Jianfengling

Jianfengling protects what is generally counted as the best-preserved primary tropical rainforest in China, running from coastal lowland up to around 1,400 metres, with thousands of plant species, buttressed giants, strangler figs, lianas and an exceptional bird and amphibian list including species found only on Hainan. The lower reaches were logged before protection but the upper forest survived. Trails run through the canopy area, to a lake formed by a dam, and up toward the peak, with a sea of cloud frequently filling the valleys at dawn. Night walks reveal frogs, geckos and insects in numbers.

What you actually see

• The primary rainforest - the largest intact tropical forest block in China.
• The Hainan endemics - birds and amphibians found nowhere else.
• The cloud sea - valleys filled with mist at dawn from the ridge.
• Tianchi lake - the reservoir in the forest with lodging nearby.

When to go

November to April for drier trails; the wet season from May to October brings heavy rain, leeches and mosquitoes, though the forest is at its most active. Dawn is best for birds and mist.

Honest expectations

Access without a car is slow and awkward. Accommodation at the reserve is limited and basic. Wildlife is heard far more than seen, and humidity is constant.

Nearby

Wuzhi Mountain lies northeast; Sanya is southeast.