China's First Coffee Plantings: The 1898 Hainan Evidence

When did coffee first arrive in Hainan? Most historical records claim 1908—but a living 124-year-old coffee tree and family testimony tell a different story. This investigation uncovers the earliest confirmed coffee planting in China, based on physical evidence and eyewitness accounts from the descendants of the original planter.

The earliest confirmed coffee planting in Hainan happened in 1898, not 1908. A 124-year-old coffee tree (still standing) and the account of its planter’s grandson, who recalls trees predating his birth, prove coffee reached Hainan a decade earlier than previously recorded.

The 1898 Coffee Planting: Eyewitness Proof

Historical texts have long stated that coffee was first introduced to Hainan in 1908. But physical evidence contradicts this: living coffee trees over a century old still grow in Wenchang City, and their planter’s family provides firsthand proof of earlier cultivation.

Kwong Ki-ping, grandson of the original planter, recounts that his grandfather, Kwong Sai-lin, brought coffee seeds back from Malaysia in 1898 after an unsuccessful stay abroad. He planted 12 seedlings at home in Wenchang, of which three survived for generations. Kwong Ki-ping, now 79, remembers these trees being mature before he was born. Local measurements show the surviving trees have trunk circumferences of 46.5 cm, 49.5 cm, and 77 cm. The largest tree, with a 77 cm trunk, has been hollowed out by termites but remains vigorous—estimated at around 90 years old.

Kwong’s family also confirmed that in 2000, 12 of the original trees were cut down during construction, but a stump remains. From this stump, new growth has thrived for over eight years, producing large coffee cherries. The surviving offspring are identified as Coffea liberica (Liberica variety), notable for their large beans and bold fruitiness.

A 1981 report in the Hainan Daily by journalist Chen Jinfu further documents a “coffee tree king” in the same village, confirmed to be 83 years old at the time—planted in 1898. This matches the family’s account and firmly places the introduction of coffee in Hainan in 1898, not 1908.

Early Historical Records of Coffee in Hainan

While popular history assigns 1908 as the starting year, official documents reveal fragmented attempts both before and after that date. These records highlight the scattered and often unsuccessful early efforts to cultivate coffee across Hainan.

The Guangdong Provincial Annals: Agricultural Reclamation (1908 entry) note that overseas Chinese merchant Tsang Wang-yuen introduced coffee seeds from Malaya to Danzhou’s Nada region, planting around 150,000 trees with cassava as shade. A frost in 1916 killed most of them. Later efforts included private companies like Mow Yuen (1930), which planted over 10,000 trees in Wenchang, and Yee Hing (1934), which planted 300,000 trees in Danzhou, yielding 1 ton of beans annually. However, many of these plantations struggled or disappeared due to mismanagement or natural disasters.

The 1956 Hainan Tropical-Subtropical Resource Survey adds that coffee was reportedly introduced to Taiwan in 1884, and to Hainan in 1908 by two companies importing seeds from Southeast Asia. Over time, various coffee species—including Liberica, Robusta, and Arabica—were trialed in Wenchang, Chengmai, Wanning, Baoting, and Yazhou. By the 1950s, most plantings were neglected and grew wild, except in a few areas like Chengmai’s Daji Village (40,000+ trees) and the former Yee Hing plantation sites. The survey noted a total of about 290,000 coffee trees island-wide by the early 1950s, with around 200 acres under formal management.

The Father of Chinese Coffee Industry: Chen Hin Cheung

While early plantings were scattered and often failed, one man pioneered commercial coffee farming in China: Chen Hin Cheung , an Indonesian Chinese patriot who established the first successful, export-oriented coffee enterprise in Hainan during 1935–1953.

In 1933, Chen returned from Indonesia to China with his large family and invested in Hainan’s agricultural potential. Recommended by business associates, he met with Hainan’s then-Director of Industry, Chu Chek-ngai, who encouraged him to explore the island. After surveying 13 counties, Chen selected the Fushan area for its fertile soil, reliable water, and mild climate. In September 1935, he purchased over 1,400 acres near Dajicun village and founded the Fumen Farm—the first commercial crop farm in Chengmai County.

By 1942, the farm harvested over 8,000 pounds of coffee. The beans, known for their unique flavor, were sold in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tianjin, launching the fame of “Fushan Coffee.” Chen’s success with the Robusta variety attracted other investors, leading to a short-lived boom of new farms in the area. Though most closed due to the Japanese invasion, Chen’s Fumen Farm endured for 15 years until liberation in 1950, by which time it had 1,100 acres under cultivation and 12,500 productive coffee trees.

Later, Chen was invited to consult at the Xinglong Overseas Chinese Farm in Wanning (1952–1953), where he supplied over 3,500 pounds of coffee seeds along with tens of thousands of cuttings for pepper, sisal, and sisal hemp. His Fumen Farm became a key seed source for early state-run coffee initiatives. Despite political persecution in later years, Chen’s legacy as the founder of China’s commercial coffee industry—and of Fushan Coffee—remains undisputed.

His family recounts that he introduced not just coffee, but also rubber, pepper, sisal, and potato seeds to Hainan. His two farms employed over a dozen permanent workers and supported a large extended family. Even today, his descendants remember the labor and vision behind Hainan’s first major coffee venture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year was coffee first introduced to Hainan?

Coffee was first introduced to Hainan in 1898, not 1908 as widely recorded. This is proven by a living 124-year-old coffee tree planted by Kwong Sai-lin, who brought seeds back from Malaysia that year, and by the testimony of his grandson, Kwong Ki-ping, who recalls the trees being mature before his birth.

What kind of coffee was first grown in Hainan?

The earliest confirmed coffee grown in Hainan is Coffea liberica (Liberica variety), a large-beaned species that is hardy and produces bold-flavored cherries. Surviving trees from the 1898 planting are identified as Liberica, and later plantings included Robusta and Arabica as well.

Who was Chen Hin Cheung and what did he do for coffee in China?

Chen Hin Cheung was an Indonesian Chinese patriot who established the first successful commercial coffee farm in Hainan (Fumen Farm, 1935). He pioneered export-oriented coffee production in China, cultivated Fushan Coffee, and supplied seeds for early state-led coffee efforts. His work laid the foundation for Hainan’s coffee industry.

Are any of the original 1898 coffee trees still alive?

Yes. Several coffee trees planted in 1898 by Kwong Sai-lin are still alive in Wenchang, Hainan. The largest has a trunk circumference of 77 cm and is estimated to be around 90 years old. Descendants of these trees continue to produce coffee cherries.

When did coffee farming become industrialized in Hainan?

Coffee farming began industrializing in Hainan in the 1930s with the establishment of private companies like Mow Yuen and Yee Hing, and truly took shape with Chen Hin Cheung’s Fumen Farm (1935). By the 1950s, Hainan had around 290,000 coffee trees, with 200 acres under organized management, mostly in Chengmai and Danzhou.

Where can I see old coffee trees in Hainan today?

Some of the original 1898 coffee trees and their descendants can still be found near the village of Shirenpo, Wenchang City, Hainan. Though many were cut down in 2000, some remain standing or have regrown from stumps, and are visited by coffee historians.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee History Fans

Explore the origins of Chinese coffee with FrontStreet’s single-origin offerings. The Ethiopia Humbera (Sidamo region) delivers bright citrus and floral tones typical of highland Arabicas, while the Yirgacheffe offers juicy berry and stone fruit layers—both varieties that contrast with early Hainan’s Liberica. For a bolder taste closer to historic plantings, try the Brazil Queen Manor (Natural process), with its nutty, chocolatey profile akin to older robusta-style coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.