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| Etymology | |
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The name "Hainan" (海南) describes its location south of the Qiongzhou Strait, while the Leizhou Peninsula is also called Haibei (海北) as it is located north of the strait.
Hainan Island was once called the Pearl Cliffs (珠崖 Zhūyá), Fine Jade Cliffs (琼崖/瓊崖 Qióngyá), and the Fine Jade Land (瓊州 Qióngzhōu). The latter two names gave rise to the province's abbreviation, Qióng (琼/瓊), referring to the pearls that were once abundant on the north coast of the island.
[edit] Tags:Province,Li,Qiongzhou Strait,Leizhou Peninsula,Abbreviation, | |
| History | |
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Hainan Island first enters written Chinese history in 110 BC, when the Han Dynasty established a military garrison there following the arrival of General Lu Bode (路博德). In 46 BC the Han court decided that the conquest was too expensive and abandoned the island. Around that time, Han people together with military personnel and officials began to migrate to Hainan Island from mainland China. Among them were the offspring of those who were banished to Hainan for political reasons. Most of them arrived in Hainan Island from the southern provinces of Guangdong, Fujian and Guangxi.
Li people are the original inhabitants of Hainan. They are believed to be the descendants of the ancient Yue tribes of China, who settled on the island between 7 and 27 thousand years ago.[2]
The Li people mainly reside in the nine cities and counties in the middle and southern part of Hainan - the cities of Sanya, Wuzhishan and Dongfang, the Li autonomous counties of Baisha, Lingshui, Ledong, Changjiang, and the 'Li and Miao Autonomous Counties of Qiongzhong and Baoting'. Some others live elsewhere on Hainan with other ethnic groups in Danzhou, Wanning, Qionghai, Lingshui and Tunchang.
The area inhabited by the Li ethnic group totals 18,700 square kilometres (7,200 sq mi), about 55 percent of the province's total.[3]
Haikou, the capital of the province as seen looking south from Evergreen Park, a large park located on the north shore of the city
During the Three Kingdoms Period, Hainan was the Zhuya Commandery (珠崖郡) under the control of Eastern Wu.
At the time of the Song Dynasty (980-1279), Hainan became part of Guangxi Province, and for the first time large numbers of Han Chinese arrived, settling mostly in the north. Under the Yuan Dynasty (1206–1368) the island became an independent province then in 1370 was placed under the administration of Guangdong Province by the ruling Ming Dynasty. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, large numbers of Han Chinese from Fujian and Guangdong began migrating to Hainan, pushing the Li into the highlands in the southern half of the island. In the eighteenth century, the Li rebelled against the government, which responded by bringing in mercenaries from the Miao people regions of Guizhou Province. Many of the Miao settled on the island and their descendants live in the western highlands to this day.
In 1906, the Chinese Republican leader Sun Yat-sen proposed that Hainan should become a separate province although this did not happen until 1988.
Hainan was historically part of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces and as such was the Ch'iung-yai or 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 containing the South China Sea Islands.
Hainanese residents in the countryside
During the 1920s and 30s, Hainan was a hotbed of Communist activity, especially after a bloody crackdown in Shanghai, the Republic of China in 1927 drove many Communists into hiding. The Communists and the Li natives fought a vigorous guerrilla campaign against the Japanese occupation of Hainan (1939–45), but in retaliation over one third of the male population were killed by the Japanese. Feng Baiju led the Hainan Independent Column of fighters throughout the 1930s and 1940s. After the Japanese surrender in 1945 the Nationalist Party (KMT) re-established control. Hainan was one of the last areas of China controlled by the Republic of China. From March to May 1950, the Landing Operation on Hainan Island captured the island for the Chinese communists. Feng Baiju and his column of guerrilla fighters played an essential role in scouting for the landing operation and coordinated their own offensive from their jungle bases on the island. This allowed the Hainan takeover to be successful where the Jinmen and Dengbu assaults had failed in the previous fall. The takeover was made possible by the presence of a local guerrilla force that was lacking on the islands of Jinmen, Dengbu, and Taiwan. Hence, while many observers of the Chinese civil war thought that the fall of Hainan Island to the Communists would be followed shortly by the fall of Taiwan Island, the lack of any communist guerrilla force on Taiwan Island and its sheer distance from the mainland made this impossible, as did the arrival of the US 7th fleet in the Taiwan Strait after the outbreak of the Korean War in June.
The capital city of Haikou, although highly populated relative to many other international cities, is geographically quite small, with almost no urban sprawl. Much of the city limits end abruptly with forest or farm land.
