Changjiang

An unspoiled stretch of western Hainan's coast: Qizi Bay's strange rocks and wild beaches, sunsets at Dajiao Cape, gibbon rainforest at Bawangling, the Emperor Cave in Wangxia, and seas of kapok blossoms.

Changjiang Li Autonomous County lies in northwestern Hainan Island, facing the Gulf of Tonkin to the west and backed by the Bawangling mountains to the east. The county seat is Shilu Town, and the Changhua River flows from southeast to northwest across the county before reaching the sea at Changhua Town. This is one of the least developed stretches of Hainan's west coast, with quiet beaches and untouched scenery, and it also includes the Bawangling section of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. The county markets itself as a land of "mountains, sea and Li villages."

Areas to explore: ① The west coast — Qizi Bay's rocky beaches, sunsets at Dajiao (Junbi Cape) at its northern end, the Changhua River estuary and the old town of Changhua, the Junling Wang Temple, and Haiwei Wetland Park to the north; ② Shilu, the county seat — the giant open-pit mine of Shilu Iron Mine National Mine Park; ③ The southeastern mountains — rainforest hikes in the Yajia area of Bawangling, the "Ten-Li Gallery" and Emperor Cave in Wangxia Township, and the boat-shaped Li houses of Hongshui Village; ④ Fields of kapok blossoms around Qicha and Chahe in February–March.

The best time to visit is October to April, the dry season, with little rain and temperatures of 20–28 °C; kapok trees bloom in February–March. May to October is hot and rainy, and July–October is typhoon season, so keep an eye on weather warnings. Getting there: the Hainan Round-Island High-Speed Railway stops at Qizi Bay and Changjiang stations, about 1.5–2 hours from Haikou. Sights are spread out and public transport is scarce, so self-driving or hiring a car with driver is recommended; 2–3 days is enough to cover both the coast and the mountains. Accommodation is concentrated in the Qizi Bay resort area and Shilu Town, with a few guesthouses and cabins in Wangxia and Bawangling. Tips: the sea off the west coast has strong waves, so swim only at beaches with lifeguards; stick to marked trails when hiking in the rainforest, and watch out for leeches and flash floods in the rainy season; please respect local customs in Li villages.

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