How did migration from Fujian and Guangdong affect Hainan’s Indigenous peoples in the 16th and 17th centuries?

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Hainan experienced its first major period of significant settlement, driven by large-scale migration from Fujian and Guangdong provinces.1

This influx of mainland settlers had a direct impact on the island’s Indigenous Li peoples. As the newcomers established themselves in the northern uplands and plains, the Li were progressively displaced from these areas and pushed farther into the central and southern highlands of the island. This migration pattern contributed to the long-term demographic shift that eventually resulted in the Li population becoming concentrated in the south-central and southwestern regions of Hainan.12