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 A
standout from other provinces, the Province of Hainan is the largest
ocean island while at the same time the smallest land province in China.
Though Hainan’s scenery is bereft of anything as grand as the Great Wall
or as mysterious as the Terror-Cotta Warriors, it has gained an
overwhelmingly positive response from visitors. Its natural beauty has
become widely known around the world that people have come to call it
"the Oriental Hawaii."
Occupying an area of 35,000 square kilometers (13,510 square miles)
Hainan is to be found at the south end of China. Its administrative
regions are Hainan Island, Xisha archipelago, Zhongsha archipelago and
Nansha archipelago.
Due to its mild climate and favorable environment, Hainan is regarded as
a long life island. The young often travel to Hainan seeking a return to
nature and the old would rather live there to enjoy their lives. Hainan
now has a population of 7.11 million, among which about one million are
ethnic minorities.
When to go
 Hainan
is an ideal place to hide out from the cold winter in some countries. In
January and February, the average temperature is 16C - 24C. This rises
to around 25C - 29C in July and August.
The rainy season is from May to October. The best time to visit Hainan
is between November and March of the next year. Those who are fond of
swimming will find the province an excellent swimming and bathing place
all year around and since it is far from the crowded cities, it is an
ideal choice for relaxation and entertainment.
What to see
 The
most popular place for tourists in Hainan is Sanya, which is in turn
famous famous for its tropical beach landscapes. Tianya Haijiao and
Dadonghai are two well-known beaches. These places are ideal for lying
on the soft beach under beautiful sunshine or walking through a coconut
plantation under a clear blue sky.
Historical places such as the Hairui Tomb (Hairui [1514 – 1587] was a
compassionate and popular officer during the Ming Dynasty) and the
Wugong Temples in Haikou are also worth a visit.
Places of Interest
Wugong Temples
The Wugong Temples are located at the southeast part of Haikuo City.
Wugong Temples is a complex of five traditional temples and halls. The
buildings were built during the reign of Emperor Wanli of the Ming
Dynasty to commemorate the five well-known officials of the Tang and
Song dynasties.
 The
temple complex as seen today is a result of extensive restoration and
extension work done through different dynasties. The extensions included
gardens, ponds and pavilions.
The five temples forming the whole complex are the Wugong Temple,
Songgong Temple, Guanjia Temple, Xuepu Temple, Wugong Jingshe and the
Qiong Garden.
Inside the Wugong Temple is a stone tablet carved with unique Chinese
calligraphy inscriptions of Emperor Huizong from the Song Dynasty.
Songgong Temple was built to commemorate Su Shi and his brother Su Zhe.
Tablets of stones with inscriptions of his poems and essays were found
here.
Today, the temple complex is a quiet place for couples and families to
escape the city crowds.
Tainya Haijiao (literally ‘edge of the sky, rim of the sea’)
Twenty kilometers from the city is a somber-looking beach with clear
water, coconut palms and grotesque rocks.
It was rumored that during the Tang and Song dynasties, disgraced
officials were exiled to this piece of land. Upon seeing the vastness of
the sky and the sea, people sent to this place believed they had reached
the edge of the sky and the rim of the sea.
In recent years, this place has become a popular tourist spot where
tourists arrive in waves each year. Other attractions here is the
“Heavenly Pillar,” a pillar-shaped rock rising seven meters high. A Qing
official inscribed four huge characters in the rock saying "Nan Tian Yi
Zhu" meaning "Pillar of the Southern Heavens". It was said in a myth
that the pillar came from the Heavens to support the sky. To this day,
locals look upon the rock with great reverence.
Asian Dragon Bay (Yalong Wan)
 Found
East of the city, this is considered the best beach in Sanya. It
stretches for seven kilometers and the view of the beach is excellent
and makes for wonderful promenading. It has become a popular tourist
place all year round.
Standard hotel service can be easily found in the resort area. The
Center Square in the resort provides parking, restaurants, shops,
exhibitions and a recreation area. A museum with a large collection of
seashells is also worth visiting. Fancy shell souvenirs sold here are
popular gifts for family and friends back home.
Another place that should not be missed is the Butterfly Valley where a
variety of butterfly species are preserved and propagated.
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