The Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden is one of the most distinctive stops in Hainan — a working research garden within the Xinglong overseas Chinese community that covers over 200 hectares of tropical cultivation. The garden holds specimens of over a thousand tropical plant species, with particular depth in economically important crops: coffee, rubber, pepper, vanilla, and tropical fruits. Guided tours explain both the botany and the unusual human history behind the garden.
The coffee is the main attraction for most visitors. Xinglong coffee has been grown here since the 1950s, processed on-site, and served in a cafe at the garden entrance. It is roasted darker than most Chinese coffee preferences and has a distinct character that reflects the Southeast Asian cultivation methods the Indonesian Chinese settlers brought with them. The combination of a quiet walk through dense tropical planting and a genuinely good cup of coffee at the end makes this one of the more pleasant hours available in Hainan.