A tropical depression strengthened to become Typhoon Mujigae early Friday morning, and the storm was still gathering power as it entered the eastern part of the South China sea.
Weather services in the southernmost province of Hainan warned tourists on the island's beaches that the typhoon threatens to bring strong gales and downpours starting Sunday.
Mujigae, the 22nd typhoon of the year, is expected to land in the eastern coastal region of Hainan or the western coastal region of Guangdong Province on Sunday.
All six interprovincial trains departing from the beach resort Sanya suspended service on Friday and will not resume operations until next Tuesday, according to the Sanya Railway Station.
At 5 a.m., the storm was detected at 15.9 degrees north latitude and 120.5 degrees east longitude, packing strong winds with a speed of 64.8 kilometers per hour at its eye.
Hainan and Guangdong are bracing for their peak travel week as China's week-long National Day holiday started on Thursday.
