Hainan closes outdoor scenic spots for tropical storm

Hainan province is famous for its seascape. Because of the tropical storm Mujigae, some of its coastal tourist destinations will be?closed on Sunday. [File photo]

The island province of Hainan, south China, shut some of its coastal tourist destinations Saturday as it braces for the tropical storm Mujigae, which is expected to land on Sunday.

Tourism departments in the provincial capital Haikou and Sanya, the southernmost city on the island, have closed all mountain activities over safety concerns.

At 7 am Saturday, the storm was detected at 18.4 degrees north latitude and 115.9 degrees east longitude, packing strong winds of up to 100.8 km per hour.

The storm is forecast to move northwest at a speed of 20 km per hour until it reaches the shores in Hainan and nearby Guangdong province on Sunday morning.

The tropical storm coincides with China's seven-day-long National Holiday, and many tourists are vacationing on the island.

More than 80,000 people visited the province on Friday, up 8.65 percent from the same period a year ago, statistics from the province show.

Provincial authorities also suspended trains and ferries between the island and the mainland on Friday night and ordered all boats to return to harbor by 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Airports in the province are also expected to readjust flights and make arrangements for stranded passengers.