Hainan
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Hainan (UK: /haɪˈnæn/, US: /-nɑːn/;[5] Chinese: 海南ⓘ) is an island province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea under the province's administration. It is the southernmost province of China, and the name means "south of the sea", reflecting the island's position south of the Qiongzhou Strait, which separates it from Leizhou Peninsula of the Chinese mainland.
Hainan
海南 | |
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Province of Hainan | |
Name transcription(s) | |
• Chinese | 海南省 (Hǎinán Shěng) |
• Hainanese | Hái-nâm-séng |
• Cantonese Jyutping | Hoi2naam4 Saang2 |
• Abbreviation | 琼 (Qióng / Khêng / King4) |
Coordinates: 19°12′N 109°42′E | |
Country | China |
Guangnan West Circuit | 988 |
Hainan Special Administrative Region | 1944 |
Incorporation into the PRC | 1 May 1950 |
Separation from Guangdong | 26 April 1988 |
Capital and largest city | Haikou |
Divisions | 4 prefectures, 25 counties, 218 townships |
Government | |
• Type | Province |
• Body | Hainan Provincial People's Congress |
• CCP Secretary | Feng Fei |
• Congress Chairman | Feng Fei |
• Governor | Liu Xiaoming |
• CPPCC Chairman | Li Rongcan |
Area | |
• Total | 35,191 km2 (13,587 sq mi) |
• Rank | 28th |
Highest elevation | 1,840 m (6,040 ft) |
Population (2020)[2] | |
• Total | 10,081,232 |
• Rank | 28th |
• Density | 290/km2 (740/sq mi) |
• Rank | 17th |
Demographics | |
• Ethnic composition | Han: 82.6% Li: 15.84% Miao: 0.82% Zhuang: 0.67% |
• Languages and dialects | Standard Chinese, Hainanese, Yue, Lingao, Hakka, Hlai, Miao, Tsat |
GDP[3] | |
• Total | CN¥ 689.0 billion US$ 102.4 billion |
• Per capita | CN¥ 66,602 US$ 9,902 |
ISO 3166 code | CN-HI |
HDI (2018) | 0.750[4] (high) (19th) |
Website | English Chinese |
Native name: 海南岛 | |
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Geography | |
Location | East Asia |
Type | Island |
Area | 33,210 km2 (12,820 sq mi) |
Area rank | 42nd |
Length | 156 km (96.9 mi) |
Width | 170 km (106 mi) |
Highest elevation | 1,840 m (6040 ft) |
Highest point | Wuzhi Mountain |
Administration | |
People's Republic of China | |
Province | Hainan |
Largest settlement | Haikou (pop. 2,873,358) |
Republic of China (claimed) | |
Special Administrative Region | Hainan |
Demographics | |
Population | c. 8,180,000 |
Ethnic groups | Han, Li, Miao, Zhuang, Utsul |
Hainan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chinese | 海南 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Literal meaning | "South of the Sea (Qiongzhou Strait)" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Former names | |||||||||||
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Zhuya | |||||||||||
Chinese | 珠崖 | ||||||||||
Literal meaning | Pearl Cliffs | ||||||||||
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Qiongya | |||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 瓊崖 | ||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 琼崖 | ||||||||||
Literal meaning | Jade Cliffs | ||||||||||
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Qiongzhou | |||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 瓊州 | ||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 琼州 | ||||||||||
Literal meaning | Jade Prefecture | ||||||||||
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The province has a land area of 33,920 square kilometers (13,100 sq mi), of which Hainan Island is 32,900 square kilometers (12,700 sq mi) and the rest is over 200 islands scattered across three archipelagos: Zhongsha, Xisha and Nansha. It was part of Guangdong from 1950 to 1988, after which it was made a province of its own and was designated as a special economic zone by Deng Xiaoping, as part of the Chinese economic reform program.