On 1 May 1950, under the PRC, the Special Administrative Region became an Administrative Region Office (海南行政区公署), a branch of the Guangdong provincial government. On October 1, 1984, it became the Hainan Administrative Region (海南行政区), with a People's Government, and finally as 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 Communists resumed development of the island along the lines established by the Japanese, but the results were limited by the island's isolation, its humid and typhoon-prone climate, and its continuing reputation as a place of danger and exile by mainland Chinese. With China's shift in economic policy at the end of the 1970s, Hainan became a focus of attention.
During the mid-1980s, when Hainan Island was still part of the Guangdong Province, a fourteen-month episode of marketing zeal by Hainan Special District Administrator Lei Yu[4] 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 C¥ 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, harbours) over the next ten years.[citation needed]
The central government funds were deemed insufficient by the Hainan authorities for the construction of the island's other infrastructures (water works, power stations, telecommunications, etc.) 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.
[edit] Tags:Haikou,Han,Miao,Yue,Chinese,South China Sea,Guangdong,Special Economic Zone,Sanya,Qionghai,Wanning,Wuzhishan,Danzhou,Chinese History,Han Dynasty,Garrison,Fujian,Guangxi,Yue Tribes,Baisha,Evergreen Park,Eastern Wu,Guangxi Province,Han Chinese,Yuan Dynasty,Guangdong Province,Mercenaries,Miao People,Guizhou Province,Circuit,Republic Of China,South China Sea Islands,Communist,Shanghai,Communists,Guerrilla,Feng Baiju,Chinese Communists,Jinmen,Dengbu,Us 7th Fleet,Taiwan Strait,Korean War,Urban Sprawl, | |
| Hainan Province | |
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The Administration Office for Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands and Nansha Islands is part of Hainan Province.
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| Islands | |
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The Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands, south of Sanya,[5] are claimed by the PRC and thus considered to form an administrative district of Hainan Province by them. Sovereignty of the islands is however disputed. See also: South China Sea Islands.
Hainan Islands
Hainan Island
Dazhou Island
Haidian Island
Nanwan Monkey Island
Phoenix Island
Wuzhizhou Island
Xinbu Island
Paracel Islands Xisha Islands - "The West-sands" - claimed by Vietnam, the PRC and the Republic of China (Taiwan, ROC)
Money Island, Paracel Islands
Rocky Island, South China Sea
Tree Island, South China Sea
Triton Island
Woody Island, South China Sea
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.
Spratly Island
Flat Island (Spratly)
Itu Aba Island
James Shoal (southern most point)
Loaita Island
Namyit Island
Nanshan Island
Sin Cowe Island
Thitu Island
West York Island
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| Hainan Island | |
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This view of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, near the south coast of Hainan is typical of the inland countryside.
Hainan, separated by the Qiongzhou Strait (瓊州海峽) from the Leizhou Peninsula (雷州半島) of Guangdong, is the largest island administered by the People's Republic of China. The size of Hainan Island (32,900 km2 (12,700 sq mi), 97% of the province) is comparable to the size of Belgium. The PRC, however, regard it as the second largest island, since it considers Taiwan Island (35,980 km2/13,890 sq mi) as an integral part of its territory. To the west of Hainan Island is the Gulf of Tonkin. Wuzhi Mountain (1,840 m) is the highest mountain on the island.
The Hainan Island measures 155 kilometres (96 mi) long and 169 km (105 mi) wide.
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| Rivers and lakes | |
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High-resolution topographical map
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, the Changhua River in the west is 230 km (140 mi) long, and the Wanquan River in the east is 162 km (101 mi) long. Evaporation during the dry season around the coastal areas greatly reduces the flow of the rivers.
There are very few natural lakes in Hainan. There is a well-known artificial reservoir, the Songtao Reservoir, in the central-north area.
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| Climate | |
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Hainan has a tropical moist monsoonal climate. Its annual temperature change is less than 15 °C (27.0 °F). The coldest months are January and February when the temperatures drop to 16 to 21 °C (61 to 70 °F); the hottest months are July and August, and the temperatures are 25 to 29 °C (77 to 84 °F). Except for the mountainous regions in the central part of the island, the daily average temperature in Hainan is above 10 °C (50 °F), and the integrated temperature during the growing season of the crops reaches eight thousand to nine thousand degree Celsius-days. The summer in the north is hot and, for more than 20 days in a year, the temperature can be higher than 35 °C (95 °F). The average annual precipitation is 1,500 to 2,000 millimetres (59 to 79 in) and can be as high as 2,400 millimetres (94 in) in central and eastern areas, and as low as 900 millimetres (35 in) in the coastal areas of the southwest. The eastern part of Hainan lies 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 the typhoons and they can cause many problems for the local residents.
