Yanoda Rainforest

1. Introduction

The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County is located at Sandao Farm, Sandao Town, Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan Province. Covering a total area of 45 square kilometers and initially established in 2008, it is a large-scale sightseeing, leisure, and resort tourism area that integrates "rainforest sightseeing, cultural experiences, leisure activities, and wellness retreats." It is built upon natural landscapes and blends various cultural elements such as "rainforest culture, Li ethnic culture, southern medicinal culture, and zodiac culture."

The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County combines diverse tourism resources, including tropical rainforests, canyon wonders, cascading streams and waterfalls, Li ethnic customs, tropical fruits, southern medicinal herbs, and hot springs. It features several scenic areas, such as the Zodiac Square, Rainforest Valley, Dream Valley, Sandao Valley, and Wetlands. Key attractions and facilities include the Yanoda Rainforest, Pharmacist Canyon, Zodiac Square, Paludi Wilderness Training Camp, Yayaya Tropical Fruit Village, Dadase Li and Miao Exhibition, as well as hotels and resorts. It is a condensed representation of Hainan Island's five major tropical rainforests and serves as a valuable exhibition of tropical rainforest resources.

2. Historical Development

2.1 Origin of the Name

"Yanoda" is an onomatopoeic term in the Hainan dialect, meaning one, two, three. The scenic area has imbued it with new connotations: "Ya" represents innovation, "Nuo" signifies commitment, and "Da" denotes implementation. Additionally, "Yanoda" is interpreted as a greeting meaning "welcome" or "hello," expressing friendliness and blessings.

2.2 Development Timeline

In 2000, the Yanoda project survey team conducted investigations in the valleys of Sandao Town, Baoting.

In October 2005, the environmental impact report for the Yanoda project was approved by the Hainan Provincial Department of Land, Environment, and Resources. In December of the same year, the overall plan for the Yanoda Rainforest project was approved by the People's Government of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County.

In February 2008, the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County began trial operations. In November of the same year, it obtained ISO9001 and ISO14001 quality and environmental integrated management system certifications.

In 2009, Yanoda was designated as a key construction project in Hainan Province by the Hainan Provincial Development and Reform Commission.

In December 2011, UNESCO, the Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission, and the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone jointly signed the "Cooperation Exchange Document for the Good Travel Project." The scenic area was established as a UNESCO "Good Travel" cooperative research base.

3. Geographical Environment

3.1 Location

The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County is located at Sandao Farm, Sandao Town, in the southwestern part of Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, Hainan Province. Situated at 18 degrees north latitude, it lies in the southern part of the national ecological function conservation area in the central mountainous region of Hainan. It is within the water conservation area upstream of the Chitian Reservoir in Sanya, close to Sanya City. The distance to the East Line Expressway is 15 kilometers, to Baoting County Town is 40 kilometers, and to Sanya City is approximately 35 kilometers. The scenic area covers 45 square kilometers.

3.2 Topography

From a slope analysis perspective, most areas in the western, southern, and northern parts of the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County have slopes exceeding 25%, indicating relatively steep terrain. The eastern areas along the roads and riverbanks are relatively flat.

3.3 Climate Characteristics

The Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone in Baoting County features a tropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature ranging from 21.6°C to 24.5°C and annual rainfall between 1,500 and 1,900 millimeters.

4. Main Attractions

4.1 Themed Landscapes

4.1.1 Rainforest Valley

The Rainforest Valley focuses on showcasing the pristine tropical rainforest landscape. It features towering banyan trees, century-old vines, black tree ferns, fairy grass Ganoderma, Antiaris toxicaria, wild sugar palm trees, and the six wonders of tropical rainforests: "high buttress roots," "root-embracing stones," "aerial gardens," "cauliflory," "strangler plants," and "liana climbing." The Rainforest Valley is a "natural oxygen bar" and a generator of negative oxygen ions, with an average annual temperature of 24°C. The walking trails in the Rainforest Valley consist of wooden boardwalks, rustic stone steps, and suspension bridges, spanning 3.5 kilometers and divided into large, medium, and small circular routes.

