Hainan is the most famous tropical landscape tourist spot in China. Located at the southern most tip of China, Hainan province has a tropical maritime climate with an annual average temperature of 22-26°C. Sunlight, surf, beach, coconut palms, famous historical sites, the culture and customs of the minorities-all join to create a picturesque tropical island. Hainan is famed as "East Hawaii". Hainan is also the region where Li and Miao nationalities live in compact communities.

Although human habitation on Hainan Island can be traced back 6,000 years, the island's first recorded history is found in the Qin Dynasty when the area was administered as Xiang Prefecture. In the West Han Dynasty (100 BC), Xiang Prefecture was divided into the Zhuya and Dan'er prefectures and, in 46 BC, Emperor Yuan combined the two prefectures into Zhulu County. In the Nanbei Dynasty, Emperor Liangwu established the "zhou" system in Hainan and called the area Ya Zhou. Two prefectures, Linzhen and Zhuya, were established in the Sui Dynasty and, in the Tang Dynasty, Yazhou, Qiongzhou, Zhenzhou, Danzhou and Wanzhou were founded. In the Ming Dynasty, Hainan was called Qiongzhoufu, with Danzhou, Wanzhou, Yazhou and 10 counties under administration.

Hainan became administered as Qiongyadao in 1912 and Haikou was proclaimed a city in 1926. In 1948, Qiongyadao became The Hainan Special Administrative Area under the direction of the State Administrative Council. The Hainan Administrative Office was established in 1951. The Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Region was founded in 1952 and then revised as the Hainan Li and Miao Nationalities Prefecture in 1955.

Hainan Province has long been a part of China and its population of 7.8 million is comprised mainly of people of the Han nationality. However, with 37 recognised ethnic groups, Hainan enjoys a truly multicultural and colourful social fabric.

The largest of the non-Han nationalities on Hainan are the Li, Miao and Hui peoples, of which the Li, with a population of 1.3 million, are the most numerous. The Li are also among the earliest residents of Hainan, with the island being the only part of China where they can be found. The majority of the Li are located in the Wuzhi Mountain area.

The Miao nationality, with a population of about 60,000, is found mainly in the mountainous areas of Qiongzhong and Baoting County. The Hui, with a population of about 10,000, are believed to have resided on Hainan Island for about 700 years and are mainly found in and around Yanglan Town near Sanya City. While a large portion of the Miao people are Christians, the Hui people are mainly of the Muslim faith.

Reflecting the richness in ethnic diversity of Hainan Island is the wealth of cultures evident in the many customs practised there. In addition to traditional costume, music, dance, food and handicrafts seen across the island, the many national minorities of Hainan also honour the practices of their ancestors through festivals, including the International Wedding Festival, Junpo Festival held in respect of heroes, the Fucheng Flower Exchange Festival and the Sanyuesan Festival where young people search for a loved one. Mixed with these are more traditional Chinese celebrations including the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.