Annual fog
Around January and February, in costal areas, particularly in the northern part of the island, Hainan experiences severe fog. This is due to the cold winter air coming into contact with the warm sea. The fog remains day and night, and is evenly disbursed. Visibility may be reduced to 50 metres 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 several milimetres in depth.
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| Flora and fauna | |
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Hainan has over 1,500 km2 of tropical forest, in which live 4,600 kinds of plants and more than 570 species of animals.[citation needed]
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| Flora on Hainan Island | |
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Two types of Hainan Yellow Lantern Chili
There are 53 genera in 29 families of wild and cultivated fruit growing on Hainan Island.[6] 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.
Hainan Yellow Lantern Chili is a pepper similar to the scotch bonnet.
Hainan White Pine, a species of tree.
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| Fauna on Hainan Island | |
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Much of the animal life comprises domesticated farm animals such as goats, water buffalo, chickens, and ducks. The farms on Hainan generally do not raise sheep, and there are few cows. Almost no large animals remain in the wild. Reptiles such as frogs, toads, lizards, and geckos are common throughout the island, with snakes being somewhat more rare. The lakes are largely populated with carp and catfish. Seabirds such as gulls are not generally seen. Egrets are common in agricultural areas. Similar to many subtropical areas, insect species are diverse, and mosquitoes are very common.
Hainan Gymnure, also known as the Hainan Moonrat, is a species of mammal.
Hainan Partridge is a species of bird endemic to Hainan Island.
Hainan Peacock-pheasant, an endangered species belonging to the Phasianidae
Hainan black crested gibbon 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 Bawangling Reserve.
Hainan Hare is a species of hare endemic to Hainan
There are numerous protected areas and wildlife preserves on the island.
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| Demographics | |
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Ethnolinguistic groups on Hainan, 1967 map
(Link to entire map including key).
In 2000, the ethnic groups of Hainan included the Han Chinese, known as the Hainanese, who are the majority (84% of the population); the Li (Hlai) (14.7% of the population); the Miao (0.7%) and the Zhuang (0.6%).[citation needed] The Li are the largest indigenous group on the island in terms of population. Also found on the island are the Utsuls, descendants of Cham refugees, who are classified as Hui by the Chinese government.
Although they are indigenous to the island and do not speak a Chinese language, the Limgao (Ong-Be) people near the capital (8% of the population) are counted as Han Chinese.
[edit] Tags:Zhuang,Hlai, | |
| Religion | |
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Out of the total population, 90,000 are Buddhist Hainanese. 3000 or more are Muslims. Most, if not all, of the Muslims are Utsuls living near Sanya. Because Hainan was a point in the travel route of missionaries, there are many Christians: 35,000 Protestants and 4,100 Catholics by the biggest estimates. There is less oppression of Christians in Hainan than in other parts of the country.[7]
Nanshan Park is the centre of Buddhism on Hainan Island. Encompassing more than 50 square kilometres of rainforest, the site includes countless grand temples, statues and spiritual gardens the likes of Saviour Garden and Longevity Valley, with intricately trimmed hedges and abundant in Lotus flowers, a venerated symbol in Buddhism meaning virtue or purity.
At the heart of the valley is the grand Nanshan Temple, its gates flanked by stone figures of Buddha in front of the Tang Dynasty-style entrance. The interior displays images of the Four Heavenly Kings amid statues of other deities enshrined in renderings of stone, gold and jade.
Perhaps the most popular site within the Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone is the awe-inspiring stone rendering of the bodhisattva Guan Ying, emerging out of the South China Sea to stand at 108 metres, taller than the statue of liberty.
The Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone is visited by thousands of tourists and pilgrims each year who come pay homage to the site that plays a significant role in the religion in China and to sample some of the finest Buddhist vegan cuisine on the island.[8]
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| Population | |
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The population density of Hainan is low compared to most Chinese coastal provinces. Compared to Taiwan Island, and to other islands of the Sinosphere, Hainan has both fewer mountains and more plains.[citation needed]
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| Languages | |
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The Han Chinese of Hainan speak a variant of the Min Nan Chinese language, known as Hainanese. In addition, the national standard Putonghua is understood and spo Tags:Min Nan,Template,Discussion, | |
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