Regions & prefectures
ChinaRegions & prefectures
Hainan
China’s tropical island, a former place of exile turned beach resort.
- Capital
- Haikou
- Status
- Province
- Region
- Central and South China
- Must-see
- The bays of Sanya
- Local specialty
- Wenchang chicken, coconut, Hainan coffee
Long considered the end of the world, Hainan was used to exile disgraced officials, among them the poet Su Shi. Made a province and a special economic zone in 1988, it bets on beach tourism: Sanya in the south lines up hotels on the same latitude as Hawaii. The Li, the island’s first inhabitants, have lived here for three thousand years and practise a brocade weaving listed as intangible heritage. The island also produces rubber, coconuts and coffee.
What to see there
Places, dishes and traditions tied to this territory.
In the magazine
Articles that cover this topic.