Autonomous county (自治县)
Lingshui Li Autonomous County
Sanya's eastern neighbour, and the site of the Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone.
陵水黎族自治县 · Part of Greater Sanya economic circle
Lingshui lies on the south-eastern coast between Wanning and Sanya, inside the Greater Sanya economic circle. Its coastline — Clearwater Bay and Xiangshui Bay among others — carries a substantial resort and residential property economy.
Its designated key park is the Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone (陵水黎安国际教育创新试验区), an experiment in bringing foreign universities into China to operate degree programmes in partnership. For education providers, it is one of the few routes of its kind available anywhere in the country.
At a glance
- Administrative tier
- Autonomous county (自治县) — Li
- Economic circle
- Greater Sanya economic circle
- Anchor park
- Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone
What it is being built for
International education
Foreign university programmes and educational services within the Li'an pilot zone.
Tourism and resort development
Coastal resorts and leisure property.
Marine economy
Fisheries, aquaculture and marine leisure.
Free Trade Port zones located here
Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone (陵水黎安国际教育创新试验区)
International higher education and educational services.
Getting things and people in and out
- Rail
- Hainan ring high-speed railway — a continuous loop of more than 600 km around the island
- Air
- Sanya Phoenix International Airport, to the south-west
How the incentives apply here
- The Li'an pilot zone operates a distinct policy regime for international education that has no island-wide equivalent.
- Education services appear in the encouraged-industries catalogue governing the 15% corporate income tax rate.
Who this place suits
- Foreign universities and higher-education providers
- Education services and supporting businesses
- Resort and hospitality developers in the Greater Sanya area
Last reviewed September 2026. This page is general information about the Hainan Free Trade Port, not legal, tax or investment advice. Eligibility for every incentive described here turns on facts specific to your entity, your industry classification and your substance in Hainan. Nothing on this page should be relied on without advice on your own position.
Considering Lingshui Li Autonomous County? Speak with an expert about what establishing there actually involves.