Hainan Linjiangshi Island Nature Reserve

Hainan Linjiangshi Island Nature Reserve

The Hainan Linjiangshi Island Coral Reef Local Nature Reserve includes Linjiangshi Island, also known as Dachan Reef, and its surrounding sea area, covering an area of 131 hectares. It was established in April 1992 with the approval of the former Dan County People's Government, primarily to protect the coral reefs and their surrounding marine ecosystems near Linjiangshi Island.

Linjiangshi Island itself is a coral island formed from coral, shell sand and gravel, various corals, shells, beach cliffs, and secondary coral reef rubble, located at the northern edge of the coral reef distribution zone. It serves as an important site for studying the regional distribution and developmental history of coral reefs in the Beibu Gulf and the South China Sea, as well as the composition and changes of reef-associated organisms.

Conservation management activities have helped maintain the marine ecological environment and biodiversity around Linjiangshi Island, thereby preserving marine biological resources related to the coral reefs. The local marine ecosystem remains largely intact, although the coral reefs are in a state of natural decline.

Changpo Town in Danzhou City, Hainan, is a small town by the Xuanlun River, famous for its distinctive snack, Mi Lan. Also called Mi Lan Zai, its preparation is complex and meticulous: soak rice in water for one to two days, grind it into a paste, wrap it in clean gauze, knead it into Mi Lan balls, boil them in an iron pot, then pound them in a stone mortar. Add an appropriate amount of “cooked slurry,” knead evenly, and gently shake in a metal “Mi Lan sieve” to let the soft paste drip into a pot of boiling water in thin strands. After about five minutes, the fine-threaded Mi Lan is ready.

Seafood is, of course, a must-try when visiting Linjiangshi Island. Sea snake meat is tender, delicious, and highly nutritious, making it a delicacy. Moreover, sea snake has medicinal value—it helps ward off cold, eliminate dampness, and provides auxiliary therapeutic benefits for rheumatism and soreness in the lower back and knees, making it a premium tonic for autumn and winter.

Shark fin is actually the fin of a shark, consisting mostly of keratinous cartilage that is dried to become the final product. As a high-end tonic, it is believed to benefit qi, stimulate appetite, nourish deficiency, and aid digestion. It is commonly stewed with lean pork and is nourishing for blood, qi, kidneys, and lungs.

Dried scallops are the adductor muscles of scallops, known for their chewy texture. When preparing them, trim the tough muscle fibers from the outer edges and set aside to cook separately—the remaining cylindrical part is the dried scallop. Wash the dried scallops, place them in a bowl with wine, scallions, and an appropriate amount of water, steam for one to two hours, then remove and use along with the original broth to cook a variety of dishes.

Sea turtles from Dongfang, Hainan, have delicious meat rich in vitamins and protein, making them a nourishing food. Various parts such as the turtle’s feet, blood, plastron, oil, eggs, liver, stomach, meat, and gallbladder can be used medicinally, offering benefits such as moistening the lungs, strengthening the stomach, nourishing kidneys, reducing internal heat, improving vision, nourishing yin, strengthening bones, and enriching blood.

Address:

Linjiangshi Island and its surrounding sea area in the western coastal region of Danzhou City

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Admission:

Free entry.