Hainan, province, southeastern China, island in the South China Sea, south of Leizhou Bandao Peninsula. Hainan Strait, about 24 km wide, separates the peninsula from the island, which adjoins the Gulf of Tonkin on the east. The provincial capital is Hai-k'ou.

The name Hainan derives from a short-lived province set up on the island under the Yüan (Mongol) dynasty (1206-1368). Under the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) the island was transferred back to the control of Kwangtung province. Hai-k'ou, the island's chief port, and neighbouring Ch'iung-shan were opened to foreign trade in 1858. In 1912 Hainan was again made independent, under the name Ch'iung-yai Island.

Rice, rubber, coconuts, sugar, betel nuts, and pineapples. Large numbers of hogs, cattle, and ducks are raised.

Major industrial towns are Sanya and Haikou.

Area 33,991 sq km (13,124 sq mi); population 7,870,000.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------