Rainforest travelogue: Inside Hainan's incredible biodiversity

As China's National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone, Hainan Province is a treasure of biodiversity. This May, the province announced a new batch of scientific discoveries, including two newly identified species, 35 species recorded in China for the first time, and 71 species newly documented in Hainan. These findings further enrich the island's growing catalogue of life.

At the heart of the island lies Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, an ecological gem home to the most extensive, well-preserved and diverse tropical rainforest found on any continental island in China. Spanning nearly one-eighth of Hainan's land area, this lush rainforest provides a safe haven for rare species, including a newly discovered fungus species called the sinuous chanterelle (Craterellus sinuosus), recorded for the first time in the world.