About Hainan

Hainan is the southernmost province of China and is also the smallest in terms of land area. For centuries Hainan was part of Guangdong province, but in 1988 this resource-rich tropical region became a separate province. The capital is Haikou, on Hainan Island’s northern coast. Area (excluding disputed island areas) 13,200 square miles (34,300 square km).

Hainan’s climate is tropical and monsoonal (i.e., wet-dry). Temperatures average about 18 °C in January and 28 °C in July. Rainfall is heavy, especially in summer during the wet monsoon. The average annual precipitation varies from about 70 inches (1,800 mm) in the east to less than 60 inches (1,500 mm) in the western coastal area. Tropical storms and typhoons often hit the province, especially in late summer and early fall. Because of the uneven distribution of rainfall in different seasons and in different areas, droughts can occur from time to time. Several large and medium-sized reservoirs have been built, and hundreds more smaller ones dot the island’s countryside. The northeastern lowlands can sustain three crops of rice per year.

Is Hainan Island bigger than Singapore?

The land area of Hainan Province is more than five times bigger than Shanghai, and 50 times bigger than Singapore.

What Hainan is famous for?

Hainan is famous for its tropical beaches and resorts, earning it the nickname "China's Hawaii". It's also known for its abundance of coconuts, supplying much of China's supply, as well as seafood and distinct culinary dishes like Wenchang Chicken. The province offers a mix of natural beauty with forests and mountains, and a bustling tourist industry with attractions like Yalong Bay and the Nanshan Temple.

Haikou, a port city and the capital of China's island province Hainan, sits on the island's north coast facing the mainland across the Qiongzhou Strait. Its old town quarter features a mix of Chinese and colonial European architecture. The Hainan Provincial Museum has exhibits on the region's ethnic culture and history. Qilou Snack Street is an emporium where food stalls sell local specialties.

Sanya, a city on the southern end of China’s Hainan Island, has several bays with large beach resorts. Yalong Bay is known for upscale hotels, while Wuzhizhou Island and its coral reefs are destinations for scuba diving, surfing and other water sports. At the city's expansive Nanshan Temple complex, a 108m-high Guan Yin bronze statue rises on an artificial island.

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