Qiongzhou Strait
The Qiongzhou Strait
Qiongzhou Strait
Coordinates	20°09′N 110°16′E / 20.150°N 110.267°E / 20.150; 110.267
Type	Strait
Basin countries	China
Max. width	30 km (19 mi)
Max. depth	120 m (390 ft)

Qiongzhou Strait
Qiongzhou Strait with Leizhou Peninsula in background viewed from Haikou on Hainan
Traditional Chinese	瓊州海峽
Simplified Chinese	琼州海峡
Postal	Kiungchow Strait
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qióngzhōu Hǎixiá Wade–Giles Chʻiung-chou Hai-hsia Southern Min Hainanese Romanization Khāng-tsiú Hái-kiap

The Qiongzhou Strait, also called the Hainan Strait, is the Chinese strait that separates Guangdong's Leizhou Peninsula from the island province of Hainan. It connects the Gulf of Tonkin on its west to the South China Sea on its east. The strait is on average 30 km (19 mi) wide^[1] with a maximum water depth of approximately 120 m (390 ft).^[2] The strait is susceptible to closure during strong typhoon activity.^[3]

Whales and dugongs were once common in the strait.^{[citation needed]}

History

The strait was crossed by the People's Liberation Army forces in the spring of 1950.

Transportation

The Guangdong–Hainan Ferry (part of the Guangdong–Hainan railway) carries rail cars and automotive vehicles across the strait.

While a bridge was planned in the early 2000s, it never came to fruition. A bridge or tunnel has been discussed, as of 2018, as travel by air or ferry can leave residents and visitors isolated when bad weather sets in.^[4]