China's Provinces in Brief: Hainan

Hainan 海南 Located in the on the South China Sea south of Guangdong, Hainan Province is an island and is China’s southern most province.

Size: 13,000 square miles (34,000 sq. km.)

Population: 8 million in 2004.

Major Cities: Haikou (capital), Sanya, Danzhou, Wenchang.

Economy: 2007 GDP: 123 billion yuan ($18 billion).

Major Crops/Industry Tourism, natural gas, chemicals, building materials, electronics, rubber and iron ore processing, textiles.

Historical Note: While it was settled as early as the Han Dynasty, tropical Hainan only became its own province in 1988. Prior to this it was considered part of Guangdong Province to the north.

Official Chinese Website: http://www.hi.gov.cn