Hainanese (ethnic group)

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The Hainanese (meaning the Han Chinese settlers of the island's east coast) is a Chinese ethnic group, originating from Hainan Island (the southernmost and smallest Chinese province). The Hainanese are considered a subgroup of the much larger Han ethnicity (which makes up 91% of China's population).

Much of the population of the Hainanese people, along with the Hakka, Cantonese and Hoklo (Hokkien) peoples is now in diaspora. In many Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia (where they were known as Hailam) they were never the dominant Chinese ethnic group.

Most Hainanese people were originally fisher people from the Fujian and Guangdong provinces who later settled in the island of China's smallest province. Towards the turn of the 20th century, many of them migrated to the various Southeast Asian countries where they worked as cooks, restaurateurs, coffeeshop owners, sailors and hoteliers. In fact, the person who actually created the world-famous Singapore Sling at the renowned Singapore Raffles Hotel, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon, was himself a Hainanese.

The Hainanese are also known for their signature dishes such as the Hainanese Chicken Rice, Hainanese Pork Chops, Hainanese Mutton Soup, Hainanese Salted Fish Soup and Beef Noodle Soup. In Singapore, one can find some of these signature dishes served at the various eateries located along Purvis Street - which is often referred to as "Singapore's Hainan Street".