4.1.2 Rainforest Hotel

Yanoda Rainforest Resort Hotel No. 1 is located in the core area of the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone, within the Rainforest Valley. Its design philosophy prioritizes respect for nature, with a focus on low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient practices. The hotel offers 23 luxurious guest rooms and suites, each equipped with an LCD TV with satellite channels, a computer with free broadband, a direct-dial telephone, a private safe, a minibar, and other amenities. Facilities also include Chinese and Western restaurants, a chess and card room, an outdoor swimming pool, hot spring pools, and a multifunction hall.

4.1.3 Sandao Valley

Sandao Valley stretches approximately 3 kilometers in length, with water depths of about 30 meters and a river width of 30–40 meters. The peaks on either side of the canyon range from 270 to 380 meters in elevation. The entire valley features over ten canyon landscapes formed by waterfalls, unique rock formations, giant trees, deep pools, and springs. The area exhibits diverse geological structures and medicinal plant resources, with varied rock formations and clear river water.

4.1.4 Dream Valley

Dream Valley represents the gully waterfalls of the tropical rainforest. Within a 1.2-kilometer-long, 200-meter-drop tropical rainforest gully, there are three waterfalls with varying water levels and drops: Welcoming Waterfall, Tianmen Waterfall, and Lian'en Waterfall. Together with trees, rocks, and streams, they create a "dreamlike" zone. From the boardwalks in Dream Valley, visitors can admire the waterfalls and listen to the calls of birds and cicadas.

4.2 Featured Attractions

4.2.1 Tong Pavilion and Happiness Path

The Happiness Tong Pavilion is named after three yellow tung trees near the pavilion. The pavilion is adorned with wind chimes made from Guanyin grass by Li ethnic grandmothers. The unique patterns on the wind chimes depict the Li ethnic guardian deity, the "Mighty Vajra God," which consists of two parts: an ox head above and a frog below. The Tong Pavilion connects to the Happiness Path, which features four gates: the Friendship Gate, Love Gate, Family Gate, and Happiness Gate.

4.2.2 Orchid Stream

Orchid Stream combines traditional Chinese gardening techniques with tropical rainforest culture. The area is surrounded by flowers, plants, thatched cottages, and hiking trails, with tree-shaped tables and chairs distributed under long vines.

4.2.3 Thousand-Year-Old Couple Banyan Trees

The Thousand-Year-Old Couple Banyan Trees are two Ficus virens trees. Their roots (buttress roots) form a figure-eight shape, resembling a plank wall extending outward as if "embracing" each other, earning them the name "Couple Trees." Visitors can also observe aerial gardens, liana climbing, and high buttress roots here. At the base of the trees, there is a "tree door." Because the Chinese character for banyan tree ("榕") is homophonic with the character for dragon ("龙"), it is commonly called the "Dragon Gate."

4.2.4 Wild Sugar Palm Forest

The sugar palm is a palm species unique to Hainan. Mature trees can reach over 20 meters in height, with trunk diameters exceeding 50 centimeters. The leaves are flat, thick, emerald green, feather-like, long, and舒展, with up to 100 fronds per tree. Each mature sugar palm produces thousands of fruit颗粒, resembling large clusters of grapes, with the heaviest bunch weighing up to half a ton. In the wild sugar palm forest area of Yanoda, hundreds of sugar palms occupy less than 4,000 square meters, with some areas having over 90% sugar palm coverage, intersected by surrounding streams.

4.2.5 Thousand-Year-Old Root-Clasping Stone

Ascending the auspicious steps in the Rainforest Valley, visitors can see a large banyan tree resembling a giant umbrella, adorned with red cloth strips and small wooden plaques. The tree is about 40 meters tall, over a thousand years old, and its roots tightly clasp a central stone. Numerous Livistona palms and Alocasia plants grow beneath the tree, all "embraced" by the banyan's extending branches. Locals refer to it as the "Chieftain's Sacred Tree."

