Hainan Province, which comprises the Hainan Island, and the Xisha, Nansha and Zhongsha Islands on the South China Sea, is the only tropical island province of China under a tropical marine monsoon climate. In 1988, Hainan was designated as the largest special economic zone in China, thereby making the giant leap from an economic backwater to a front-runner in reform and opening up to the outside world. The province abounds in tropical resources-primitive woods, exotic plants and wildlife, a rich variety of melons and fruits, and abundant marine resources. These, coupled with fascinating sea sights, beaches and unique folklore, bode well for the future of Hainan's tourist industry.

SCENES & SIGHTS

Haikou is capital of Hainan Province as well as a rising international tropical tourist seaside city. As befitted its reputation as a "Coconut City", the air of Haikou is filled with the aroma of coconuts and the smell of the sea. Haikou also woos visitors from around the world with a myriad scenic spots and places of cultural interest. These include Haikou Park, Five Lords' Temple, Hai Rui's Tomb, Holiday Beach Resort, and amusement Park-on-the-Water, just to mention a few.

Coconut Grove, East Wenchang

Coconut trees are everywhere on a strip of seaside land more than 30,000mu in size and several miles in length in the eastern suburbs of Wenchang. The rich verdure of the trees, and the azure sky, have rendered a dreamlike touch to the landscape.

Fengmu Deer Farm

Visitors to Fengmu Deer Farm in Tunchang County, the largest of its kind in south China, are welcome to feed or cuddle a deer, and buy deer-related products and souvenirs. A MUST for visitors to Hainan.

Lying on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, the city of Sanya is skirted by mountains on three sides, and its 180-km-long coast is covered with whitish fine sand. The sea close by features a flat bottom and gentle waves which are ideal for swimming, surfing and motorboat racing. Lagoons, islands, coconut tree groves, beaches and caves are trump cards for Sanya to attract visitors. With 300 fine days a year, Sanya is a famed tourist city and wintering resort. Major seaside attractions: Yalong Bay, Tianyahaijiao ("The end of Earth and The Corner of the Ocean"), mirages, the Deer Looking Backward, Nanshan Cultural Tourist Zone, Sunrise Observation Deck, Sanya international Golf Club, and Sanya Tropical marine Zoo. The beaches of Sanya are also home to Yalongwan national Holiday Resort, reputedly the best wintering place China has to offer. All sorts of service facilities are available there, enabling visitors to play ocean sports as well as cliff climbing and golf.

Dadonghai

Dadonghai is the name of a bathing beach in Sanya. Apart from the gentle sea and smooth beach, Dadonghai's allure also stems from its bright sunshine, coconut tree groves, colourful clouds and sails on the sea. Another plus for this "golden beach": The temperature of seawater averages a perennial 26 degrees Celsius.

Nanshan Cultural Resort

A new bio-tourist seaside resort is rising 40 km west of Sanya. Far more than that, Nanshan is actually a brand-new tourist resort where Buddhism dominates but there is also something of everything-Chinese culture, folkways, seascape, and historical heritage.

Xinglong Tropical Garden

Tropical plants and rare and endangered species of plants, have found a home in this tropical garden that sits near Xinglong Tourist Centre of Wanning. The garden is open to virtually everybody-holidaymakers, sightseers, researchers, etc.

Wanquan River

The 163-km-long Wanquan, which originates in Wuzhi Mountain and flows through one of the most scenic parts of Hainan, is the province's third largest river. The city of Qionghai has established an amusement park, a public park and a recreational center by the river.

Guantang Hot Springs

A four-star holiday villa has been constructed at Guantang, a place in Qinghai and near the Wanquan River, to tap the high-quality hot spring resources there.

Dongshanling Range

For its exotic-looking rocks and peculiar natural beauty, the 184-metre-high Dongshanling Range composed of 3 peaks, is billed as "No. One Mountain of Hainan". An impressive number of monasteries are found there.

Wuzhi Mountain

The 1,867-metre-high Wuzhi Mountain in Tongshi was home to ancestors of Li and Miao peoples in Hainan in remote antiquity. Wuzhishan International holiday Villa has been built in the fashion of a forest park, whose peace and quiet and natural beauty are enough to quality the place as an international Class-A tourist resort.

Zhonghua Ethnic Culture Village

Situated on the southern side of Wuzhi Mountain in Tongshi, Hainan Zhonghua Ethnic Culture Village is a large cultural resort featuring the dwellings, folkways and arts of different ethnic peoples in China. Few visitors are not impressed by the folk singing and dancing performed in the village.

Mangrove Forest Reserve

Mangrove is an evergreen tree indigenous to tropical and subtropical zones. This forest of mangrove trees is found in Qiangshan, forming an opulent "park-on-the-sa" that extends for several dozen km.

Tropical Wildlife Zoo

China's first large-scale tropical wildlife zoo is situated by the Dongshan Lake at Dongshan Town in Qiongshan. The zoo, with a large population of rare birds and exotic animals native to the tropical zone, is a MUST for any visitor to Hainan. The artificial monkey mountain and hundred-bird paradise in the zoo are among China's world-class tourist attractions.

Coral Miniature Landscapes: Corals, nicknamed "stone flowers of the sea", are artistically treated, supplemented with sea shells and "sea willows", and placed into a shallow pot, resulting miniature landscapes that never fail to delight refined and popular tastes alike.

Li-Style Brocade: This is a famous textile product made by the ethnic li people.
Hainan Pearls: The pearls produced in Sanya City and Lingshui County can be found only in Hainan.

Hainan Fruits: Hainan produces a wide range of tropical and subtropical fruits. Major ones are coconut, mango, pineapple, jackfruit, litchi, banana, longan, cashew, and durian.