On Dec. 29, 2024, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route officially opened. The new roadway links together with the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway, creating a ‘double ring’ structure with the Coastal Scenic Highway forming the outer ring along the palm-lined island shores and the Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route forming the inner ring, looping through the lush green mountains and across the rushing rainforest streams.

From above, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route resembles a meandering river winding through the mountains. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

A view of the Danzhou volcanic coast section of the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway. (Photo: Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily)

Both the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway and the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route are essential for the province’s comprehensive tourism industry development.

The Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway stretches across a total of 988 kilometers, connecting a total of twelve cities and counties including Haikou, Wenchang, Chengmai, Wanning, and Danzhou, and linking over 60 of Hainan’s beautiful bays and more than 50 local attractions. Wetlands, wind turbines, palm tree groves, estuaries, country fields... along the Coastal Scenic Highway, travelers have the opportunity to enjoy one breathtaking natural vista after another, making the journey a destination in itself.

The eye-popping scenery of the Shanqin Bay, Wanning section of the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

 

Wind turbines spin in the sea breeze on the Wenchang section of the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway. (Photo: Feng Shuo/Hainan Daily)

Bikers traverse the Chengmai section of the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route is 466 kilometers long, passing through nine cities and counties including Lingshui, Baoting, Changjiang, Baisha, and Qiongzhong in the middle part of the island, connecting Limu Mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, Diaoluo Mountain, Jianfeng Peak, Bawang Peak, and other destinations in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. Here, travelers will discover deep green jungles bursting with plant and animal life as well as the traditional cultures of the local Li and Miao peoples.

A bird’s eye view of the Baoting section of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

On the Baoting section of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route, tall tree ferns can be seen waving their fronds along the side of the road. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Scenic Route takes travelers through Xingaofeng Village, located in Yacha Town, Baisha Li Autonomous County. (Photo: Li Tianping/Hainan Daily)

“Further integrating transportation and tourism is an important method of developing Hainan’s tourism resources,” said a representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province. The high-quality tourism resources located across the island, such as bays, beaches, islands, and tropical rainforests, need various transportation links in order to be used effectively. Only by creating an integrated network of infrastructure and transportation services can these resources be better utilized. Currently, Hainan’s two scenic highways connect to 26 other roads.

The Dan’er Radiance Resort station is located on the Danzhou section of the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway. (Photo: Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily)

Going forward, Hainan plans to take advantage of the momentum created by these routes to push forward the integrated development of several industries, including the culture and tourism industries. Supporting facilities along the scenic routes will continue to be improved, and ‘smart’ road systems will serve the development of local resources, creating a scenic highway brand together with local attractions and rest stations along the roads, attracting more road trippers to Hainan’s scenic roadways.