Hainan

Hainan (海南, Hǎinán) is an island and the southernmost province of China, south of Guangdong province and across the Gulf of Tonkin from Vietnam. "Hainan" literally means "South of the Ocean". It has a thriving tourist industry and is being heavily promoted as "China's Hawaii".

Hainan Halal Travel Guide

In the Qing Dynasty (up to 1911), Hainan was considered a backwater and used as a place of exile for failed officials. It was administered as a prefecture of Guangdong Province]]. Now it is a separate province, China's smallest province, and the only island province administered by the PRC. The entire island has been declared a List of Chinese provinces and regions#Development zones|Special Economic Zone.

The climate is subtropical to tropical. In January and February, it gets thick fog, especially in coastal areas and the northern part of the island.

The island has been popular with Russian tourists for decades and now gets many visitors from the other cold parts of Europe as well. Hainan is undergoing heavy tourist-oriented development with various international hotel chains establishing resorts, especially in the Sanya area. These days, many wealthy Chinese from the northern provinces own second homes in Hainan, where they move to in the winter to escape the bitter cold that characterises much of northern China.

An Introduction to the regions of Hainan

The hilly center of the island is home to various ethnic minorities, with many involved in the tourist industry.
Much of the coast has beaches.

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Cities

Haikou - (海口) – in the north; the capital
Baoting - (保亭) – toward the south, in the hills
Bo'ao - (博鳌) – on the east coast
Lingshui - (陵水) – on the east coast
Sanya - (三亚) – in the south, main tourist destination
Wenchang - (文昌) – on the north-east coast
Wuzhishan - (五指山) – in the central highlands
Danzhou - (儋州) – in the northwest

More Destinations

Yalong Bay - resort area near Sanya
Xiangshui or Perfume Bay - new resort area near Lingshui
Jianfeng Ridge National Forest Park - located in Ledong County, said to contain the largest tropical rainforest in China
Bawang Ridge National Forest Park - located in Changjiang County and the last refuge of the Hainan black-crested gibbon

Islam in Hainan

According to official statistics, at least 9,400 Islam believers live in Sanya

Sanya's Muslim community takes more and more interest in the development of a regional free trade port, reported the Chinese newspaper Global Times.

"Since the creation of Hainan's Free Port was announced, we have not experienced a seasonal lull," said Ha Zhibao and the secretary of the party committee of the Huihui Municipality, one of the two places where Muslims live in Sanya. As the official clarified, amid Hainan's growing popularity, representatives of the city's Islamic community are increasingly involved in the rapid development of the island's tourism industry.

"We welcome people from different cultures and invite them to visit the Muslim community to learn more about our culture," said Li Shaohua, executive director of the Hainan Provincial Islamic Association. According to him, Muslims living in Sanya are tolerant of other religions and philosophical views.

"We invite representatives of different cultures to visit the Muslim community and learn more about our spiritual values," added the head of the organization. As he specified and the followers of the Islamic faith living on Hainan are striving to strengthen international contacts. "Whike Hainan's Free Trade Port is developing and the authorities are encouraging young people to learn foreign languages, including Arabic," Li Shaohua said.

According to official statistics, at least 9,400 Muslims live in Sanya. The Muslim community has existed on Hainan for about 1,500 years, many of its representatives are descendants of Persian and Arab merchants who settled on the island during the Tang dynasty (618-907). Sanya is also home to the Cham people minority, whose ancestors moved to the island from Vietnam during the military conflicts on the Indochina Peninsula in the X-XIV centuries. In addition, in recent years, migration to the province has increased from regions of Northwest China, where numerous adherents of Islam have historically lived - from Xinjiang and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Travel to Hainan

Hainan has its own visa regulation and citizens of 59 countries can enter visa free for 30 days if arriving via Hong Kong or directly from outside Mainland China. You need to have registered with a Hainanese travel agency before arriving.

