Home ≫ World Birding ≫ Asia ≫ China ≫ Hainan

Hainan Province

Hainan Hill Partidge Arborophila ardens ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA Website

Hainan is an island province and the southernmost province of China. It consists of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea. The name literally means ‘South of the Sea’. It has a land area of 33,920 km2 (13,100 square miles) only slightly smaller than that of Taiwan Island. Hainan Island is 32,900 km2 and the rest is made up of over 200 islands scattered across three archipelagos: Zhongsha, Xisha and Nansha. Hainan Island measures 288 km (179 miles) long and 180 km (110 miles) wide. It is separated by the 20 km (12 miles) wide Qiongzhou Strait from the Leizhou Peninsula of Guangdong. To the west of Hainan Island is the Gulf of Tonkin. Wuzhi Mountain is the highest mountain on the island at 6,040 feet.

Hainan was part of Guangdong after which it was made a province of its own and was designated as a special economic zone as part of the Chinese economic reform program. 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.

Xinlong, Hainan – ©Anna Frodesiak CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

A large-scale plan was announced by the Chinese government (2020) 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.

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. 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 miles) long, and its tributary, the Xinwu River, is 109 km long. Other rivers include the Wanquan River and Wenchang River 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.

Wenchang River – ©Zhangmoon618 CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Some of the larger islands around the coast of Hainan Island include: Dazhou Island is located about 5 km off the coast of Wanning, Haidian Island, on the north coast, is part of Haikou City, Nanwan Monkey Island, is actuality a peninsula, Phoenix Island is an artificial resort island currently under construction in Sanya Bay, Wuzhizhou Island is located within Haitang Bay and 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. There are also a number of islands claimed as part of China in dispute with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysi etc.

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. The climate of the province is mostly tropical. The annual average temperature ranges from 23 to 28 °C, Haikou is 24.7 °C and Sanya is 26.5 °C. The coldest months are January when temperatures drop to 17 to 24 °C; the hottest months are June and July, and the temperatures are 26 to 31 °C. 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.) The average annual precipitation ranges from 59 to 79 inches and can be as high as 94 inches in central and eastern areas, and as low as 35 inches in the coastal areas of the southwest. Parts of Hainan lie in the path of typhoons, and 70% of the annual precipitation comes from typhoons and the summer rainy season often causing major flooding.

Baoting Li – ©Anna Frodesiak, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From January to February, the province 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 all through the day and is evenly distributed. Visibility may be reduced to 50 meters 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.

Haikou and Sanya are served by short, direct flights from Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Wintertime – October to April – is probably the most comfortable time to visit.

Birding Hainan

Tropical Hainan Island is the most southerly part of China, and its’ sandy, palm-fringed beaches are popular with visitors from the colder parts of the country. It was visited by Robert Swinhoe (1860s) and by John Whitehead (1890s), who discovered the spectacular White-winged Magpie there. Whitehead died (1899) of malaria near the capital Haikou.

Rice field at sunset – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Hainan has over 1,500 Km2 (580 square miles) of tropical forest, in which can be found over 4,600 types of plants and more than 570 species of animals. In modern times, however, the small island’s natural balance has been threatened, largely due to the introduction of exotic species, as well as human impacts from tourism, deforestation, and the use of herbicides, pesticides and other such pollutants. Two eco-regions cover the island. South China-Vietnam subtropical evergreen forests cover the lowlands and extends onto the adjacent mainland. Hainan Island monsoon rainforests covers the interior of the island, and includes montane rain forests with a more seasonal climate and more deciduous trees. Over 60% of Hainan’s land area is covered in forest. A further 1,187 hectares (2,930 acres) of grasses and trees have been planted along the province’s highways.

Oriental Bay Owl Phodilus badius – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Even with over ten million human inhabitants, Hainan contains a number of protected areas and wildlife preserves. Top birding destinations include: Jianfengling National Forest Park, Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve, Bawangling Reserve, Yinggeling Nature Reserve & Haiwei Wetland Park. The most ubiquitous smaller species on the island include small reptiles, amphibians and butterflies; as with many tropical regions, the Arthropoda and invertebrates are well-represented, with mosquitoes naturally being very common at certain times of the year. The swarms of biting, flying insects actually play a key role in island food chains and ecosystems, not only being consumed by many other species (such as bats and birds) but serving as pollinators for many types of flowering plants. Secretive, and sometimes less commonly seen, are the snakes, such as the Asian palm pit viper, the red bamboo snake, and cobras.

About 100 mammalian species are found on Hainan, with the Hainan black crested gibbon, Hainan hare, Hainan gymnure, or moonrat and Hainan flying squirrel all being endemic to the island. Larger native mammals include the Asiatic black or ‘moon’ bear, sambar, Eurasian otter, crab-eating mongoose and the leopard cat, all of which are considered a species of conservation concern.

