Economy and Ethnic group of Hainan
Economy
The year-round growing season and monsoon climate favor the cultivation of rice, coconuts, palm oil, sisal, tropical fruit, coffee, tea, and sugarcane; the island also produces most of China’s rubber. The mountainous interior is thickly forested, yielding tropical hardwoods, including teak and sandalwood. Hainan is rich in minerals, notably high-grade iron and tungsten, but also rich in titanium, manganese, salt, copper, bauxite, molybdenum, gold, silver, coal, cobalt, graphite, and crystal. Hainan’s rich offshore fishing grounds provide shrimps, scallops, tuna, and Spanish mackerel, and pearls are harvested in the shallow bays surrounding the island. The growth of Hainan’s industries, which include the production of textiles and farm equipment, has been hindered by a lack of energy resources.
Tourism plays an important part of Hainan Province’s economy, thanks largely to its tropical beaches and lush forests.
Ethnic group
The ethnic groups of Hainan included the Han Chinese, who currently make a majority; the Li people; the Miao and the Zhuang. Also found on the island are the Utsuls, descendants of Cham refugees, who are classified as Hui by the central government.
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