The May Labor Day holiday is here.This holiday, get together a few good friends or even the whole family, because we are going on a Hainan white-water rafting adventure that will take you plunging down rapids, floating through rainforests, and even soaring across the sky.  You definitely don't want to miss out!

Where are the best white-water rafting courses in Hainan? This is China's only tropical island province, and here you’ll find quite a few rivers rushing headlong through the mystical tropical rainforests of the island's interior. With this handy guide, you’ll be securing your life vest, climbing into a raft, and experiencing the thrills of the fast-moving waters as you careen through rocky canyons and deep green rainforests in no time at all.

Wuzhishan Grand Canyon White-Water Rafting

When in Wuzhishan, you will definitely want to schedule a time to go white-water rafting through the Grand Canyon. The rafting course is 4 kilometers long, with the largest drop measuring 8 meters. Sometimes the water rushes along like it’s late for a very important date, and sometimes it slows down just to let you catch your breath and enjoy the scenery for a bit. The course is strewn with large rocks to keep you on your toes, and the majestic cliffs that tower over both banks create an ever-changing visual feast.

Location: The rafting start point is located at the Maoyang Hydroelectric Power Plant, which can be reached from Wuzhishan’s Shuiman Village via Maowu Rd.

Transportation:

Driving from Haikou:

The Central Expressway passes by several attractions including the Tunchang Maple Deer Farm and the Qiongzhong Baihualing Waterfall. (220 km.)

The East Expressway passes by several attractions including the Hainan Tropical Wildlife Park and Botanical Garden in Haikou and Wanning’s Shimei Bay. Exit at the Lingshui Expressway, traveling through Baoting to Shuiman Town. (290 km.)

Driving from Sanya: Take the coastal Yuzhong Highway from Sanya. Pass through the Wuzhishan City Nansheng intersection to Shuiman Town. (100 km.)

Public transportation from Haikou:

Take a long-distance bus (the earliest bus departs at 7 AM and the last bus departs at 5:30 PM) from the Haikou South Station to Wuzhishan City, then take a local public bus to Shuiman Town.

Public transportation from Sanya:

Take a long distance bus from the Sanya Bus Terminal (the earliest bus departs at 6:30 AM and the last bus departs at 5:30 PM) to Wuzhishan City, then take a local public bus to Shuiman Town.

Wuzhishan Rainforest Canyon White-Water Rafting

Acclaimed as the number one white-water rafting experience in Wuzhishan, the Wuzhishan Rainforest Canyon is Hainan’s highest elevation and sole rainforest canyon rafting location. The rafting course is 4 kilometers long, with the total drop in elevation measuring 80 meters. Along the way, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of Hainan’s tropical rainforest, high elevation lakes, Li and Miao cultural scenery, and many more countryside sights.

Location: 1.5 kilometers to the right from the Wuzhishan City Shuiman Town intersection.

Transportation :

1. Take the public bus from the Wuzhishan City Bus Terminal to the foot of Wuzhishan Mountain (Shuiman Town). Tickets: 10 RMB. Buses depart daily at 9:30 AM, 12:40 PM, and 4:00 PM.

2. Wuzhishan Mountain is located over 20 km. from the city center. Within the city, public buses can be caught to the foot of the mountain every half hour. It is recommended to begin your journey back to the city no later than 4:30 PM to avoid missing the last bus.

Wushizhan Red Canyon White-Water Rafting

The Wuzhishan Red Canyon is a major scenic Hainan attraction. The Red Canyon course is 3.8 kilometers long, with a total drop in elevation of 80 meters. The rocky canyon walls feature rock faces streaked with red after eons of being eroded by rain and mountain spring water, giving the canyon its name.

Location: Around 6 km. outside Wuzhishan’s Nansheng Town (traveling in the direction of Shuiman Town).

Transportation:

Driving from Haikou:

1. Take the East Expressway (Provincial Highway 305) from Haikou, passing through Ding’an, Qionghai, Wanning, the Niuling Tunnel, the Lingshui Interchange, and Baoting. At the Daben Rd. intersection turn towards Wuzhishan (National Highway 224). At the Nansheng intersection turn onto Nanshui Highway (County Road 590). From Nansheng Town travel 6 km. towards Shuiman Town.

2. Take the Haiyu Central Highway (National Highway 224) from Haikou, passing through Tunchang, Qiongzhong, and Wuzhishan City. At Nansheng Rd. turn onto Nanshui Highway (County Road 590). From Nansheng Town travel 6 km. towards Shuiman Town.

Driving from Sanya:

Pass through the Yingbin Interchange, then turn onto Haiyu Central Highway (National Highway 224). Go straight through the Daben Rd. intersection, traveling in the direction of Wuzhishan.  At Nansheng Rd. turn onto Nanshui Highway (County Road 590). From Nansheng Town travel 6 km. towards Shuiman Town.

Public Transportation: Take a long-distance bus from any Hainan city or town to Wuzhishan, then take the Shuiman Town Bus or the No. 5 public bus to the Red Canyon Scenic Area.

Wanquan River Canyon White-Water Rafting

The Wanquan River is a great place for white-water rafting all year round, but if you are afraid of big drops, this might not be the right adventure for you! The first major rapids comes up quick - it’s only 300 meters from the put-in point. If you manage to survive the Wanquan Canyon’s five major drops, you’ll be able to relax a bit and enjoy smooth sailing… or rafting we should say, from there. Get your water guns ready though, because you’ll very likely find yourself in a water fight with every other raft on the water. Who will win? Anyone who has fun on the Wanquan is a winner. That’s everyone!

Rafters float through the Wanquan River Canyon, located in eastern Qiongzhong. Photo: Yuan Chen, Hainan Daily reporter

Location: Jiangnan Village, Qionghai

Transportation:

Driving from Haikou: Take the East Expressway from Haikou, and take the Baishiling exit located at approximately kilometer marker 98, then follow the road signs to the Wanquan River White-water Rafting site.

Driving from Sanya: From Sanya take either the Baishiling or Zhongyuan exit, then follow the road signs to the Wanquan River White-water Rafting site.

Qiongzhong Canyon White-Water Rafting

This is Hainan’s first white-water rafting course in the sky. Soar high above the rainforest as you ride your raft through a river of water flowing down a glass slide and then into the natural canyon. The entire course, including both the glass slide and canyon portions, measures 3,800 meters  long and takes around 90 minutes to drop 68 meters in elevation. There are 13 unique drops, the largest one measuring over 8 meters, so hang on tight!

Location: Hekou Village, Heping Town, Qiongzhong

Transportation:

Driving from Haikou: Take the Central Expressway to the Qiongzhong Interchange, then take Haiyu Rd. to Provincial Route 304. After arriving in Heping Town, travel to Hekou Village, then on to the Qiongzhong Canyon White-water Rafting site.