Hainan Leaf Warbler Phyllossopus hainanus – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Over 500 bird species have been recorded. Seabirds are not generally seen. Egrets and Black-winged kites are common in agricultural areas. The Hainan Hill Partridge Arborophila ardens, Hainan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron katsumatae and Hainan Leaf Warbler Phyllossopus hainanus are endemic to the island. There are also two breeding endemics: Swinhoe’s Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis and Alström’s Leaf Warbler Seicercus soror, which breed nowhere else. Hainan is also home to a number of endemic island races of birds, species that it has in common with the adjacent province of Guangxi and with Vietnam, such as Yellow-billed Nuthatch chienfengensis race. The National Nature Reserve of Bawangling, four hours by bus from Haikou, is home to the world’s rarest primate, the Hainan Gibbon, as well as some interesting birds like Hainan Peacock Pheasant, Hainan Partridge and Red Junglefowl. Closer to Sanya in the south of the island, the more visitor-friendly Jianfengling National Nature Reserve is a place to see Sultan Tit, Silver Pheasant and Ratchet-tailed Treepie.

This page is sponsored by Alpine Birding

This page is sponsored by Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA

Top Sites

  • Bawangling Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    Located in the southeast of Hainan and covering 6,000 hectares Bawangling is one of the 6 important forestry districts. The reserve aims to protect the typical tropical mountane rain forest and the Crested Gibbon (Hylobates concolor) which only exist about 20 exist anywhere in the world. It is also a paradise for birding where 130 bird species have been recorded, including the endemic species to the island - Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hainan Peacock Pheasant and Hainan Partridge. Other target species include: Chinese Francolin, Red Junglefowl, Silver Pheasant, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Shikra, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Coucal, Green-billed Malkoha, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Scops Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Chinese Barbet, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Blue-rumped Pitta, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Indochinese Green Magpie, Puff-throated Bulbul, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Dusky Fulvetta, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Grey Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Orange-headed Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Olive-backed Sunbird, etc.

  • Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    Dongzhaigang Nature Reserve is located in the northeast of Qiongshan and 32 kilometers away from Haikou. The reserve aims to protect the estuary and mudflat ecosystem that dominates by mangrove and the wintering habitats for migratory birds. The reserve is a connecting area of different biotae. 159 bird species have been recorded in the reserve and most of them are waders and other waterbirds. Target species include: Intermediate Egret, Chinese Pond Heron, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Red-whiskered Bulbul, White-shouldered Starling and Olive-backed Sunbird etc.

  • Haiwei Wetland Park

    Haiwei Wetland Park is located in the west coast of Hainan, its geomorphology is flat and thick and coastal beach geomorphology, which is a rare, well protected wetland and provides a habitat for many wetland birds. Target species include: Lesser Whistling-Duck, Grey-headed Swamphen, Purple Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Greater Coucal, Black-winged Kite, Western Osprey, Manchurian Bush Warbler, Dusky Warbler, etc.

  • Jianfengling National Forest Park

    Satellite View
    Located in the southwest of Hainan Island in Ledong County, Jianfengling National Forest Park is 90 kilometers away from Sanya City. The park covers 1,600 hectares and was established in 1992 to preserve the rainforest and the rare animals living there. It is the largest, most preserved, tropical rainforest in China that is home to 215 species of birds. Target species include: Hainan Partridge, Chinese Francolin, Red Junglefowl, Silver Pheasant, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Greater Coucal, Green-billed Malkoha, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Scops Owl, Brown Wood-Owl, Chinese Barbet, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, White-winged Magpie, Indochinese Green-Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Sultan Tit, Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hartert's Leaf Warbler, Large Scimitar-Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, etc.

  • Yinggeling Nature Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    It is located deep between the mountains of Hainan Island and so far scientists have not properly explored it. The reserve is one of the richest biodiversity regions in China. According to the investigation, there are 146 bird species belonging to 38 families of 14 orders in the reserve, including the rare endemic species to the island- Hainan partridges. Other birds like Crested Goshawk, Black-winged Kite, Black Kite, Besra, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Grey-chinned Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Black-naped Monarch, Mountain Bulbul, Chestnut Bulbul, White-shouldered Starling, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Orange-bellied Leafbird, etc.
Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 504

    (As at May 2025)
Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 3

    Hainan Hill Partridge Arborophila ardens
    Hainan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron katsumatae
    Hainan Leaf Warbler Seicercus hainanus

    There are also two breeding endemics:

    Swinhoe's Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis
    Alström's Leaf Warbler Seicercus soror

Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Hainan , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • E-Bird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • Atlas of Birds in Dongzhaigang, Hainan

    By Liang Bin | Hua Ling | 2015 | Paperback | 184 pages, colour photos | Chinese Text | ISBN: 9787516905258 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birding South East China

    By Tim J Woodward | Tim Woodward | 2006 | Paperback | 423 pages, 88 colour photos, 160 maps | ISBN: 9789628508426 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of China

    | By Liu Yang & Chen Shuihua | Princeton University Press | 2023 | Flexibound | 672 pages, plates with 4000 colour illustrations, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780691237527 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Guide to the Birds of China

    | By John MacKinnon | OUP | 2022 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 513 pages, 164 plates with colour illustrations; colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9780192893673 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • HKBWS Field Guide to the Birds of Hong Kong and South China [English / Chinese]

    | By Hong Kong Birdwatching Society | HKBS | 2022 | Edition 9 | Paperback | 372 pages, plates with colour illustrations | ISBN: 9789627508342 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Useful Information

