Hainanese durian after chicken rice? China's tourist island goes big on king of fruits
Hainan, China, is increasingly investing in durian cultivation, leveraging technology to overcome environmental challenges. The province aims to establish a domestic industry for the fruit, which has seen a massive surge in import demand.
Why it matters
This shift represents China's broader strategy to reduce reliance on Southeast Asian agricultural imports and boost domestic food security and high-value crop production.
Faced with typhoons, long growing cycles and limited scale, Hainan’s durian growers are betting on technology and premium fruit rather than trying to match Southeast Asia on volume.
Fruit seller Qin Chunchang at his stall in Hongxingang Fruit Wholesale Market, Sanya, China, on Aug 5, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lan Yu)
Melody Chan 13 Sep 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 13 Sep 2026 07:43AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST SANYA, Hainan: A spiky green durian hangs from a tree on a plantation.
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