Sea nomads of Hainan: The Tanka life in Lingshui

Lingshui Li Autonomous County is home to China's largest Tanka community, often referred to as "sea nomads" for their long-standing floating way of life.

From above, their offshore settlement appears as a vast maze of connected enclosures, dotted with small huts and linked by narrow wooden walkways. The Tanka community lives and works on fish-breeding rafts at the Xincun fishing port, where each morning, fishermen return through the mist to unload the previous night's catch, continuing a fishing tradition that has endured for more than 500 years.

In recent years, the community has begun developing bed-and-breakfast services, offering visitors local seafood, fishing experiences, and traditional Tanka cultural activities.