From tourist to local: A real retreat

"The relief patterns on the qilou facades are part Chinese and part Western. The buildings are supported by Roman columns, while also integrated with the Chinese style, nyu'er qiang, a low wall along the edge of the roof designed for observing approaching invaders," says Fu, who works at the Qilou Old Street tourist center.

He says that shop owners are required to preserve the original exterior features of these buildings when they conduct renovations, including the carved names of the brands on the facades from when they were built — these characters, representing retailers, restaurants, opera troupes and theaters, stand as testimony to the booming commerce of the past.

Before the advent of electric air conditioning, the qilou streets, with arcades formed by adjacent buildings creating long passages, provided shelter from sudden rainstorms and the scorching sun. This cooling technique remains effective today, even during Haikou's intense summer heat.