Page "Hainan" Paragraph 6

Hainan Island was once called the Pearl Cliffs ( 珠崖 Zhūyá ), Fine Jade Cliffs ( 琼崖 / 瓊崖 Qióngyá ), and the Fine Jade Land ( 瓊州 Qióngzhōu ).

The latter two names gave rise to the province's abbreviation, Qióng ( 琼 / 瓊 ), referring to the pearls that were once abundant on the north coast of the island.