This is the main reference section of Go to Hainan. Here we collect verified information about the island — from geography and history to economy and everyday life. The section is constantly growing.
🗺️ Geography
Hainan is China’s southernmost island, located at the same latitude as Hawaii. Covering about 34,000 km², it is the country’s second-largest island province. Here you’ll find materials about the island’s cities and districts — Sanya, Haikou, Wenchang, Wanning, Lingshui — as well as its bays, mountains, rivers, and regional climate.
📜 History
From the ancient Li tribes to its status as China’s largest special economic zone. We cover millennia of island history: exiled Song-dynasty poets, pirates of the South China Sea, the Japanese occupation, the founding of the province in 1988, and the free trade port being built today.
🎭 Culture
Hainan is home to the Li, Miao, and Hui ethnic groups. In this section: traditional crafts, the tattoo traditions of Li women, the “Third Day of the Third Month” festival, temples, cuisine, and the famous Hainan coffee. Plus modern cultural life: festivals, museums, and the Hainan Island International Film Festival.
🌿 Nature
Tropical jungles, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and volcanoes. Articles about national parks, rare animals (the Hainan gibbon is one of the rarest primates on Earth), beaches, hot springs, and the best spots for diving and surfing.
📈 Economy
Hainan is China’s pilot free trade port. We explain what this means for tourists and investors: duty-free shopping, tax incentives, visa-free entry for 59 countries, tourism development, medical tourism in Boao, and the aerospace industry in Wenchang.
🏡 Lifestyle
What it’s like to live on the island: relocation and long-term rentals, prices, healthcare, schools, and the Russian-speaking community in Sanya. Practical guides for those who want to stay on Hainan longer than a two-week vacation.
📚 Where to Start
New to the site? We recommend these articles from our blog:
- 10 Things to Do Before Your Trip to Hainan
- Sanya Food Guide
- Sunny Bay — the Caribbean of Hainan
- Intime Hotel — an Honest Review
The Encyclopedia is updated weekly. Subscribe for updates — or just come back often!