History
Hainan first enters written Chinese history in 110 BC, when the Han Dynasty established a military garrison there. Settlement by mainlanders was slow however and from early on the island was considered to be fit only for exiles. It was in this period that the Li people arrived from Guangxi Province and displaced the island’s aboriginal Austronesian-speaking peoples.
Under the Song Dynasty, Hainan came under the control of Guangxi Province, and for the first time large numbers of Han Chinese arrived, settling mostly in the north. Under the Yuan Dynasty , it became an independent province, but was placed under Guangdong Province during the Ming Dynasty in 1370. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, large numbers of Han 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.
Hainan was occupied by the Japanese in 1939 – 45, after which it reverted back to China. In 1988, Hainan became a separate province again and was designated a Special Economic Zone by the central government in an effort to increase investment.


Hainan is located off the southern coast of the People’s Republic of China, with an area of 13,200 sq mi (34,300 sq km).
Hainan Island was called the Pearl Cliffs, Fine Jade Cliffs (琼崖), and the Fine Jade Land (琼州). The latter two gave rise to the province’s abbreviation〝Qiong〞, referring to the greenery cover on the island.
Administrative divisions
Hainan Province uses a slightly different administrative system from the other provinces of China. Most other provinces are divided entirely into prefecture-level divisions, each of which is then divided entirely into county-level divisions. County-level divisions generally do not come directly under the province. In Hainan, nearly all county-level divisions (the four districts excepted) come directly under the province. This method of division is due to Hainan’s relatively sparse population.
There is Office of West, South, and Central Sands Archipelagos, which oversees the South China Sea Islands: the Xisha (Paracel Islands), Zhongsha (Macclesfield Bank), and Nansha (Spratly Islands


Geography and Climate
Hainan Province consists of several islands, the largest of which is called Hainan Island, the second largest island administered by the People’s Republic of China. To the West of Hainan is the Gulf of Tonkin. Wuzhi Mountain (1,876 m) is the highest mountain in the island.
Hainan Province’s territories extend to the southern Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands and other South China Sea Islands. The containment of the South China Sea Islands makes Hainan Province have a very large water body, but disproportionably small land area. James Shoal signifies the country’s southernmost border.
Hainan has a tropical moist monsoonal climate. Its annual temperature change is less than 15 ℃(59℉). The coldest months are January and February when the temperatures drop to 16 to 21℃(61 to 70℉); the hottest months are July and August, and the temperatures are 25 to 29℃(77 to 84℉). Except for the mountainous regions in the central part of the island, the daily average temperature in Hainan is above 10℃(50℉).The summer in the north is swelteringly hot and, for more than 20 days in a year, the temperature can be higher than 35 ℃(95℉). The average annual precipitation is 1500 to 2000 mm and can be as high as 2400 mm in central and eastern areas, and as low as 900 mm 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.


Economy
The year-round growing season and monsoon climate favor the cultivation of rice, coconuts, palm oil, sisal, tropical fruit, coffee, tea, and sugarcane; the island also produces most of China’s rubber. The mountainous interior is thickly forested, yielding tropical hardwoods, including teak and sandalwood. Hainan is rich in minerals, notably high-grade iron and tungsten, but also rich in titanium, manganese, salt, copper, bauxite, molybdenum, gold, silver, coal, cobalt, graphite, and crystal. Hainan’s rich offshore fishing grounds provide shrimps, scallops, tuna, and Spanish mackerel, and pearls are harvested in the shallow bays surrounding the island. The growth of Hainan’s industries, which include the production of textiles and farm equipment, has been hindered by a lack of energy resources.
Tourism plays an important part of Hainan Province’s economy, thanks largely to its tropical beaches and lush forests.
Ethnic group
The ethnic groups of Hainan included the Han Chinese, who currently make a majority; the Li people; the Miao and the Zhuang. Also found on the island are the Utsuls, descendants of Cham refugees, who are classified as Hui by the central government.


Cluture
The Han Chinese of Hainan speaks a variant of the Min Nan Chinese language, known as Hainanese. In addition, the national standard Putonghua is understood and spoken by most people, and Standard Cantonese is understood by many local Hainanese. English is understood by some of the younger generation, but Hainan still largely remains a non-English speaking environment. The Li people have their own language, as do the Miao and Zhuang. The latter three groups would usually speak Standard Mandarin as a second language.
Hainan cuisine is said to be "lighter, with mild seasonings." A lot of local taste is mixed with the Han Chinese taste. Seafood predominates the menu, as shrimp, crab, fish and other sealife are widely available.
Hainan chicken rice, a famous dish in Southeast Asia bearing the region’s name, can be found on the island though it is not as popular there as its fame would suggest.
Tourism
As Hainan Island is not heavily industrialised, its greenery, together with its beautiful beaches and clean air, make it a popular tourist attraction.The best known tourist attractions of Hainan Island are its world class beaches, luxurious hot springs, and beautiful scenery. With white sand beaches, tranquil green waters and areas of lush vegetation, Hainan has much to offer.
There are other tourism destinations in Hainan province.
The Five Official’s Temple consists of five traditional temples and halls that were built in honour of five officials of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
Xiuying Fort Barbette was built in 1891 to defend the southeastern corner of China after the Sino-French War.
Hairui Tomb is a key national cultural protection site. Construction of the tomb began in 1589.