The Wanquan River passes through Qionghai on its way from the central highlands to the sea at Bo'ao, and the waterfront here is the heart of the city's street life. The duck restaurants line the riverside below palm trees; boats move slowly upstream with their catches; in the morning, locals exercise on the paths along the bank. It is a pleasant riverfront in a way that requires no particular tourist infrastructure — just the river, the food, and the ordinary life of a Hainanese town.
A riverside walk connects the main duck restaurant strip to the local park areas and the bridge crossing to the newer part of the city. At sunset the light on the water is warm and the restaurants begin filling up; this is the time to eat if you want to see the place at its most lively. The river continues southeast to Bo'ao, about half an hour away by road — making Qionghai a natural first stop on an east-coast itinerary that continues to the Forum town and beach.