Lingshui

Lingshui Li Autonomous County sits on the southeastern coast of Hainan Island, directly facing the South China Sea. This part of Hainan stands out for its Li ethnic minority culture and tropical settings. Visit Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve for dense rainforests. Go to Perfume Bay and Clearwater Bay for long coastlines. At Nanwan Monkey Island, a nature reserve, you can see macaques. Ride a cable car to get there. Boundary Island is known for clear waters and water sports. The county moves at a different speed than Sanya and Haikou.

Getting to Lingshui

Reaching Lingshui is easy with Hainan's high-speed rail. Lingshui Railway Station is on the main line between Haikou and Sanya. Trains from Haikou Meilan Airport take about 75 minutes. From Sanya Phoenix Airport, the trip takes about 35 minutes. The modern bus station is next to the railway station in Yelin Town, the county seat. This bus station connects to other parts of Hainan. Buses run often from Sanya and Haikou to Yelin. For Clearwater Bay or Tufu Bay, direct buses leave from Sanya. To reach Perfume Bay, you usually change buses in Yelin. Use taxis or local buses to travel within the county after you arrive.

Top Attractions

Nanwan Monkey Island is the most famous place in Lingshui. This state-protected nature reserve has over 2,000 macaques. You get there by cable car, China's longest over water. The ride gives panoramic views of the coast. Once there, watch the monkeys in their natural home. Be careful because they are wild. Keep food and drinks secure. Daily comedy shows with trained monkeys entertain visitors. The cable car station is near Xincun Town. You can take a bus from Yelin or a free shuttle from Lingshui Railway Station. Express buses also come from Sanya Railway Station.

Boundary Island (Fenjiezhou Dao) is a small island off Lingshui's coast. You can easily reach it by ferry. The island marks a geographical and climatic boundary. Visitors come for the excellent water visibility, good for diving and snorkeling. An aquarium on the island has dolphin and sea lion shows. From the sandy beaches, you can try water sports like jet skiing and parasailing. Restaurants and snack stalls serve visitors who spend the day on the island's trails and viewpoints.

Diaoluoshan National Forest Park contrasts with the coastal areas. This inland park protects large areas of lowland tropical rainforest. Hike on trails that pass waterfalls like Fengguo Waterfall and spots like Little Sister Lake. The park is cooler and shaded, a retreat from the coastal heat. Access works best with a private vehicle because public transport inside the park is limited. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from the entrance to the main attractions. Basic places to stay are near Du Jia Village if you want to stay longer.

Beaches and Coastline

Lingshui's coastline runs over 118 kilometers and has several different bays. Perfume Bay (Xiangshui Wan) has less development. You often find long, quiet stretches of sand there. Strong currents make swimming risky. Clearwater Bay (Qingshui Wan) is a 12-kilometer arc of sand between Yingzhou and Xincun towns. It has more development than Perfume Bay. It is usually less busy than beaches in Sanya. Swimming is often not allowed because of waves. Tufu Bay is the third of the "three bays" with Perfume and Clearwater. Xincun Lagoon has the Dan Jia Yu Pai, a floating fishing village where the Danjia people live. Walk on the wooden paths. You can eat at floating seafood restaurants.

Local Food and Drink

Lingshui's food comes from its coast and Hainanese traditions. Seafood is plentiful and fresh. Restaurants usually show live catches in tanks so you can pick. Sour Noodles (Suan Fen) is a local specialty you find everywhere. Each part of Hainan has its own version. A bowl usually costs ¥10 to ¥15. Pufferfish Porridge is another local dish. It often comes with seafood meals. Fresh coconut juice is easy to get from street vendors. It is a common drink in the county.

Practical Information

Lingshui has a tropical wet and dry climate. Temperatures stay warm all year. Average highs are about 25°C (77°F) in the coolest months. The rainy season is from May to October. This is also the typhoon period. Typhoon risk is highest from September to November. The population has many Li, Han, and Miao people. Respect local customs when you visit ethnic cultural sites or villages. Mandarin is common, but you might hear Li or Miao in some places. Credit cards work in bigger hotels and resorts. Carry cash for small restaurants, markets, and transport.