Written by Jingjia
Edited by CHIQIO
Keywords: Haikou, Hainan Island, Coconut City, tropical fragrance, pandan, coconut, lychee, passion fruit
Meta description: Discover the tropical scents of Haikou, the Coconut City, with its unique blend of pandan, coconut, and sea salt. Explore the vibrant culture and unforgettable fragrances of this Hainan Island gem.
When I think of the cities I’ve visited, Haikou is always one of the most memorable ones that pops into my mind. The aroma of tropical fruits on the streets, the rustling sound of coconut leaves in the wind, the rolling heat waves blowing in from the sea, the splendid sunset that illustrated the pinkish sky, and the scorching sun’s heat combined with the slightly sticky feeling brought by the humid air — all these memories come flooding back.
Haikou, the capital city of Hainan Island, a tropical province in China, is a place of evergreen beauty. Known as the “Coconut City,” Haikou is covered in lush coconut trees that provide much-needed shade from the tropical heat. As I wandered beneath these trees, the heat drove me to seek a cold beverage. I discovered an iced pandan coconut milk at a local cafe. The unique flavour, a blend of fresh, milky, and grassy notes, pulled me into a tropical dream. In Haikou, traditional foods are masterfully combined with local tropical ingredients like pandan, lemongrass, and calamansi. The streets are lined with vendors selling an array of tropical fruits such as mango, lychee, passion fruit, and Java apple. This blend of flavours and aromas embraced me with an unforgettable first impression of vibrant, plant-freshness.
Vibrant vitality defines this tropical island. The tall plants are lush and verdant, their life force so abundant it seems ready to overflow. The people are equally passionate, with groups of middle-aged and elderly individuals dancing by the seaside in the evenings, the setting sun casting a golden outline on them. Like the local residents, my friend and I also went to the seashore to end the day. We flew kites beneath the rosy sky, accompanied by the background sounds of people singing with public microphones and the warm wind threading through my hair with the scent of the sea. As night fell, extinguishing the rosy sea, fishing boats returned from the horizon, waddling into the harbour. Yet, the day hadn’t ended, as the neon lights illuminated the buildings, and more people arrived at the seashore to enjoy the night. The city remained bustling at 11 pm, with perhaps the only things asleep being the ships docked in the harbour. In this city, everything exudes a saturated vitality.
Haikou also carried my personal sentiments. My stay in Haikou lasted one month. At the beginning of September, I said goodbye to someone under the shadow of a coconut tree on the beach. The scorching sunshine was sliced into golden pieces on her face by the gigantic, feather-like leaves. The sound of the sea waves drowned my voice, perhaps carrying it across the Pacific, along with the tropical heat and humidity, to the humid continental town on the 52nd parallel north where she was born. In this city, I ended my 18th summer in the endless heat and left something unspoken in the sound of the waves and the warm, damp sea wind.
As one of the five senses, smell usually evokes memories vividly. The fragrance that encapsulates my memories of Haikou would be an EDT named Endless Summer Kiss, featuring top notes of pandan and coconut, middle notes of sea salt and lemongrass, and base notes of lychee and passion fruit. The initial burst of pandan and coconut creates a quintessential impression of the local cuisine and scenery of the city, introducing the scent with a gentle, tropical, grassy sweetness. The middle notes of sea salt and lemongrass then harmonise with the sweetness, enhancing the coastal vibe, while the fruity-grassy freshness leads to the base notes. The base notes of lychee and passion fruit infuse a fresh, sour-sweet undertone, encapsulating the tropical romance of the island.
In reflecting on my time in Haikou, I am reminded of the city through sensory experiences. The flavours, scents, temperature, and sounds of the island are not just memories but a living part of me, forever etched in my mind. By imagining the layers of Endless Summer Kiss, I am pulled back to those sun-drenched days and balmy nights, feeling once again the pulse of Haikou’s irresistible tropical charm.
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