Nestled within Lingshui Li Autonomous County on Hainan's southern coast lies a living cultural artifact—the floating settlement of Xincun Fishing Port. Home to the Tanka community, this aquatic labyrinth of interconnected rafts and wooden walkways has sustained maritime traditions since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), offering a rare window into China's coastal heritage.
From above, the village resembles a geometric marvel—a sprawling network of fish-breeding enclosures and stilted huts that shifts with the tides. For five centuries, Tanka families have navigated these floating corridors, maintaining sustainable fishing practices while developing unique cultural expressions through boat-dwelling architecture and sea-based rituals.
This year, renewed preservation efforts highlight the community's growing significance in China's cultural tourism landscape. Visitors can witness traditional raft-building techniques and sample century-old seafood preservation methods, while anthropologists note the Tanka language's distinct nautical vocabulary—a linguistic time capsule of maritime life.
As Hainan accelerates its free trade port development, local authorities emphasize protecting cultural assets like Xincun. Recent infrastructure upgrades now allow safer access for researchers and responsible travelers, creating new opportunities for cross-cultural exchange while safeguarding this aquatic way of life for future generations.
