Known for the largest and the first mangrove natural reserve area in China, Dongzhai Harbor is located in the northeast of Haikou City with an area of 3337.6 hectares (about 8247 acres). It is a typical tropical jungle where the mangrove trees can be seen everywhere. Mangrove is a kind of tropical tree that grows in swamps. When the tide is high, the mangroves are submerged by the water, and only leave the green crowns for people to wonder at the marvelous nature.
Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove Natural Reserve Area is also called 'heaven for birds'. About 159 species of birds inhabit in the reserve, including many rare migratory birds. So it is not only a national mangrove reserve, but also a wetland, a waterfowl habitat. Winter is the best season for bird-watching. Because of the nutrition of the mangroves provides to the swamp, marine animals prefer to spawn and raise their infants here. Abundant resources of fish, shrimps and shellfish in the reserve provide a feast for the birds.
Apart from the beautiful scenery, there is another natural wonder in the harbor, the Villages under the sea. It is recorded that 72 villages sank to the sea at midnight on July 13th, 1605, because of a heavy earthquake. Hundreds of years later, 72 villages have become an amazing underwater wonder, waiting for visitors to discover their extraordinary story.
No matter what kind of adventure you are looking for, natural sightings of the mangroves and birds, or the underwater sightseeing, or you just want to have a good meal of local foods, you can certainly have a good time in Dongzhai Harbor Mangrove Nature Reserve Area.
Location: Northeast of Haikou City
Opening Time: 08:00am - 17:50pm
Ticket: 10 RMB
Transportation: 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away from Haikou City
Tips: Because of the long distance, you'd better take a bus at Qiongshan Minibus Station on Hongchenghu Road, get off at Yanfeng Village and find a passenger tricycle to take you to Dongzhai Harbor directly.