Wenchang was first established as Zibei County in 110 BC during the Western Han Dynasty, boasting a recorded history of over 2,100 years. It ranks among Hainan’s three ancient counties and is the birthplace of Hainan Minnan culture, famed for its time-honored tradition of valuing education.

It is widely known as China’s Hometown of Overseas Chinese. More than 1.2 million Wenchang-origin overseas Chinese live in over 60 countries and regions worldwide, blending Southeast Asian Nanyang customs with local Hainan traditions.

Wenchang holds the honorary title of the Nine Hometowns: Hometown of Coconuts, Overseas Chinese, Aerospace, Culture, Volleyball, Generals, Calligraphy, Longevity, and the Mother of the Nation (the ancestral home of Soong Ching-ling).