Wanning

en.hainan.gov.cn

Beautiful scenery of Shenzhou Peninsula, Wanning. [Photo/VCG]

Wanning city is located on the southeastern coast of Hainan, with a land area of 1,883.5 square kilometers and a sea area of 2,550.1 square kilometers. It boasts a coastline stretching 109 kilometers. The city administers 12 towns, one State-owned forest farm and one overseas Chinese tourism economic zone, comprising a total of 207 administrative villages and communities, with a population of approximately 640,000.

Wanning is recognized as a "world longevity city," where the average life expectancy exceeds the national average by over five years. The city is home to 137 centenarians, accounting for two out of every 10,000 residents.

Wanning is also famed as a world-class surfing destination, the hometown of Chinese betel nuts, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese martial arts. In recent years, the city has enhanced its visibility and reputation through hosting major events such as the China-Africa Cooperation Roundtable, international surfing competitions, the Chinese Dragon Boat Race and the Tour of Hainan cycling race.

The sunset glow of Wanning. [Photo/VCG]

Located at the junction of tropical and subtropical zones, Wanning enjoys a tropical marine monsoon climate with a pleasant environment and an average annual temperature of 24.8 C. Along its 109-kilometer coastline lie over 10 picturesque high-quality bays, two unique inland seas and seven scenic islands and peninsulas. The city has over 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares) of coastal and freshwater areas suitable for aquaculture.

The city's tropical cash crops include pineapple, pepper, betel nut, rubber, coffee and cocoa. Of over 1,600 types of traditional southern medicinal herbs, 161 have been listed in China's national key survey of traditional Chinese medicine resources — accounting for about 80 percent of Hainan's total entries — earning Wanning the title "natural medicine treasure trove of the south."

The "four delicacies of Wanning" — Dongshan goat, Hele crab, Gangbei prawn and Hou'an mullet — are culinary highlights, with Dongshan goat and Hele crab among Hainan's "four signature dishes."

In 2024, Wanning received a total of 9.03 million visits by tourists, a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent. The figure included 4.87 million overnight visitors, up 9.2 percent (ranking 4th among comparable regions), and 4.16 million same-day visitors, up 5.4 percent. The city's total tourism revenue reached 8.229 billion yuan, marking a 14.55 percent increase year-on-year.

An aerial view of the lighthouse at ShenzhouPeninsula, Wanning. [Photo/VCG]