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About Hainan
 The tropical Chinese island of Hainan is 35,300 sq km which is slightly bigger than the size of Belgium. Its 1928 km long coastline is dotted with endless sandy beaches, mangrove swamps and beautiful bays. About 50 percent of the islands interior is still original dense rain forests, which is partely protected in national parks or nature conservations areas. The other half of the hilly and mountainous country is used intensively by agriculture. The moderate tropical monsoon climate allows the cultivation of almost all tropical fruits and vegetables, and Chinese medicinal herbs. So you can find rubber and banana plantations, pepper, vanilla and cocoa next to rice crops, and in the mountains grow coffee and tea. But especially, Hainan is an island of coconuts. In huge plantations the coconut palmtree grows and produces its profitable nuts, wood and leaves. The capital of Haikou nicknamed itself 'City of coconut' . You can find the palms everywhere, on the beaches, along the rivers and in the mountains and fields of Hainan. In Wenchang there are about 500,000 in a single palm plantation. Hainan is a tropical garden of Eden, where everything grows and blossoms in lush splendor around the year. It is always pleasantly warm and never too hot.
8.2 million people live on Hainan, of which 1.5 have there homes in the north around the capital city of Haikou and a half million in the southern urban area of Sanya, the most beautiful tropical city of China. The two cities are not only business centers and port cities, in their nearby surroundings are nice sandy beaches, diving areas and recreational places, and some attractions to visit. Among these are particularly the some Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples.
Approximately 1.5 million locals belongs to the people of the Li, living their lifes in the islands interior, especially around the Wuzhi Shan, the highest mountain (1867m) of Hainan. To visit their festivals and handicrafts are still highlights for tourists coming to Hainan. Besides the beautiful beaches, diving areas and nature reserves or national parks. Botanical gardens, museums, temples and last but not least, an exquisite Chinese cuisine make a holiday on Hainan an exciting trip to remember. And of course there is also a versatile sports program from surfing to whitewater rafting.
Meanwhile there are sixteen nine and eighteen holes golf courses across the island, which should belong to the best and most beautiful in China. Especially the exclusive Yalong Bay Golf course near Sanya is ecommended as the best golfing place in whole China.
Hainan has been boosted from a nowhere place to a tourist attraction in the last years, and will be one of the leading holiday destinations in asia in the future. Even a hundred years ago, it was a prisoners island and one of the poorest regions of southern China. But since 1988 the island became a government economical development zone with tax-free status and investments and government fundings. The results are highly developed infrastructure, dispersal of future industries such as aerospace. From Haikou and Sanya you can reach nearly every coastal place by modern highways or by train in a short time. Even the inner island is accessable by a solid network of roads.
And of course the tourism industry conquered the most beautiful places, beaches and bays. Around Sanya, the five-star hotels were built so close together, like nowhere else in Asia.
For several years now, Hainan developed into a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia, not only for Chinese. Germans, Japanese and Russians are attracted by the sunny island. It is already called the Bali, Hawaii or Florida of China. A lot of modern hotels and beach resorts have emerged or will open in the next years. One of the most ambitious is the Baoa Luxury Island Project, which offers private bungalows, hotel resorts and beach villas at the beautiful Boao Beach on the east coast. Landmark of this modern site will be the Boao Lotus Island Hotel.
The airline Hainan Airlines offers flights several times daily from many cities in China, landing in Sanya and Haikou. Flights from Europe and the U.S. usually come through Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. Inexpensive connections to Haikou start from Kula Lumpur by AirAsia and from Singapore by Tiger Airways.
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