Mangrove channels
By boat.
Philg88 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yumeto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yumeto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yumeto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anna Frodesiak — CC0
China's first nature reserve set up mainly to protect mangroves, stretching along the shores of Dongzhai Harbour in north-east Hainan, with dense forests of trees standing on stilt-like roots in the tidal mud; it holds 36 species of mangrove plants and is on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage. The harbour itself was born of an earthquake: in 1605 the land here subsided and the sea flooded some 72 villages, traces of which are said to show when the water drops very low, and the bay is named after Dongzhai, a village that stood here before the quake. About 214 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve, many waterbirds spend the winter here, boats thread narrow channels between the mangroves, and a boardwalk runs over the mud to a viewing tower, while the nearby villages are full of oyster farms and seafood restaurants. Entry is free, a return boat trip costs about CNY 54 to 60 and the boardwalk with the «Moon Tower» about CNY 44, and the site opens from 8:30 to 18:30, per visitor guides. Ask about the ingredients of dishes, as pork is common in the local restaurants.
By boat.
And viewing tower.
In winter.
Yanfeng Town, Meilan District, about 30 km east of central Haikou
Yes, entry is free, while a return boat trip costs about CNY 54 to 60, and the site opens from 8:30 to 18:30, per visitor guides.