Boundary Island is an isolated saddle-shaped tourist resort off the southeast of Hainan province. [Photo/IC]

Boundary Island looks like a horse's saddle with its highest point rising to 100 meters above sea level. About 60 kilometers from Sanya city, and 180 km from Haikou, the beautiful island is the climatic boundary between south and north, and the cultural boundary between different ethnic groups such as Li, Miao and Hui.

Local fishermen call the island "Beautiful Woman Island" or "Guanyin (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) Island". The mountains are covered with coral trees. According to Chinese folklore, long ago a shrieking parrot caused a kapok to fall from the local coconut palms. It landed on the coral trees and gave them their unique blossoms. When the flowers bloom it looks as if all the hills are covered in flames, a truly spectacular sight.

Boundary Island is a tropical scenic destination in Lingshui Li autonomous county, Hainan province. [Photo/IC]

Boundary Island provides numerous activities for tourists, including diving, sea-fishing, motor-boating and seabed sightseeing. In addition, it offers many maritime attractions such as the sole submarine for seabed sightseeing in China, the country's only dolphin cove, where wild marine aquatic animals are domesticated, a globally rare coral aquarium that shows living coral and coral specimens, and the country's biggest Sea-salvaged China Exhibition Hall that presents the history and culture of sea salvaging.

Boundary Island doesn't forget to provide a variety of comforts and special services, including accommodation, catering, and especially wedding celebrations for hopeless romantics. A vacation on the island is a rewarding and fascinating experience. It was assessed as a national 5A-level scenic spot by the National Tourism Administration in January 2013 and dubbed by tourists as the "island of spirit", "heaven dropped on earth", and “boundary between mindsets".

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Address: Niuling exit of Eastern Roundabout Highway, Hainan province

Opening Hours: 8:30 am-5:30 pm

Ticket Price: 132 yuan ($20) during peak season and 128 yuan during off season

Web: http://www.hnfjz.com/index-en.html

Tel: +86(898) 83347555 83347033

Notes:

1. Buy a ticket to Lingshui county from Sanya Bus Station (18 yuan per person), and then take the bus to the scenic spot from the Lingshui Bus Station.

2. It's highly recommended that you stay overnight and enjoy the stunning view of sunrise over the sea.