4.2.6 China Stone

China Stone is a natural rock formation resembling the map of China. It naturally outlines the regions of Heilongjiang, Tibet, Taiwan, and Hainan Island, with Vietnam and Japan also clearly visible. A vine hangs vertically from top to bottom in the middle, stretching from Beijing to Guangzhou, resembling the "Beijing-Guangzhou Railway," a key transportation artery.

4.2.7 Eight-Banyan Viewing Platform

Passing through the semicircular natural banyan tree archway in the Rainforest Valley leads to the Eight-Banyan Viewing Platform, where eight banyan trees stand. Legend has it that during a typhoon one year, two-thirds of the roots of one banyan tree were uprooted by the wind, causing its massive trunk to fall. At that moment, an adjacent banyan tree used its "shoulder" to support the falling tree in the fierce wind. Traces of this event can still be found at the junction of the two trees, earning them the nickname "Friendship Trees."

4.2.8 Vine Dragons Stirring the Sea

In the Rainforest Valley of Yanoda, numerous lianas intertwine, forming a dense, intricate web resembling spider silk. Several banyan trees stand among them like "Sea-Calming Needles."

5. Recreational Activities

5.1 Devil's Swing

The Devil's Swing is highly favored by various variety shows and film crews, with multiple programs such as "Keep Running" and "Perfect Summer" having filmed here. The Devil's Swing is a non-powered, human-flight series amusement facility. The swing can swing up to 150 degrees, reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, providing an adrenaline-pumping, thrilling experience. In the beautiful canyon setting, riders equipped with the swing gear plummet from over 50 meters high. The sensation of free fall and pendulum motion creates a strong feeling of weightlessness. This activity is the perfect choice for visitors who enjoy excitement and challenges.### 5.2 Rainforest Adventure The Rainforest Adventure is divided into three levels (Level 1: Experience, Level 2: Challenge, Level 3: Extreme) with a total of 60 challenges, ranging from easy to difficult. It includes various thrilling obstacles such as "Wooden Dummy Piles," "Rope Net Bridge," "Tire Array," "Piano Bridge," "Gecko Board," and "Surfboard," ensuring continuous excitement and lasting memories for visitors. The entire course comprises up to 60 challenges, with an average of 20 per level. Different obstacles are set between various trees, each averaging 8 meters in length. Using professional traversal equipment, participants experience high-altitude crossings. The first level is the lowest and easiest, making it particularly suitable for children.

5.3 Waterfall Trekking and Water Play

Waterfall Trekking and Water Play consists of ten challenges: Tarzan Swing, Floating Bridge in Water, Low Net Crawl, Toddler Steps, Ascending Steps, Shaky Bridge Challenge, Cautious Steps, One-Line Sky, Dream Passage, and Lian'en Waterfall Climb. With towering rocks on both banks and dense tropical rainforest overhead, participants, led by a coach, wear straw sandals and trek upstream against the rushing current.

5.4 Glass Viewing Platform

The Wailu Glass Viewing Platform integrates a 108-meter-long 360-degree suspended glass cloud deck with a 257-meter cliffside glass walkway. Situated at an altitude of 450 meters on the beautiful foothills of Wuzhi Mountain and facing the magnificent South China Sea, it spans 365 meters with a maximum drop of nearly 200 meters. Opening your eyes reveals mist-shrouded, majestic mountain and sea vistas, or you can look down upon vast acres of lush, verdant forest, immersing yourself in the gentle interplay between sea, sky, and land.

5.5 Cliffside Sea-View Swing

With a vertical height of over 300 meters, the swing stands 8 meters high and swings at a thrilling 150-degree angle, backed by nine layers of safety measures. While screaming, you can feel the whooshing wind echoing in your ears, swaying amidst the mountains while embracing the stunning coastal scenery, offering an exhilarating sensory and visual experience.

5.6 High-altitude Zip Line

The high-altitude zip line traverses the tropical rainforest at a speed of 3 meters per second, covering a one-way distance of 608 meters with a drop of up to 70 meters. The journey from the starting point to the endpoint takes only 3 minutes. Soaring above the rainforest, you can breathe in the fresh air freely, marvel at the grandeur of the high-altitude rainforest, and experience the heart-pounding thrill of high-altitude gliding.