Beijing, Aug 3 (IANS): Tropical storm Jebi landed in south China's island province of Hainan Friday evening, bringing intense rain and strong gales that grounded flights and halted maritime traffic.

The ninth tropical storm to hit China this year, Jebi made landfall in Longlou township in Wenchang at 7.30 p.m., packing winds of up to 117 km per hour near its centre, Xinhua cited meteorological officials as saying.

Many parts of the island reported heavy rain, including the capital city of Haikou, where many roads were waterlogged.

In Longlou, strong winds felled trees and knocked down billboards. Many roadside stores were closed and very few pedestrians were seen on the streets.

"It was just like pouring water outside. The trees were shaking wildly, and motorbikes parked at the roadside were all blown down," a witness said.

The storm forced operations to cease on the island's high-speed railway, and shipping services on the Qiongzhou Strait, which connects Hainan and Guangdong provinces on the mainland.

Over 110 flights were cancelled and more than 6,000 passengers stranded in Sanya Phoenix international airport in the tourist city of Sanya.