Hainan Overview

Hainan overview can help you have a more comprehensive understanding of Hainan from the basic information, geographical location, history and so on. 

Basic Information

• Chinese Name: 海南省
• Location: Southernmost of China
• Provincial Capital: Haikou City
• Area: 33,900 square kilometers
• Population: An approximate population of 9,257,600
• Ethnic Groups: Hainan is home to 36 ethnic minorities, including the Li, Miao, Hui and Zhuang.
• Languages: Among the different ethnic groups and regions in Hainan, 12 different languages and dialects are spoken: Li language, Cun language(村话), Hainan Miao language, Lingao dialect(临高话), Huihui language(回辉话), Hainan Min dialect, Danzhou dialect, Jun dialect, Hakka dialect, Mai language, Danjia language(蛋家话) and mandarin.
• Main Airports: Haikou Meilan International Airport(海口美兰国际机场) and Sanya Phoenix International Airport(三亚凤凰国际机场)
• Universities: Hainan University and Hainan Normal University
• Important Festivals: San Yue San of Li and Miao Minorities, Junpo Festival, Flower Exchange Festival, Lady Xian Culture Festival(冼夫人文化节), etc.
• Main Railway Stations: Meilan Railway Station(美兰高铁站), Haikou Railway Station(海口站) and Haikou East Railway Station(海口东站), Sanya Railway Station(三亚站), Phoenix Airport Railway Station(凤凰机场站).
• Famous Attractions: Yalong bay, Dadonghai sea, Luhuitou park, Tianya and Haijiao, the sea mountain wonders, Nanshan culture tourism zone, Yanuoda rainforest scenic area, Wuzhizhou island, Holiday Beach, Volcanoes Geopark, Wanlu Park, Tropical Wildlife and Botanical Garden, etc. 
• GDP(Gross Domestic Product): 483.205 billion yuan(in 2018)
• Per Capita GDP: 51,955 yuan(in 2018)

Geography

Hainan Province is located at the southernmost tip of China, bordering Qiongzhou Strait in the north, facing Vietnam across the Beibu gulf in the west, facing to Taiwan across the South China Sea in the east, and neighboring Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia in the southeast and south. The outline of the island is shaped like an oval snow pear, with a long axis from northeast to southwest. The jurisdiction of Hainan Province includes Hainan Island and the reefs and sea area of Xisha Islands, Nansha Islands and Zhongsha Islands. Hainan province has a total land area of 35,000 square kilometers and a sea area of about 2 million square kilometers, among which Hainan island covers an area of 33,900 square kilometers. 

The periphery of Hainan Island is low and flat, and towering in the middle. With five-finger mountain and Yingge mountain as the core of the upheaval and the terrain gradually becomes lower to the periphery. The mountain, the hills, the platform and the plain form an annular layered landform, and the ladder structure is obvious. The mountain range of Hainan Island is mostly between 500 and 800 meters, in fact the hilly and low-mountain terrain. There are 81 peaks over 1000 meters above sea level in the Hainan island, rolling ups and downs. The peaks of more than 1500 meters include five-finger mountain, Yingge mountain(鹦哥岭), Ezong mountain俄鬃岭), Houmi mountain(猴弥岭), Yajiada mountain(雅加大岭) and Diaoluo mountain(吊罗山), etc. Five-finger mountain, located in the middle of Hainan Island, with its main peak of 1867.1 meters, is the highest mountain on the Hainan island. Yingge Mountain range is located at the northwest of Five-finger mountain, with its main peak of 1811.6 meters above the sea level. 

Climate

Hainan island is located in the northern edge of tropics and enjoys a tropical monsoon climate. It has long been the reputation of "natural big greenhouse". Hainan has long summer and without winter, with an annual average temperature of 22-27℃ and accumulated temperature of 8200℃ (greater than or equal to 10℃). Hainan province has abundant rainfall, with annual precipitation ranging from 1000 mm to 2600 mm and annual average precipitation of 1639 mm. It has obvious rainy seasons and less rainy seasons. Every year from May to October is the rainy season, and November to April of the next year is the dry season. The best time to travel Hainan is from November to March of the following year, when it is cold and windy elsewhere, but Hainan is still in a sunny, leafy summer landscape. 

