Tides surge in Wenchang city of Hainan province on Sept 29, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU - Nesat, the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, landed in South China's Hainan province Thursday afternoon.

Packing winds of 42 meters per second at its center, it made landfall in the township of Wengtian in Wenchang City at 2:30 pm

The province has recalled ships, suspended flight and ferry services and closed schools to brace for Nesat, which is the 17th typhoon to hit China this year.

To ensure the safety of the children, all kindergartens, primary and middle schools in Haikou, capital of Hainan, suspended classes from Thursday noon to Friday.

Passenger ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait have been suspended since Wednesday, while railway services stopped Thursday morning.

Meilan Airport in Haikou canceled 49 flights Thursday, while 18 were canceled in the city of Sanya.

Hainan has stopped selling bus tickets and encouraged passengers who plan to take buses in the next two days to return their tickets.

Chen Cheng, vice governor of the Hainan, ordered all fishing boats to return to harbor and fishermen to take shelter ashore.

In Wenchang, where the typhoon is expected to land Thursday afternoon, 2,606 fishing boats were recalled to harbor, while 31,323 people were evacuated.

The typhoon led to the death of at least 35 in the Philippines.