When Was Coffee First Introduced to Hainan? New Evidence Points to 1898

When did coffee first arrive in Hainan? For decades, official records claimed it was 1908. But a living piece of history—century-old coffee trees still standing in Wenchang—tells a different story. Their existence forces us to reconsider the timeline of coffee’s introduction to southern China.

The earliest confirmed coffee planting in Hainan happened in 1898, not 1908. This date is supported by the age of living coffee trees descended from seeds brought back that year, as well as detailed oral histories from the planter’s descendants.

The 1898 Coffee Planting: A Family’s Account

Kwong Shik-ping, a 79-year-old resident of Shirenpo Village in Wenchang, shared a family story that rewrites coffee history. His grandfather, Kwong Shilien, left for Malaysia in 1898 after personal tragedies. Within six months, unable to adapt, he returned to Hainan—and with him, coffee seeds. By the time Kwong Shik-ping was born, at least three of those original plants were already growing on the family property. Local measurements of the old trees include trunk circumferences of 46.5 cm, 49.5 cm, and an impressive 77 cm. One of the trees, now hollowed out by termites but still alive, is estimated to be around 90 years old.

Surviving Trees and Lost Groves

In 2000, 12 of the original coffee trees were cut down during construction, but a stump remains. From it, new growth has emerged with a trunk circumference of 22 cm, leaf dimensions of 32 cm by 13 cm, and it continues to bear fruit. The coffee cherries produce large beans—2.3 cm long and 1.8 cm wide—identified as the Liberica variety (Coffea liberica). Kwong Shikping noted that the surviving 22 trees include three over 80 years old and 19 between 60 and 80 years old. Historical photos from a 1981 Hainan Daily article further document a celebrated “Coffee Tree King” with an 83-year lifespan at the time, still producing abundant fruit.

Early Records of Coffee in Hainan

Multiple historical sources support an earlier introduction timeline. The Guangdong Provincial Annals: Agricultural Reclamation Records state that in 1908, overseas Chinese brought coffee seeds to Danzhou, planting around 150,000 trees. However, these suffered frost damage in 1916. Later efforts included plantings by various companies across Wenchang, Chengmai, Danzhou, and other regions with both large and small-scale operations through the 1930s and 1940s. The 1956 Guangdong Hainan Tropical and Subtropical Resource Survey even claims coffee introduction began in Hainan as early as 1908, with additional trials dating back to 1884 in Taiwan. It details multiple coffee species introduced over the decades, including Robusta (C. robusta), Arabica (C. arabica), and Liberica (C. liberica), cultivated in locations such as Wenchang, Chengmai, and Dongfang. By the 1950s, coffee cultivation was spread across several counties with thousands of surviving trees, though many were poorly maintained.

Chen Xianzhang: The Man Who Industrialized Hainan Coffee

Beyond the first seeds, one man pioneered commercial coffee farming in Hainan: Chen Xianzhang. A patriotic overseas Chinese, Chen moved his entire family to Hainan in 1935. After surveying the island’s potential, he purchased over 1,400 acres in Fushan and founded the Fumin Farm—the first commercial crop farm in Chengmai County. By 1942, it produced over 4,000 kg (8,000 jin) of coffee, much of it the now-famous Fushan Coffee, which was exported as far as Shanghai and Hong Kong. Chen’s efforts inspired other investors to establish farms in the region, although many were later abandoned due to the Sino-Japanese War. Chen himself managed Fumin Farm for 15 years through turbulent times and helped supply critical coffee seed stock to emerging farms nationwide, including the Xinglong Farm in Wanning. His legacy firmly established Hainan as a historic coffee-growing region in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first planted in Hainan?

The earliest verified planting was in 1898, based on living trees grown from seeds brought back by Kwong Shilien that year. While official records often cite 1908, the age of existing trees and family testimonies confirm an earlier introduction.

What variety were the original Hainan coffee trees?

The original trees are identified as Coffea liberica, or Liberica variety. Some later plantings included Robusta (C. robusta), Arabica (C. arabica), and other species, but the surviving century-old trees are Liberica.

Who was Chen Xianzhang and what did he do for Hainan coffee?

Chen Xianzhang was an Indonesian-born overseas Chinese who relocated to Hainan in 1935. He developed the Fumin Farm in Fushan, producing Fushan Coffee and exporting it to major cities. He ran the farm for 15 years, survived wartime, and supplied coffee seeds to other farms, playing a central role in establishing commercial coffee production in Hainan.

Are any of the original 1898 coffee trees still alive?

Yes. Several trees from the original 1898 planting still exist in Shirenpo Village. Some are over 90 years old, with trunk circumferences measuring up to 77 cm. A stump from a group of 12 trees cut down in 2000 also sprouted new growth still bearing fruit.

Where can I find historical records about early coffee in Hainan?

Key sources include the 1956 Guangdong Hainan Tropical and Subtropical Resource Survey, the Guangdong Provincial Annals: Agricultural Reclamation Records, and a 1981 Hainan Daily feature on a 83-year-old “Coffee Tree King.” Local oral histories from the Kwong family also document the 1898 planting.

What impact did early coffee farming have on Hainan’s agriculture?

Early commercial efforts, especially by Chen Xianzhang, laid the foundation for Hainan’s place in China’s coffee history. Though many early plantations failed or were abandoned, they introduced key species and cultivation techniques, and some coffee varieties continue to grow in the region today.

FrontStreet Coffee Varieties Linked to Hainan’s Coffee Legacy

While no current FrontStreet Coffee offerings are grown in Hainan, the legacy of early Chinese coffee cultivation connects to broader global varieties. Try our FrontStreet Yirgacheffe for bright floral notes, FrontStreet PWN Golden Mandheling for classic Indonesian earthiness, and FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend for a bold, Liberica-like intensity. All are excellent representatives of the diverse coffee species and processing styles that trace back to the early 20th-century global coffee expansion. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.