Woody Island, South China Sea
Encyclopedia
Woody Island, also known as Yongxing Island , is one of the major islands of Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...

 in South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...

. It is administrated by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 through the Yongxingdao Neighborhood Committee. It has no indigenous inhabitants, although there are People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...

 soldiers stationed on the island. The island is also claimed by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan) and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

.

Facilities and services

The island has an artificial harbor, and an airfield with a 2350-metre runway that can handle Boeing-737 or planes of similar size. Flights are operated to and from the provincial capital Haikou
Haikou
Hǎikǒu , is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province, in the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River...

 of Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...

 Province. Other constructions include three main roads and a 800-metre long cement bank connecting the island and Rocky Island (Shi Dao). Apart from government buildings and army posts, the island has a post office, a hospital, shops, banks, hostels and a rescue center.


On 10 April 2011, FM Radio began broadcasting on the island in addition of mobile communications and satellite televisions which were made available in the fishing villages.

Tourism

The island is open to tourists but they need to obtain approval from the Chinese authorities in Haikou
Haikou
Hǎikǒu , is the capital and most populous city of Hainan Province, in the People's Republic of China. It is situated on the northern coast of Hainan, by the mouth of the Nandu River...

 before departure. Hiring a fishing boat from Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...

 to the island is possible. There are two museums on the island - a Naval Museum and a Maritime Museum.

See also

Rocky Island - Tree Island
Tree Island, South China Sea
For the "Tree Island" in Tuen Mun District, New Territories, Hong Kong, see Pak Chau.Tree Island or Zhaoshu Island is one of the main islands of Paracel Islands in South China Sea. The Chinese named the island as Zhaoshu Dao to commemorate Zhao Shu who accompanied Zheng He's expeditions in high...

 - West Sand
West Sand
West Sand is an island located in the Amphitrite Group of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. It is administrated by the People's Republic of China. Sovereignty over the island is disputed by Vietnam. It is approximately west of Tree Island....

 - Triton Island
Triton Island
Triton Island , historically known as Bànlù Zhì or Luó Dǎo to Chinese fishermen, is one of the islands of Paracel Islands in South China Sea, with an area of 1.2 km². The island is administrated by the People's Republic of China...

 - Langhuajiao
Langhuajiao
Langhuajiao is one of the islands of Paracel Islands. It is alternatively known as "Pengbojiao" , also known as "Qilianyu" along with six other islands close by. A Chinese-built lighthouse is located here. The island is administrated by the People's Republic of China and patrolled by the Chinese...



Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands, also called Xisha Islands in Chinese and Hoàng Sa Islands in Vietnamese, is a group of islands under the administration of Hainan Province, The People's Republic of China. Vietnam and the Republic of China also claim sovereignty of these islands...



Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...



String of Pearls
String of Pearls (China)
The String of Pearls refers to the Chinese sea lines of communication which extend to Port Sudan. The sea lines run through the strategic choke points Strait of Mandab, Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Lombok as well as other strategic naval interest such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka,...


External links

Satellite image of Woody Island by Google Maps
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