Qiongzhong Overview

Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County (琼中黎族苗族自治县) lies in the mountainous center of Hainan Island. Its name literally reflects its position in the middle of Hainan, and the county is widely associated with the island's ecological heartland. Dense tropical rainforest, headwater forests, mountainous terrain and a high proportion of Li and Miao residents give Qiongzhong a character very different from Hainan's coastal resort cities.

Qiongzhong is often described as the “green heart,” “ecological lung” and “water tower” of Hainan. Its forest coverage reached 86.17% in 2025, and the county contains important sections of Hainan's central tropical rainforest ecosystem. It is also a headwater region for three of Hainan's most important river systems—the Nandu River, Wanquan River and Changhua River.

Basic Information

Qiongzhong currently administers 7 towns and 3 townships, with the county government located in Yinggen Town. Its total land area is approximately 2,705 square kilometers.

Geography and Natural Environment

Qiongzhong occupies the interior of Hainan Island on the northern side of the Wuzhi Mountain range. Unlike the relatively flat coastal plains of Haikou, Wenchang and parts of eastern Hainan, Qiongzhong is predominantly mountainous. Its terrain generally slopes from the higher southwest toward the lower northeast, creating a landscape of mountain ridges, valleys, rivers and rainforest.

The county is associated with several of Hainan's major mountain systems and protected forest areas, including Wuzhi Mountain, Limu Mountain, Diaoluo Mountain and Yinggeling. Together, these mountainous landscapes form an important part of Hainan's central ecological conservation zone.

Water resources are equally important. Qiongzhong contains 197 rivers with a combined length of more than 1,400 kilometers, and is closely associated with the source regions of the Nandu, Wanquan and Changhua rivers. This headwater function explains why environmental protection in Qiongzhong is important not only for the county itself but also for downstream areas of Hainan.

Neighboring Cities and Counties

Because Qiongzhong occupies a central position, it borders more county-level jurisdictions than almost any other part of Hainan. It adjoins nine cities and counties.

To the east are Qionghai and Wanning; to the southeast and south are Lingshui, Baoting and Wuzhishan; to the west is Baisha; while Danzhou, Chengmai and Tunchang lie to the north and northwest.

This geography gives Qiongzhong an important role in connecting the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of Hainan Island.

Climate

Qiongzhong has a tropical monsoon climate influenced by both its inland location and relatively high elevation. Compared with Hainan's coastal lowlands, summers are generally less oppressive and nights can feel noticeably cooler.

The long-term average annual temperature is approximately 22.8°C. January averages around 17°C, while June and July average about 27°C. Annual rainfall is approximately 2,400–2,444 mm, placing Qiongzhong among the wetter areas of Hainan. September and October are traditionally among the rainiest months.

Abundant rainfall, high humidity and warm temperatures support dense tropical vegetation and agriculture, but they also mean that heavy rain, mountain fog and tropical weather systems can occasionally affect road travel.

Population and Ethnic Groups

At the end of 2025, Qiongzhong had a permanent resident population of approximately 181,000, with an urbanization rate of 35.47%. The county therefore remains considerably more rural than Hainan's major coastal cities.

Qiongzhong is one of Hainan's most important areas of Li and Miao settlement. A recent county planning document records an ethnic-minority share of approximately 62.8% within the population dataset it uses, including about 51.9% Li and 7.1% Miao.

This demographic structure has had a major influence on Qiongzhong's language, village traditions, food, festivals, handicrafts and rural landscapes.

Li and Miao Culture

The cultural identity of Qiongzhong is closely connected with Li culture, supplemented by significant Miao traditions and influences from Han communities.

Traditional Li culture includes folk singing and dancing, textile production, embroidery, bamboo and rattan craftsmanship, mountain agriculture and Shanlan upland rice culture. Li textile traditions are particularly important throughout central and southern Hainan, while Miao communities contribute distinctive embroidery, clothing, music and festival customs.

The most important annual ethnic celebration is the Third Day of the Third Lunar Month Festival, or “Sanyuesan” (三月三). During the festival period, communities organize traditional music, dance, sporting events, handicraft displays, food fairs and activities celebrating Li and Miao heritage. Qiongzhong hosted a dedicated Sanyuesan cultural program again in 2025.

Rural tourism has also helped preserve and reinterpret local culture. The “Ben Ge Nei” (奔格内) tourism brand—derived from a Li-language expression commonly interpreted as “come here”—has become closely associated with Qiongzhong's village tourism, ethnic culture and ecological countryside experiences.

Transportation and Regional Connections

Qiongzhong has no commercial airport and no operational passenger railway station, so road transport is the main way to enter and travel around the county.

Its central location makes it one of Hainan's most important road junction areas. The G9811 Haikou–Sanya Expressway runs north–south through central Hainan, linking Qiongzhong with Haikou, Tunchang, Wuzhishan and the southern part of the island. The Wanning–Yangpu Expressway crosses the island from east to west through the Qiongzhong area. The completion of this east–west route in 2019 completed the core of Hainan's “田-shaped” expressway network.

From Yinggen, the traditional road distance is roughly 136–137 km to Haikou and about 165 km to Sanya, although actual driving time varies according to road conditions and the precise destination.

For visitors, a private car or rental vehicle is generally more practical than relying exclusively on buses, particularly when traveling between rural communities and mountainous areas.

Economy

Qiongzhong's economy is strongly shaped by its ecological resources and relatively low level of urbanization.

According to the 2025 county statistical bulletin, Qiongzhong recorded a GDP of RMB 8.904 billion, with primary, secondary and tertiary industries contributing RMB 3.184 billion, RMB 1.618 billion and RMB 4.103 billion respectively. The economic structure was approximately 35.76% primary industry, 18.17% secondary industry and 46.07% services.

Agriculture remains especially important. Major products include natural rubber, betel nut, tropical fruits, medicinal plants and Qiongzhong green oranges. The county is also expanding coffee, tea, agarwood and under-forest industries. In 2025, the forestry authority reported about 292,800 mu of under-forest economic activity, combining medicinal plants, fungi, fruit, livestock, beekeeping and forest-based tourism.

Qiongzhong Green Orange (琼中绿橙) has become one of the county's best-known agricultural brands. Its growing conditions are supported by warm temperatures, high rainfall, mountain soils and substantial day–night temperature variation.

The broader development strategy emphasizes an open, innovative and ecological modern industrial system, with agricultural processing, forest economy, ecological products, wellness industries and tourism expected to play increasingly important roles.

Tourism Development

Tourism in Qiongzhong differs significantly from the beach-resort model associated with Sanya, Wanning or Lingshui. Development focuses instead on tropical rainforest ecology, Li and Miao culture, rural tourism, forest wellness, sports and educational travel.

In 2025, Qiongzhong received approximately 1.5143 million tourist visits, an increase of 7.57% year on year, and generated tourism revenue of about RMB 968 million, up 11.16%. Tourism continued to expand in early 2026, with first-quarter visitor numbers reaching approximately 537,000.

For 2026, the county government set a target of more than 1.581 million visitor trips and RMB 1.03 billion in tourism spending. Development priorities include strengthening the “Qiongzhong Ben Ge Nei” rural-tourism brand, combining agriculture and tourism, expanding forest wellness, promoting Li and Miao cultural experiences and using sporting assets such as Qiongzhong women's football to diversify the tourism economy.

Rather than pursuing mass coastal tourism, Qiongzhong is positioning itself as a central Hainan rainforest and wellness destination, where ecological protection remains the foundation for future tourism growth.