Hainan was the first pilot province approved by the central government to carry out the reform of replacing multiple plans for provincial development with one master plan. 

In accordance with requirements of pilot reforms proposed by the central government, Hainan insists on unified planning and becoming both a big and scenic city. It wants to break the barriers of department and division segmentation, optimize space layout and resource allocation, and coordinate the six types of space planning, namely essential functions, ecological wealth, urban systems, land use, forest land protection and use, and marine functions.

Hainan seeks to resolve the contradiction between the various types of space planning, and delimit the various lines of control including the red lines for ecological protection, the lines of control for basic farmland, and those for forest land protection and boundaries.

Hainan Comprehensive Planning (2015-2030) has been compiled, drawing a blueprint for the unification of the whole province. It was approved and implemented by the State Council in November 2017, becoming the first provincial spatial planning to be approved by the top state administrative organization.

During the reform of replacing multiple plans for provincial development with one master plan, Hainan paid attention to implementing reform in line with the law. Provisions on the Protection and Development Management for the Coastal Zone of Hainan Special Economic Zone, Regulations on the Conservation of Ecological Wealth of Hainan Province, Decisions on Implementing of the General Planning of Hainan Province, as well as local laws and regulations concerning urban and rural planning, land management, forest management and sea area use have been issued and implemented by the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial People's Congress, forming a supporting legal and regulatory system for the reform.

It has introduced "Six Trials" reform measures in three different types of parks -- Haikou Mei'an Science and Technology New Town, Hainan Ecological Software Park, and Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone -- to simplify the administrative examination and approval procedures to the greatest extent, and reduce approval processes. In this way implementation of the projects has been sped up, and institutional transaction costs for enterprises have been greatly reduced.