Set in the Wanning County, Hainan Province, Dazhou Island Marine Nature Reserve was established in 190 for the protection of the i.land ecosystems,covering a total area of 7000 hectares.

It embraces the 270 hectares South Mount and the 150 hectares North Mount, which are linked by a sand bank 800 m long, 40 m wide, and rise 289 m and 136 m above sea level respectively. The sand bank is exposed to the air only at low tide.

As an important area for the protection of variety of plants and animals, the plants of the Island are extremely rich and many species of outstanding shrubs and vines have been recorded. Among the interesting. animals are pangolin, python, monkey and fox.

Dazhou 'Island is famous for its diminutive edible swifts, so called, not on account of the palatability of the birds themselves, but of their wonderful nests, which are in great demand for conversion into birds'— nest soup. The salivary glands are unusually active in the swifts, their secretion bearing a very important part in the construction of the nest, and serving as a kind of cement. The site and manner of fixation of the nest are scarcely less wonderful, for it is suspended from the flat surfaces of some projecting piece of rock on the face of a cliff, and is thus almost inaccessible.

Patrolling over the 70 sq km sea area, the Reserve's administrative personnel is regularly making propaganda for conservation among the fishermen.