Indigenous peoples such as the Hlai, a Kra–Dai-speaking ethnic group, are native to the island and compose 15% of the population. Their native languages include the Hlai languages. The Hlai are recognized by the Chinese government as one of the country's 56 ethnic groups. The Chinese population, who compose a majority of the population at 82%, speak a wide variety of languages including Standard Chinese, Hainam Min, Yue Chinese, Cantonese, Hakka Chinese, etc.[6] Speakers of Be, despite speaking a Kra-Dai language, are reckoned officially as ethnically Chinese. Hainan is also home to the Jiamao language, of disputed provenance.
There are ten major cities and ten counties in Hainan Province. The capital of the province is Haikou, on the northern coast of Hainan Island, while Sanya is a well-known tourist destination on the southern coast. The other major cities are Wenchang, Sansha, Qionghai, Wanning, Wuzhishan, Dongfang and Danzhou.
According to China's territorial claims, several disputed territories in the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands (Nansha) and Paracel Islands (Xisha),[7] are administered under Sansha city of the province. While the Paracels are fully under China's control, many of the Spratly Islands are controlled by other countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.[8]
In 2020, a large-scale plan was announced by the Chinese government to transform the entire island province into a free trade port, with the aim of turning it into the largest free-trade port in the world by 2035. The plan involves building a hub for offshore financing and duty-free shopping, as well as using lower taxes and reduced visa requirements to help draw in foreign businesses and tourists. Moreover, all goods sold from Hainan to other parts of China would be treated as imports from 2025 onward.[9][10][11][12]
The provincial name derives from its major island, Hainan, in Hainanese "Hai Nam", which is named after its position south of the Qiongzhou Strait. (To the north of the strait, the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong is also known as Haibei/Hai Bac or "North of the Sea".) Former names for Hainan Island include Zhuya, Qiongya, and Qiongzhou. The latter two gave rise to the provincial abbreviation 瓊 or 琼 (Qióng/Kheng).
During the 17th and 18th centuries, explorers referred to the island as "Aynam",[13][14] which remains the pronunciation of its name in the local Hainanese dialect.
Prehistoric era
According to some scholars, Hainan was originally attached to the Northeastern part of what is now Vietnam; however, the island was formed after it physically broke away from Vietnam due to a volcanic eruption and drifted southeast near China after the Mesozoic, millions of years ago.[15]
The Baiyue people are among the earliest Kra-Dai residents to arrive on Hainan island. They are believed to have settled there at least 2 to 6 thousand years ago, and carry genetic markers from ancient people who reached the island between 7 and 27 thousand years ago.[16]
Imperial Era
Hainan Island was recorded by Chinese officials in 110 BC, when the Western Han dynasty established a military garrison there following the arrival of General Lu Bode. The process of sinification in Hainan was driven by the conjunction of Han imperial military supremacy and the arrival of Han Chinese military and administrative personnel who chose to settle on the island. Over the course of many centuries, dynastic Chinese ruling authorities exiled individuals condemned by the imperial courts as criminals or political dissidents were frequently banished to Hainan island and northern Vietnam, regions that were both integral parts governed typically under the jurisdiction of Guangdong province during different Chinese dynasties, where they were subjected to harsh labor in the tropical climate as a form of punishment. One of the most famous exiled individuals was Su Shi, a well-known intellectual, poet, and politician of the Song era, offended many of his colleagues and superiors in the royal court. Shi wrote extensively about his exiled experiences on the island during the 11th century AD. After the 11th century AD, an increasing number of impoverished Han Chinese peasants hailing from various regions of Guangdong province migrated to the Leizhou peninsula and Hainan island who looked to settle down their roots by seeking greener pastures on new land to establish themselves. This influx displaced the indigenous Li people, who were among the Baiyue tribes in southern China, driving them out towards the mountainous regions of the southern portion of the island.
Republic of China
Hainan was historically part of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces and as such was the Qiongya Circuit (瓊崖道) under the 1912 establishment of the Republic of China. In 1921, it was planned to become a special administrative region (瓊崖特別行政區); in 1944, it became Hainan Special Administrative Region with 16 counties, including the South China Sea Islands.
