Boundary Island in Lingshui county, Hainan. [Photo/VCG]

Boundary Island looks like a horse's saddle, with its highest point rising to 100 meters above sea level. About 60 km 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 refer to the island as "Beautiful Woman Island" or "Guanyin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) Island". The mountains on the island 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, a State-level island scenic area in Lingshui county, Hainan. [Photo/VCG]

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 Sea-Salvaged China Exhibition that presents maritime history and culture of China.

[Photo/en.explorehainan.com]

[Photo/en.explorehainan.com]

[Photo/en.explorehainan.com]

[Photo/en.explorehainan.com]

Boundary Island also provides 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 East Coastal Highway, Hainan

Opening hours: 8:30 am-5:30 pm; 8:30 am-10 pm (for night tour)

Admission: 132 yuan ($18.32) during peak season and 127 yuan during off season, including entrance and round-trip steamer ticket

Tel: (+86 898) 31817777 31819999

Tips

1.Bring along sunglasses, sunblock and hats to avoid potential sunburn.

2.For your safety, visitors facing any of the following conditions are not advised to visit the island or participate in sea activities, especially if unassisted:

▪ High blood pressure

▪ Heart conditions

▪ Epilepsy

▪ Recent surgery

▪ Impaired mobility (due to injury, being 70+ or under 8 years old, or other physical limitations)

▪ Pregnancy

▪ Under the influence of alcohol

▪ Otherwise in poor health

3.Business hours and ferry times are subject to change based on sea and weather conditions. Please confirm the schedule in advance with the operating company.

hnfjz.com, Hainan Daily contributed to the story.