2016 is the Year of the Monkey—which is the most intelligent creature among all the zodiac signs.
 
If you are racking your brain for what to put on your travel list this holiday, why not go see the monkeys? A number of scenic spots in Hainan feature different species of monkeys, which are usually raised in a designated area on a mountain, adding a lively flavor to the quiet scenery. In particular, playing with monkeys can be a great delight for your children.
 
Nanwan Monkey Island, Lingshui 陵水南湾猴岛
 
 
 
 
 
Monkey Island, the world’s only natural reserve for macaque monkeys, is a well-known tourist destination in Hainan.
 
The island is situated on the Nanwan peninsula, 14 kilometers south of Lingshui County. Founded in 1965, it is now home to over 400 kinds of plants and fruits, 100 animals, and a number of grottos making it an ideal haven for its almost 2,500 monkeys.
 
Monkey Island offers China’s longest over-water cable car, which spans 2,138 meters, offering convenient means of transport to the island.
 
Free guides are on hand to guide visitors on how to interact with the monkeys and experience firsthand the harmony that can exist between people and wild creatures.
 
Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:20 p.m.
Tel: +86-898-83360902
Entrance fee: RMB 163 (including cable car)
Address: Nanwan Monkey Island Resort, Xinchun Town, Linghsui County 陵水县新村镇南湾猴岛生态旅游区
Sanya Yalongling Forest 三亚亚龙岭森林
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
More than 80 wild rhesus macaques inhabit the Yalongling Forest, which is located in the Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, the first nationally protected park in Hainan.
 
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is famous for its beautiful scenery of mountains covered in dense tropical and sub-tropical vegetation. The fruit-bearing trees in the region truly create a perfect paradise for its original residents.
 
Opening hours: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tel: +86 898 38238888
Entrance fee: RMB 175 per person
Address: Located in the Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park三亚亚龙湾热带天堂森林公园内
Transport: Bus No.15, 27 or taxi
 

Luhuitou Park 鹿回头公园
 
 
 
 
Luhuitou Park is situated close to the Huoling Nature Reserve on the west side of Dadonghai beach, a natural habitat for nearly one hundred macaques.
 

The visitors usually encounter monkeys roaming free over a manicured park setting with lawns, paths and coconut trees in the park.
 
Opening hours: 7:00 a.m. – 10: 30 p.m.
Tel: +86 898 88213740
Entrance fee: RMB 45 per person
Address: Seaview Avenue, Luling Road, Sanya 三亚市鹿岭路海景大道
 

Sanya Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay三亚山海天万豪酒店
 
 
 
 

 
The resort has plenty of winding paths and plants species, offering guests ample opportunities for fun encounters with rainforest “residents” and a chance to hear the different sounds of birds living in the area. 
 
During the cooler seasons of the year, hotel guests usually encounter monkeys looking for food to eat. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions along the paths to the pools. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests. With such a lose-up view of the monkeys, guests can gain a greater appreciation for the beauty and importance of wildlife.
 
Tel: +86 898 88211688
Address: No.88, Haiyun Road, Dadonghai Bay, Sanya 三亚市大东海海韵路88
 

SOURCE: WOS Team