During the 1920s and 30s, Hainan was a hotbed of banditry, many opposition politicians[clarification needed] were hanged, therefore opposition politicians went into hiding. The Communists and the indigenous Hlai people fought a vigorous guerrilla campaign against the Japanese, who were only able to occupy some Hainan territories; but in retaliation the Japanese launched numerous massacres against Hlai villages. Feng Baiju led the Hainan Independent Column] of fighters throughout the 1930s and 1940s. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, the Kuomintang reestablished control. Hainan was one of the last areas to eventually come under the administration of the People's Republic, having been under the control of ROC forces until March 1950. The People's Republic attacked Hainan on 10 April 1950 and attained complete control on 1 May.
People's Republic of China
On 1 May 1950, under the People's Republic of China, the Hainan Special Administrative Region became an Administrative Region Office (海南行政区公署), a branch of the Guangdong provincial government. During the mid-1980s, when Hainan Island was still part of Guangdong Province, a fourteen-month episode of marketing zeal by Hainan Special District Administrator Lei Yu[17] put Hainan's pursuit of provincial status under a cloud. It involved the duty-free imports from Hong Kong of 90,000 Japanese-made cars and trucks at a cost of ¥ 4.5 billion (US$1.5 billion), and exporting them – with the help of local naval units – to the mainland, making 150% profits. By comparison, only 10,000 vehicles were imported into Hainan since 1950. In addition, it involved further consignments of 2.9 million TV sets, 252,000 videocassette recorders & 122,000 motorcycles. The money was taken from the 1983 central government funds destined for the construction of the island's transportation infrastructure (roads, railways, airports, harbors) over the next ten years.[citation needed]
On 1 October 1984, it became the Hainan Administrative Region (海南行政区), with its own People's Government, and finally as a province separate from Guangdong four years later. In 1988, when the island was made a separate province, it was designated a Special Economic Zone in an effort to increase investment.
The central government funds were deemed insufficient by the Hainan authorities for the construction of the island's other infrastructure (e.g. water works, power stations, telecommunications) and had taken a very liberal interpretation of the economic and trade regulations for Hainan and thirteen coastal cities; the regulations did not mention on prohibiting the re-selling of second-hand goods. Some of the proceeds, from unsold units, were later retrieved by the central government to re-finance the special district.
In June 2020, China announced a master plan for Hainan's free trade port system. Announced by state-owned media Xinhua News Agency, Hainan will "basically establish a free trade port system by 2025 and become more mature by 2035."[18][19] South China Morning Post described such an initiative as an effort of PRC to "replace Hong Kong as the trading entrepôt" while Cheng Shi of ICBC International has refused to accept such a claim.[20][21] Additionally, experts have raised concerns about the question of compliance of global trading practices particularly for this project.[22][23]
Hainan, separated by the 20 km (12 mi) wide Qiongzhou Strait from the Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong, is the 42nd largest in the world. The area of Hainan Island (32,900 km2 (12,700 sq mi), 97% of the province) is slightly smaller than that of Taiwan Island. To the west of Hainan Island is the Gulf of Tonkin. Wuzhi Mountain is the highest mountain on the island at 1,840 m (6,040 ft).
Hainan Island measures 288 km (179 mi) long and 180 km (110 mi) wide.
The northern half of Hainan is covered with the ancient Hainan Volcanic Field. Beneath the topsoil is volcanic rock while the topsoil itself contains small pieces of this vesicular rock.
Wetland covers 320,000 hectares, 78,000 hectares of which were created artificially. Most of this is located in the eastern and northern part of Hainan.[24]
Rivers and lakes
Most of the rivers in Hainan originate in the central area of the island and flow radially in different directions. The Nandu River in the northern part of the island is 314 km (195 mi) long, and its tributary, the Xinwu River, is 109 km (68 mi) long. Other major rivers include the Wanquan River at 162 km (101 mi)-long in the east, Changhua River in the west, and the Sanya and Taiyang Rivers in the south. Evaporation during the dry season around the coastal areas greatly reduces the flow of the rivers.