Administrative Divisions 

Hainan province has jurisdiction over 4 prefecture-level administrative regions and 15 county-level administrative units directly under the jurisdiction of the province, including 4 prefecture-level cities(Haikou City(海口市), Sanya City(三亚市), Sansha City(三沙市), Danzhou City(儋州市), 5 county-level cities(Wuzhishan City(五指山市), Wenchang City(文昌市), Qionghai City(琼海市), Wanning City(万宁市), Dongfang City(东方市), 4 counties and 6 autonomous counties. The seat of provincial government is at No.9, Guoxing Avenue of Meilan district, Haikou city. 

Transportation

The aviation industry in Hainan province is developing rapidly, with Haikou Meilan Airport in the north and Sanya Phoenix Airport in the south. The eastern and western expressways have been completed and opened to traffic. It only takes 4 hours to go from Haikou to Sanya along the eastern expressway. And Hainan roundabout railway has been put into use, it is convenient and swift to travel around Hainan island by train. In addition, shipping is a major transportation priority in Hainan, and Hainan has shipping business with 24 countries and regions in the world, providing convenience for compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas tourists to visit Hainan.

History

With a long history, Hainan has always been an unparalleled tourist destination in people's mind. However, in ancient times, it was a deserted place where emperors exiled "rebellious ministers" and also a place where heroes came into being. At the time of Hou Jing's rebellion(侯景之乱), Lady Xian(冼夫人) assisted his husband Feng Bao(冯宝) to calm the conflicts between the aborigines and the central plains people in present-day Guangdong province, promoted the reconciliation between the central plains people and the Nanyue people, led the tribes of all ethnic groups in Hainan island to submit to the southern Liang, and began to set up Yazhou(崖州), making Hainan island once again the formal administrative region established by the central dynasty of ancient China. Later, in order to commemorate the heroine, the Junpo festival was celebrated and the Xian lady temple was built. On the 9th to 12th day of the second lunar month, people would go to the Xian lady temple to burn incense in memory of the great leader. Today, people still carry on this tradition. At this time, the village still has to choose a larger place to perform this phase of history, sell local specialties, and entertain friends and relatives. This history is not only remembered by people, but also makes Hainan a unique culture.

Best Places to Visit

Sanya

Sanya is the essence of the trip to Hainan. Sanya is located in the maritime tropical monsoon climate zone, with unique and rich tourist resources, owns the most scenic spot and the most densely populated places in Hainan province. On the two hundred kilometers coastline, there are Yalong bay, Dadonghai sea, Luhuitou park, Tianya and Haijiao, the sea mountain wonders, Nanshan culture tourism zone, Yanuoda rainforest scenic area, Wuzhizhou island and other famous tourist attractions at home and aboard. In Sanya, you can also take part in rich and colorful festivals and activities, including San Yue San of Li and Miao, Hainan international coconut festival, Nanshan longevity culture festival, Tianya Haijiao international wedding festival(around December), merry making festival of Hainan, Nanshan spring festival temple fair(during spring festival), etc.

Haikou

Hainan is the political, economic, technological and cultural center of Hainan province and the largest transportation hub. In Hainan, colorful sun umbrellas, uniform beach chairs, white buoys on the sea, bustling crowds, and towering watchtowers constitute the holiday feeling of the open-air baths. The beach is the place that Haikou citizens love most, and swimming in holiday beach to enjoy sea water bath has become an indispensable part of the daily life of Haikou Citizens. In the volcanoes world geoparks, there are thousands of volcanoes, fertile red soil, green coconut trees, blue sea and silver beach, cleverly painting the beauty of harmony of the five colors. 

Rivers

The central part of Hainan island is high and low in the surrounding areas. The island has 154 rivers flowing into the ocean, 38 of which are over 100 square kilometers. Nandu river, Changhua river and Wanquan river are the three major rivers in Hainan island. The basin area of the three rivers accounts for 47% of the whole island area. Nandu river(南渡河) originates from Nanfeng mountain in Baisha county, and runs through the northern part of the island, flowing into the sea from Haikou, with a total length of 311 kilometers. Changhua river(昌化河), originating from Kongshi mountain of Qiongzhong county, traversing the west of Hainan island, is 230 kilometers long and enters sea at Changhua port. The upper reaches of Wanquan river(万泉河) are divided into north and south branches, which originate from Wuzhi mountain and Fengmen mountain in Qiongzhong county respectively, then flows together in Qionghai city, finally flow into the sea at Bo'ao port, with mainstream length of 163 kilometers. On Hainan island, there are few natural lakes and many artificial reservoirs, such as Songtao reservoir, Niululing reservoir, Daguangba reservoir and Nanli lake.