Ledong: Rainforest and Li Ceramics

Among Ledong’s distinctive features are the tropical rainforest of Jiaxi and Baoqiu’s Li ceramic tradition. Jiaxi Nature Reserve protects tropical seasonal rainforest as well as rare wild animals and plants. It is classified as a provincial-level state protected area of the forest ecosystem type. The natural environment and cultural craft thus offer different possible focal points for a trip.

Jiaxi: Rainforest and Nature Reserve

Jiaxi Village is in Baoyou Town; the Jiaxi Ridge is included in Jiaxi Nature Reserve. Jiaxi preserves a landscape characteristic of tropical old-growth rainforest. Streams, ponds and waterfalls are part of the village scenery. This natural setting makes Jiaxi suitable for forest exploration and ecological nature tourism. The protection of the forest ecosystem and the varied waterscape together shape the area’s natural character.

For orientation, the Jiaxi Tourism Road, completed at the end of 2016, connects Baoyou Town with the Jiaxi Ridge. Since the ridge is part of the nature reserve, the road link leads conceptually from the town towards the natural area. Red Water Valley and Li cultural resources are also located along the Jiaxi Tourism Road. These are additional themes along this corridor, though they do not all share the same focus.

Baoqiu: Li Ceramics and Pottery

Baoqiu has a tradition of making Li ceramics. A 2024 account reports that 紫金陶 (Purple-Gold Ceramics) attracted more than 80 ceramic artists from different parts of China. Their works combine elements of Li culture with pottery techniques. Baoqiu thus represents both a longstanding ceramic tradition and artworks that bring cultural elements and craft techniques together.

In 2024, Fuan Guiyuanju Shared Farm in Baoqiu was described as an integrated complex combining pottery experiences, cultural transmission and industrial development. Baoqiu Pottery Garden was also described in 2024 as a complex offering accommodation, artistic work, ceramic exhibitions and pottery experiences. The account at the time listed 104 guest rooms, 22 artist studios, and exhibition and ceramic-making areas.

A travel guide from January 2025 described a ceramics area that visitors could visit and where they could try pottery during the Spring Festival period. The area drew on Li ceramic culture and combined it with traditional techniques from Chinese ceramic and porcelain traditions. This information specifically refers to the guide’s seasonal description and does not make a claim about year-round visiting opportunities.

Cultural Sites in Baoyou

Ledong Cultural Center combines a cultural center, a library and a museum and is considered a cultural landmark of Ledong’s administrative center. It was reported as completed and operational in September 2024. An event for students and visitors was held on May 27 at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum on the center’s first floor in Baoyou.

The event featured demonstrations of Li dyeing, weaving and embroidery techniques, Miao embroidery, Li paper-cutting, Li ceramics, and rattan and bamboo weaving. The range of techniques shows a different facet of Baoyou’s cultural sites from the pottery workshops and exhibitions in Baoqiu: here, different forms of textile, visual and woven craft were presented side by side.

Nature or Craft as a Travel Focus

When looking for a holiday rental in Ledong, it helps to first decide what you want your trip to focus on. Rainforest, streams, ponds, waterfalls and forest exploration point towards Jiaxi; Li ceramics, artistic work and pottery traditions put Baoqiu in the spotlight. Ledong Cultural Center adds a library and museum to the cultural offering. This lets you choose where to stay according to the themes you want to shape your planned days.

Discover more destinations: Tunchang, Haikou, Danzhou, Baisha, Wenchang, Sanya, Ding'an, Qionghai.

For the broader travel overview: Hainan.