There are very few natural lakes in Hainan. However, there are numerous reservoirs, the largest of which is the Songtao Reservoir in the central-north area.
Islands
Nearby islands
Several small islands exist around the coast of Hainan Island:
- Dazhou Island is located about 5 km (3.1 mi) off the coast of Wanning
- Haidian Island, on the north coast, is part of Haikou City
- Nanwan Monkey Island, in actuality a peninsula
- Phoenix Island is an artificial resort island currently under construction in Sanya Bay.
- Wuzhizhou Island is located within Haitang Bay
- Xinbu Island is located directly to the east of Haidian Island
Due to their close proximity to the main island, the flora, fauna, and the climate are very similar.
Disputed islands
A number of small islands, which are located hundreds of kilometers to the south, are claimed and administered by Sansha as part of Hainan Province.[25] Sovereignty of these islands is however disputed. These islands include:
- Paracel Islands Xisha Islands – "The West-sands" – claimed by Vietnam, the PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan, ROC)
- Zhongsha Islands – "The Middle-sands"
- Spratly Islands – Nansha Islands – "The South-sands" are subject to claims by Vietnam, the PRC, ROC, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei.
Environment
Compared to most of mainland China, the air quality of Hainan is significantly better since it is not affected by factory pollution, which has adversely affected the air on the mainland. Throughout 2012, Hainan had the highest air quality in the country for 351 days.[citation needed]
The provincial government's environmental protection campaign has taken action against a number of industrial plants. During 2012, several outdated manufacturing facilities had their business licenses revoked, and 175 cases related to illegal sewage discharge were handled.[citation needed]
Total sulfur dioxide emissions for the province were 34,000 tons in 2012, a 3 percent year-on-year reduction. In 2011, smog emissions were reduced 6.3 percent to 15,000 tons.[citation needed]
Protected areas include the Yinggeling-Limushan and Wuzhishan-Diaoluoshan nature reserves.[26]
Climate
Hainan Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The climate of Hainan is mostly tropical. The island's two largest cities, Haikou and Sanya, both possess a tropical Köppen climate. The annual average temperature ranges from 23 to 28 °C (73 to 82 °F), Haikou is 24.7 °C (76.5 °F), Sanya is 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). The coldest months are January when temperatures drop to 17 to 24 °C (63 to 75 °F); the hottest months are June and July, and the temperatures are 26 to 31 °C (79 to 88 °F). The daily average temperature in Hainan in all months is well above 10 °C (50 °F).
The summer in the northern part is hotter and, (for more than 20 days in a year, the temperature can be higher than 35 °C (95 °F)[citation needed]). The average annual precipitation is 1,500 to 2,000 millimeters (59 to 79 in) and can be as high as 2,400 millimeters (94 in) in central and eastern areas, and as low as 900 millimeters (35 in) in the coastal areas of the southwest. Parts of Hainan lie in the path of typhoons, and 70% of the annual precipitation is derived from typhoons and the summer rainy season. Major flooding occurs due to typhoons, which can cause many problems for local residents.
Annual fog
From January to February, the island of Hainan is often affected by thick fog, particularly in coastal areas and the northern part of the island. This is caused by cold winter air from the north coming into contact with the warmer sea, causing the moisture that evaporates from the sea to be condensed into fog. The fog remains from day to night, and is evenly distributed. Visibility may be reduced to 50 meters (160 ft) for days at a time. During this period, residents normally keep windows shut. The moisture in the air is so extreme that the walls in homes weep, and floors often accumulate a layer of water. [citation needed]
Hainan has over 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) of tropical forest, in which live 4,600 kinds of plants and more than 570 species of animals.[citation needed] However, due to an invasion of exotic species, human impact from tourism, deforestation, and the release of pollutants, many species are under threat. A report from the Department of Land, Environment and Resources of Hainan Province states that 200 species are near extinction, with 6 species, such as Maytenus hainanensis and Sciaphila tenella already extinct.[28]
Two ecoregions cover the island. The South China-Vietnam subtropical evergreen forests cover the lowlands, and extend onto the adjacent mainland. The Hainan Island monsoon rainforests covers the interior of the island, and includes montane rain forests with a more seasonal climate and more deciduous trees.[26]
Flora
The majority of Hainan's land mass is forest with 61.5 percent coverage (210,000 hectares) reported at the end of 2012, an increase of 34,133 hectares (84,340 acres) since 2011. A further 1,187 hectares (2,930 acres) grass and trees were planted along the province's highways.[29]
There are 53 genera in 29 families of wild and cultivated fruit growing on Hainan Island.[30] There are few large trees on the island; coconut palms are very common along with other smaller trees. Most of Hainan Island is however covered by forest.
