Haikou's most distinctive shopping draw is Hainan's island-wide duty-free policy, which allows visitors to buy meaningful quantities of luxury goods, cosmetics, alcohol, and electronics without import duty. The Haikou International Duty-Free City Complex near the port is one of the largest duty-free retail centres in the world, attracting shoppers from across China.
Beyond duty-free, the Bo'ai Road area has small shops selling dried tropical fruits, coconut products, and Hainanese tea. The morning markets in the old town are good for local produce and Hainanese coffee — the island's robusta-based coffee culture, influenced by Vietnamese methods, is distinct from anything on the mainland.