Nanwan Monkey Island 南湾猴岛

About Nanwan Monkey Island

The cable-car journey, when operating, overlooks fishing rafts and the sheltered water before reaching wooded ground. These are macaques, not Hainan’s rare gibbons. Observe them without feeding, touching or displaying loose food, and follow staff directions. The harbour landscape adds interest even for visitors who prefer to avoid animal performances.

Nanwan Monkey Island is a macaque nature reserve and a national AAAA-level scenic area (国家AAAA级景区) on the Nanwan Peninsula (南湾半岛) in Lingshui County, reached by a cable car spanning 2,138 metres from Xincun, China's longest over-water cable car. The reserve covers a total area of 10.2 square kilometres at an average elevation of 150 metres, with forest covering 95 percent of the land, mainly broadleaf forest and shrubland.

Since the reserve was established in 1965, when it held just over 100 macaques, the population has grown to more than 1,500. The reserve also records more than 400 plant species, 15 mammal species, 57 bird species and 17 amphibian and reptile species; besides macaques it is home to nearly 20 other mammal species, including sambar deer (水鹿), leopard cat (豹猫), otter (水獭) and pangolin (穿山甲), close to 30 bird species such as the Hainan partridge (海南鹧鸪) and hoopoe (戴胜), and reptiles including pythons and lizards.

What to look for

• Macaques within the managed visitor area, observed from a respectful distance.
• Xincun harbour and fishing-raft views from the operating cable-car route.

Location & getting there

Getting to Nanwan Monkey Island

Go to Nanwan Monkey Island’s mainland visitor terminal in Xincun, Lingshui. Confirm the cable-car or ferry route included with your ticket and the return time.