  • Provincial Bird

    Hainan Hill Partridge Arborophola ardens
Festivals & Bird Fairs

  • Hainan Bird Watching Festival

    Information
    The two-day Fifth Hainan Bird Watching Festival and the First Xinying Bird Watching Competition concluded on March 25...
Organisations

  • Hainan Bird-Watching Society

    Article
    Hainan Bird-Watching Society, a bird-watching organization in south China's Hainan province since 2015.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • NNR Bawangling

    InformationSatellite View
    The Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Changjiang County, western Hainan, China. It is home to the Hainan black crested gibbon, which is on the verge of extinction, and the endemic Hainan Hill Partridge. The total area of the reserve is 8,444.3 hectares.

  • NNR Jianfengling

    InformationSatellite View
    ianfengling National Nature Reserve is located in the southwest of Hainan, it is home to 7 species of animal that are protected at the national level, namely Hainan Eld's deer, Hainan black gibbon, clouded leopard, peacock pheasant, the monitor lizards, Hainan Partridge, and pythons. It's also rich in butterflies...

  • NNR Khingan Hanma Wetlands

    InformationSatellite View
    Located on the northern part of the western slope of the Grand Khingan mountains, the Site is one of the most well-preserved temperate coniferous forest areas in China

  • NNR Sanya Coral Reef

    Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
    The seawater there is limpid and transparent, and in the water there are more than 100 species of reef corals…

  • NNR Yinggeling

    WebpageSatellite View
    ...a wealth of exciting biodiversity, including species new-to-science such as the Yinggeling Tree Frog (Rhacophorus yinggelingensis), new China records such as the tropical tree Trigonobalanus verticillata, and over 160 new Hainan records such as the tree Bretschneidera sinensis and Pygmy Wren Babbler (Pnoepyga pusilla)....
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Alpine Birding

    Local Tour Operator
    Looking for Endemics and Specials in Nanling NNR, Nonggang NNR, Hainan Island

  • Bird Photo Tours ASIA

    Tour Operator
    This Bird-Photo-Tour follows four of China's easterly provinces focussing on enjoying close photographic encounters with 18 species of Tragopans, Pheasants and Partridges including 6 Endemics.

  • BirdQuest

    Tour Operator
    Specialities of Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan, including some amazing photo hides!

  • BirdTour Asia

    Tour Operator
    Accentors, pheasant, mergansers, cranes, Hainan, and Himalayan feeding stations

  • China Birding Tours

    Local Tour Operator
    According to the latest statistics, there are 428 species of birds recorded in Hainan Island.

  • Ornis Birding Expeditions

    Tour Operator
    The tropical island of Hainan holds Hainan Partridge and Hainan Peacock Pheasant, but we also hope for extremely close views of Spoon-billed Sandpiper thanks to some tame individuals wintering here.

  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    China - Hainan extension

  • Summer Wong China Bird Tours

    Local Tour Operator
    Main targets in Jianfengling : Hainan Peacock Pheasant, Hainan Partridge, Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Nuthatch, Spot-necked Babbler, Swinhoe’s Laughingthrush ( likely split from Black-throated ), Chinese Barbet, Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Sultan Tit, Red-headed Trogon, Japanese Robin, Large Scimitar Babbler, Eyebrowed Wren-babbler, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Hartert’s Leaf Warbler, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Scops Owl

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    We’ll spend several days on Hainan Island, where we’ll target the islands endemics – Hainan Leaf Warbler, Hainan Partridge and if we’re extremely lucky Hainan Peacock-pheasant.
Trip Reports

  • 2015 [02 February] - Craig Brelsford

    Report
    I spent 27 nights on Hainan Island, arriving in Sānyà on 14 Jan. and leaving on 10 Feb.

  • 2022 [01 January] - Mark Havenhand

    Report
    It had been eight years since Craig Brelsford published his report on Jianfengling National Reserve in Hainan, China, so what has changed in the meantime? In January 2022 I found out.

  • 2023 [11 November] - Ferenc Domoki

    PDF Report
    Although our time was at least 3-4 days short to see every species of interest, we did see most, including all endemics (Hainan PeacockPheasant, Hainan Partridge, Hainan Leaf-Warbler) and many Hainan subspecies, from which at least from the continental form strikingly different Hainan (Black-throated) Laughingthrush likely deserves a species status

  • 2024 [02 February] - Hannu Jännes

    Report
    ...Then a short visit to Nonggang close to the Vietnamese border before the tour reached its conclusion on the subtropical island of Hainan...

  • 2024 [03 March] - Matthew Kwan

    Report
    The island of Hainan is situated at the most southerly tip off mainland China, being closer to the tropics, the island boasts some species that is difficult or absent from other parts of the country, as well as a few endemics...

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide...

Skip to content