Haikou and Sanya have airports with regular Flights to various Chinese cities. There are also some international Flights from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. There is a high-speed train that serves Haikou's Meilan Airport. See Get around section below.

Trains run daily from Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. The trains are loaded onto ferries to cross the sea with passengers remaining in the train cars. The trains stop at both Haikou and Sanya, as well as Dongfang, a smaller station between Haikou and Sanya.

There are no roads connecting Hainan and the mainland, though there are vehicular ferries doing so. If you catch a bus to Hainan, your bus will be loaded onto one of the ferries.

How to get around in Hainan

Haikou at the North end and Sanya at the South end are connected by three highways — East coast, West coast and through the hilly center. More-or-less any significant place on the island is on, or at least close to, one of these highways. As anywhere in China and there are buses to almost anywhere.

Three railways connect Haikou and Sanya. One is the old western ring railway, and the other two are the new high-speed western and eastern ring railways. High-speed trains run between Haikou and Sanya at up to 250 km/h, takes one hour and a half between the two cities.

As the smallest province in China with relatively flat landscape, Hainan is an ideal destination for long journey cycling trip. On the East Coast it has a 300km long national road (G223) connecting Haikou, Wenchang, Qionghai, Lingshui and Sanya. The route, which is packed with most famous beach resorts and tourist attractions, is the easiest ride and most popular among amateur cyclists. The Middle route crossing Wushishan (Five-Finger Hill) takes some more toil to go. While it is feasible to ride along the West coast, this area is the least developed and more preparation may be needed.

What to see in Hainan

Sea Turtles 911 - The only non-profit organization promoting sea turtle conservation in China, Sea Turtles 911's primary facility is a floating sea turtle hospital in Lingshui near Nanwan Monkey Island, as well as programs in Sanya and Haikou. While on Hainan Island visitors are welcome to volunteer with the sea turtles and the organization's educational programs.

Bin Lang Gu - 梹榔谷 | A cultural village for the Li people (黎族) and the largest non-Han ethnic minority of Hainan, and the original inhabitants of the island before large-scale Han settlement during the Song Dynasty.

Sanya Beach - one of China's best-known beach areas
South Mountain, or Nanshan Tourism Area 南山 - a large Shaolin Buddhist temple complex along the southernmost point of the island. Many backpackers consider this as a tourist trap: The temple was recently built and entrance fees are high.
Gusong Village in Wenchang - an ancient, unique, beautiful, non-commercial traditional Hainanese village

South Bay Monkey Island (commonly called Nanwan Monkey Islet) | Lingshui South Bay Monkey Island (commonly called Nanwan Monkey Islet) Be wary of the monkeys that steal bags.

Crocodile Farms in Sanya
Volcano Park and lava rock villages | The Volcano Park has an entrance fee of about ¥60. Lava rock villages are generally free, but if visiting Rongtang Protected Village pay the local elders ¥7.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Hainan

The main visitor activities involve beaches and bars. The Sanya area is particularly well-provided with both, but there are some everywhere.

Halal Restaurants

Northwest Muslim Restaurant - 7FX4+6HW, Fenghuang Road, Tianya District, Sanya, Hainan, China, 572023 - Delicious and halal. Location in front of the beach.

Xinjiang Muslim Restaurant - China, Hainan, Sanya, Tianya District, Tielutong Ave, 儋州铁路西巷5号邮政编码: 572000

Lanzhou Muslim Restaurant - China, Hainan, Haikou, Meilan District, Deli Road, 2号-6 邮政编码: 570208

Stay Safe

Be very careful with water sports on Hainan. Government regulation of activities such as parasailing, diving, and boating on Hainan is lax, so staff often provide little or no training to clients, and the equipment can be shoddy. Without adequate safety precautions and these activities can be dangerous, and even fatal.

News & References Hainan

Travel Next

Zhanjiang is the nearest mainland city. For some routes through the region, see Hong Kong to Kunming overland.

There are regular boats from Haikou to Hai'an and Beihai on the Chinese mainland.

There are also Flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.