The People’s Republic of China--South

The coast of South China usually refers to the coasts of Guangdong Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as well as of Hainan Island. The coastline of the continental portion is about 5,790 km long and that of the Hainan Island about 1,700 km giving a total of 7,490 km. This figure does not include either that of the coastlines of the other islands bordering the continent or of China’s other islands in the South China Sea. The coastline of South China meanders between 18° 10’ and 23° 37’ N and thus is mostly situated south of the Tropic of Cancer (Fig. 1). Most sections of the coast have a marine monsoon climate typical of the subtropical zone. However, Hainan Island has a marine climate. It has high temperature and is rainy all year although it is occasionally invaded by cold air and tropical cyclones and typhoons.