Hainan’s Backyard Travelogue | Hainan’s Most Beautiful Coastline | A Poetic Footnote to Local Life in Hainan
“Dongjiao Coconut Forest Scenic Area | Step into ‘Hainan’s Most Beautiful Coastline,’ and between Wenchang’s green corridors and the blue sea, encounter a slow life full of southern charm”
> “It’s not in Sanya, yet it hides Hainan’s longest stretch of coconut forest;
> It’s not near the duty-free city, yet it’s called ‘**Hainan People’s Backyard**’;
> This is the **Dongjiao Coconut Forest Scenic Area** —
> located in the eastern part of Wenchang City, Hainan Province, about 5 kilometers from downtown,
> home to **over 780,000 coconut trees**, stretching along tens of kilometers of coastline,
> facing the Qizhou Archipelago, backed by fishing villages,
> white sandy beaches, blue sea, green coconut groves, red fishing boats,
> every step a scene, like a tropical island painting.”
This is not just a coconut forest,
but the gentlest hometown memory in the hearts of Hainan people,
a **coastal secret untouched by overdevelopment** woven with sea breeze and coconut shadows.
Dongjiao Coconut Forest
- ✅ Location: Dongjiao Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province
- ✅ Coastline length: about 20 kilometers
- ✅ Core attractions:
- **Vast coconut groves + fishing harbor pier + mangrove boardwalk + offshore fish farms + distant view of Qizhou Archipelago**
- ✅ Best season: every year from **October to April** (avoid typhoon season)
- ✅ Best tags: **Free admission | Coastal greenway | Off-the-beaten-path tranquility | Photography hotspot | Seafood paradise**
If Sanya is the “International Vacation Island,”
then Dongjiao Coconut Forest is — **a poetic footnote to local life in Hainan**.
Six Core Highlights | Detailed Explanation
1. 【Coconut Grove Corridor | China’s Longest Coastal Coconut Forest Belt】
- Extends over more than ten kilometers, trees mostly 30–50 years old
- Multiple walking and cycling paths within the forest
- Gentle breeze rustles coconut leaves, like being inside a green tunnel
2. 【Bamen Bay Mangrove Boardwalk | Wetland Ecological Secret】
- Located in the northern section of the coconut forest, connecting to Bamen Bay water system
- Wooden boardwalk extends into wetlands, ideal for spotting egrets, mudskippers, fiddler crabs
- Perfect for photography and nature education
3. 【Platinum Coast & Jade Stone Bay | Tranquil Beaches and Rocky Shores】
- Platinum Coast: fine white sand, perfect for strolling and sunbathing
- Jade Stone Bay: black volcanic rocks collide with waves, splashing spectacularly, majestic scene
4. 【Fishing Harbor Pier | A Scene of Pristine Fishing Life】
- Colorful fishing boats docked, fishermen unload fresh catch early morning
- Fresh seafood available on site (grouper, lobster, abalone, etc.)
- Children often play by the shore at dusk
5. 【Offshore Fish Farm Experience | Stay a Day in a ‘Home on the Sea’】
- Mostly floating platforms built by local farmers
- Participate in fishing, sea urchin gathering, tasting freshly cooked seafood
- Recommended activities: “Night squid fishing,” “Beachcombing for shellfish”
6. 【View of Qizhou Archipelago | Mysterious Uninhabited Islands】
- Composed of seven islands, about 10 nautical miles from the coast
- Military restricted area, no landing allowed
- On clear days, the outline is visible to the naked eye, shrouded in mist like a fairyland
Unique Experiences | Four Irreplaceable Island Memories
1. 【Cycling the Coconut Greenway | Be a Coastal Wanderer for a Day】
- Recommended route: Visitor Center → Coconut Grove Corridor → Platinum Coast → Fishing Harbor Pier → Return
- About 15 km total, flat and comfortable
- Bike rentals available at roadside shops
2. 【Chase a South China Sea Sunset】
- Best spots: “**Moon Bay Viewing Platform**” or “**Southern Coconut Grove Rocky Area**”
- When the sun sinks into the sea, the sky turns orange-red
- Fishing boats return, silhouettes glide over the water
Real experience:
> “At that moment, I stopped thinking about the city’s noise,
> only wanting to pocket that sunset glow and bring it back to the city night.”
3. 【Enjoy an Authentic Fisherman’s Feast】
Recommended dishes:
- **Steamed Grouper**: tender and fresh, original flavor
- **Garlic Steamed Scallops**: more fragrant with coconut oil
- **Coconut Rice**: steamed in coconut shells, fragrant aroma
- **Four-Angle Bean Stir-fried with Sausage**: a Hainan specialty vegetable
4. 【Check Out Nearby Highlights】
| **Tongguling Nature Reserve** | Climb for panoramic views of Moon Bay | About 20 minutes by car |
| **Song Family Ancestral Home** | Residence of Soong Ching-ling’s family, Lingnan architectural style | About 30 minutes by car |
| **Wenchang Space Launch Center** | Science museum visits by appointment | About 40 minutes by car |
| **Gaolong Bay** | Established seaside resort area with complete facilities | About 25 minutes by car |
> When you quietly sit in the coconut forest,
> watching the last ray of sunlight fade on the horizon,
> the whole world is silent except for the sound of wind through leaves,
> at that moment,
> you know —
> this is not an ordinary beach,
> it is a land guarded by coconut shadows,
> a place we are willing to take three bus transfers from the city just to exchange for
> that pure heartbeat of meeting the sea breeze for a second.
May you, on some morning,
stand on the rocks of Jade Bay,
watch the first ray of sunlight pierce the mist,
at that moment,
you finally understand:
the so-called South is nothing more than —
a time wrapped in coconut shadows,
just to exchange for
that gentle peace of heart moving with the waves.