroma of grilled seafood drifting through the air, while laughter and the warmth of everyday life flow through the lanes. Tracing the passage of time, a single day in Hainan reveals a vivid, multidimensional portrait of island life.