Frankfurt am Main to Haikou (Meilan) (FRA–HAK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

German passport holders currently qualify for visa-free entry to China for stays up to 30 days. This policy, extended through the end of 2025 and renewed into 2026, covers tourism, business visits, transit, and family visits. Just show up with a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return or onward ticket. No advance application needed.

If you need to stay longer than 30 days, apply for a visa at the Chinese embassy or a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Germany. A single-entry tourist visa (L visa) costs EUR 126 for German citizens. Processing takes 4 business days for regular service. Express service (2 days) costs EUR 151. You need the application form, a passport photo, flight booking, hotel reservation, and proof of funds.

China also offers 144-hour visa-free transit at major airports including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu if you are transiting to a third country. This is separate from the 30-day visa-free policy and useful for longer layover visits.

S-Bahn lines S8 and S9 run from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (main station) to Terminal 1 every 15 minutes (15 min, €5.65 single or included in a Frankfurt day ticket). ICE and IC long-distance trains serve the airport's own long-distance station (Fernbahnhof); this is separate from the S-Bahn Regional station and connects Frankfurt to Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, and other cities without requiring travel through the city centre.Taxis from the city centre cost €25–35 and take 15–25 minutes. Terminal 2 connects to Terminal 1 via the free SkyLine people mover.

Metro Line 1 runs from the airport to the city centre in 30–40 minutes for CNY 6–10. Taxis and DiDi depart from outside the arrivals hall; fares to downtown are CNY 50–90. Airport shuttle buses serve several city districts and the Haikou East Railway Station for CNY 15–20.

Hainan's high-speed rail loop connects Haikou to Sanya and other island cities; Haikou East Station is the primary hub. Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall.

Tropical monsoon climate. Hainan is warm year-round. Even in winter (December–February) temperatures reach 18–24°C, making it China's primary warm-weather escape. Summers (May–September) are hot and very humid at 30–35°C with heavy monsoon rain and significant typhoon risk.

Typhoon season runs May through November, peaking August–October. Storms frequently make landfall on Hainan and can close the airport for 12–36 hours. Outside typhoon season, disruption risk is low and flying conditions are generally reliable.