4,200 species of plants are native to the island, including several endemic species. The plant genera Wenchengia and Metapetrocosmea are endemic to the island.[26] The genera Cathayanthe and Chunia are found only on Hainan and in northern Vietnam.
Notable species include:
- Hainan yellow lantern chili is a pepper similar to the scotch bonnet.
- Hainan white pine, a species of tree.
- Cephalotaxus hainanensis is a species of plum-yew.
Fauna
There are numerous protected areas and wildlife preserves on the island. Animals that are ubiquitous throughout the island include frogs, toads, geckos, skinks, and butterflies. Present, but less commonly observed, are snakes (Asian palm pit vipers, red bamboo snake, and occasionally cobras), Siberian chipmunks, squirrels, and the masked palm civet. Similar to many subtropical areas, insect species are diverse, and mosquitoes are very common. The lakes are largely populated with carp and catfish.
About 100 species of mammals are native to Hainan. The Hainan black crested gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), Hainan hare, Hainan moonrat, and Hainan flying squirrel are endemic to the island. Larger native mammals include the Asiatic black bear, sambar deer, yellow-bellied weasel, Eurasian otter, crab-eating mongoose, and leopard cat, which are of conservation concern.[26]
There are 362 known bird species.[28] Seabirds such as gulls are not generally seen. Egrets and Black-winged kites are common in agricultural areas. The Hainan partridge, white-eared night heron, Hainan leaf warbler, and yellow-billed nuthatch are endemic to the island.[26]
In the ocean, sea turtles and whale sharks are known to migrate in these waters.
Hainan island has rich bio-diversity of cetaceans and is the site of studying these in Chinese waters.[31] Many whales such as North Pacific right whales, western gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales (all of these are almost extinct in Chinese waters)[32] were historically seen in the winter and spring to mate and calve. These gentle giants of the sea had been hunted heavily and were wiped out by Japanese whalers (established whaling stations on various sites on Chinese and Korean coasts including Hainan and Daya Bay). A few Bryde's whales and minke whales may still occur in the adjacent waters along with on Leizhou Peninsula and the Gulf of Tonkin.[33][34] Smaller species of whale and dolphins, such as short-finned pilot whales[35] and pantropical spotted dolphins,[36] but most notably the endangered Chinese white dolphin. Declared sanctuary for the species extends along the coasts. These dolphins may appear among clearer waters such as vicinity to Sanya.[37]
Dugongs still occur in small number, mostly on Gulf of Tonkin side.
Notable species include:
- Hainan gymnure (Neohylomys hainanensis or Hainan moonrat) is a small mammal.
- Hainan partridge (Arborophila ardens) is a species of bird endemic to Hainan Island.
- Hainan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae) is an endangered species of the family Phasianidae.
- Hainan black crested gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) is one of the world's most endangered primates. Seacology, a non-profit organization in Berkeley, California, United States, initiated a project to protect the highly endangered Hainan gibbon in exchange for scholarships for the children of four villages near Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve.
- Hainan hare (Lepus hainanus) is a species of hare endemic to Hainan.
- A subspecies of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis alleni) is endemic to Hainan.
- Hainan leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus hainanus) is an Old World warbler in the family Phylloscopidae.
- Little torrent frog (Amolops torrentis) is a species of frog found only on Hainan Island.