Hainans

Hainans refers to the residents of Hainan, a tropical island province of the People’s Republic of China located in the South China Sea. The province has a population of roughly 9 million. The Han Chinese form the majority, with minority communities including Li and other officially recognized groups. The capital city is Haikou, and Sanya is the best-known tourist city on the island.

Geographically, Hainan is China's largest island and features a warm tropical monsoon climate, extensive coastlines, and diverse ecosystems. The province administers the island and several smaller islets, and its economy is shaped by tourism, agriculture, and fisheries.

Historically, Hainan has been inhabited for millennia and has been under various administrative arrangements before being established as a separate province in 1988, separating from Guangdong. In recent decades it has grown as a center for tourism, trade, and agricultural exports, while also serving as a site for national development initiatives.

In terms of culture and language, Mandarin is the official language, with local varieties such as Hainanese spoken by some residents and Li languages used by the Li minority. Cultural life is influenced by maritime heritage and a tropical environment, with cuisine emphasizing seafood, tropical fruits, coconuts, and light, fresh flavors. Traditional crafts and music reflect Li and other minority traditions within the broader Han-dominated society.

Economically, tourism is a major driver, with resorts and beaches in Sanya and along the coast. The central government has pursued the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, aiming to expand services, trade, and investment, alongside agriculture, high-tech industries, and ecological conservation.