Nanwan Monkey Island
南湾猴岛
China's only island-based macaque nature reserve. A 2-km cross-sea cable car passes over the Xincun Harbour rafts, and the island is home to over a thousand macaques and the Daidai Island beach.
Nanwan Monkey Island lies on the Nanwan Peninsula, south of Xincun Harbour in Lingshui. It is a national-level macaque nature reserve and China's only island-based macaque reserve, home to roughly 2,500 macaques. The visit begins at the cable car station at Xincun Harbour. The cross-sea cable car runs about 2.1 km across the Xincun lagoon, with fish rafts and aquaculture cages below. It is one of the most distinctive cable car rides in Hainan. Once on the island, walking paths let you see macaques moving freely. There is a monkey performance area, a macaque science museum and a lookout platform. The monkeys are used to visitors but remain wild animals. On the south side of the island is Daidai Island, a recently popular quiet beach with swings, wooden huts and photo spots. You can reach it by the scenic-area shuttle bus. It is a good place to watch both sunrise and sunset. Admission, including the cable car, is about 150 to 170 yuan. A separate ticket is needed for Daidai Island. It is best to go in the morning to avoid the heat. Getting there: from Lingshui station on the coastal high-speed railway, a taxi takes about 20 minutes to the Nanwan Monkey Island visitor centre (Xincun Harbour). From Haitang Bay in Sanya, it's about 40 minutes by car. It can be combined in one day with the seafood at Xincun Harbour rafts and Qingshui Bay. Notes: Macaques will snatch plastic bags, food and phones, so put away food before landing. Do not stare at or provoke the monkeys. If you are bitten or scratched, go to the clinic immediately. Do not feed the monkeys on your own. Daidai Island has no lifeguards, so swimming is not recommended. The cable car stops in strong winds.
Opening hours
08:00–17:30
Nearby sights
- Xincun Harbour Tanka Fishing Rafts
- Hainan Ocean Paradise
- Clearwater Bay
- Yetian Ancient Village
- Xiangshui Bay
- Riyue Bay
- Fenjiezhou Island
- Diaoluoshan National Forest Park