South China University of Tropical Agriculture is closely integrated with Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, focusing on the research, teaching and development of tropical agriculture. It is the only comprehensive agricultural university in China with distinctive tropical characteristics, integrating agriculture, engineering, management, management, literature and law.

1954 south China institute of special forestry was established in Shamian, Guangzhou, and on this basis, south China institute of subtropical crop science and south China institute of tropical crops were established in 1958. 1965 south China subtropical crops research institute was renamed as "south China tropical crops research institute", 1994 was renamed as "China academy of tropical agricultural sciences". 1996, South China Tropical Crops College was renamed as "South China University of Tropical Agriculture". Because of the close relationship, it is called "thermal agricultural college" or "two houses" for short.

Since 2000, the university has changed from an agricultural college under the Ministry of Agriculture to a management system established by the central and local governments and led by Hainan Province. The school is located in Hainan Province, which is full of tropical scenery and unique customs, including Danzhou Campus and Haikou Campus. The total land area of the training base is more than 60,000 mu.