Located in the northeastern part of Haikou near the Dongzhai Port National Nature Reserve, Beigang Island has become the newest destination for beachcombing, birdwatching, and many more kinds of outdoor fun.

Beachcoming at Beigang Island. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

Beigang Island was a bustling village until 1605, when a devastating magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the northern part of China’s southern island of Hainan, sinking 72 nearby villages and turning the epicenter into an isolated island measuring just 1.33 square kilometers.

The remnants of the 72 submerged villages can still be found in the waters around Haikou’s Tashi Village and Wenchang’s Puqian Town.

A bird’s view of Beigang Island. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

Although the earthquake brought great misfortune to local residents at the time, it also left behind gifts that are appreciated today. Chen Yijun, in his sixties, explains that the earthquake brought a large amount of mud to the inland sea area, where the mixture of salt and fresh water provides a great living environment for kinds of microorganisms, which attract large numbers of fish. Local island residents enjoy the fish as both an abundant source of food as well as income.

According to Chen, especially during the 1960s residents of Beigang Island made a better living from the sea than residents of other parts of Haikou and nearby Puqian in Wenchang. Even today over 100 fishing boats are anchored off the island, which is home to only around 500 households. In addition to fishing, island residents are now also engaged in fish farming to increase their incomes.

The mangrove forests situated at the southwest corner of the island also provide excellent shelter. Known as the ‘guardians of the coastlines’, mangroves help dissipate storm surges, protecting coastal farmlands and village houses against the effects of high tides and erosion.

The mangrove forests also provide a great habitat for many bird species. During the latest survey, four new bird species were spotted on the island, including the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), the Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus), the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), and the Hoopoe (Upupa epops).

A small black bird sits on a branch on Beigang Island. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

Five of the total 53 bird species observed on the island are under national second-class protection. The best season for bird-watching on Beigang is between October and March.

The infrastructure on the island has been greatly improved over the past decade. There are excellent roads criss-crossing the island, and a one-meter high seawall which prevents sea water encroachment and also ensures the safety of everyone on the island.

Beigang Island is sporting a new look. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

These days, thanks to the island’s geography and convenient transportation offered by the recently opened Haiwen (Haikou - Wenchang) Bridge, many more people are coming to Beigang Island to go beachcombing.

A brand new sports facility has been built on the island. (Photo: Hainan Daily)

The island also offers a visitor center, four boutique inns, and two restaurants, which means that visitors don’t need to worry about where to eat or even sleep during their trip to Beigang.