Establishment of the Administrative Office

On March 24, 1959, the Chinese government set up on Yongxing Dao the Office of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao. On March 4, 1969, the Office was renamed the Revolutionary Committee of Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao of Guangdong Province. In October 1981, Nanhai Fleet established Xisha Maritime Police for garrison duty of Xisha Qundao.

On November 6, 1981, with the approval of the State Council, the Revolutionary Committee of Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao was renamed to "Guangdong Provincial Office for Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao" (county level), as an attached office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and under the direct leadership of the Administrative Office Hainan District, Guangdong Province. In April 1983, the Chinese Committee of Geographical Names was authorized to publish the standard names of some islands and reefs in Nanhai Zhudao, amounting to 287 in total. On May 31, 1984, China decided to set up the Administrative Region of Hainan, placing Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao, and Zhongsha Qundao under its jurisdiction. On April 13, 1988, the Decision on the Establishment of Hainan Province was adopted at the First Session of the Seventh National People's Congress of China. After the establishment of Hainan Province, Nanhai Zhudao was placed under its jurisdiction, and the administrative unit was renamed Hainan Province. On September 19, 1988, "The Administrative Office of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao" was officially renamed "Hainan Provincial Administrative Office of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao." In March 1989, China established the "Nansha Frontline Command" for coordinating the fortifications, civil engineering, patrolling, defense, supply transportation and investigation. On August 2, monuments denoting Chinese sovereignty were erected on Yongshu Jiao, Chigua Jiao, Huayang Jiao, Nanxun Jiao, Zhubi Jiao and Dongmen Jiao. 

On December 25, 2006, the Working Committee of Xisha Qundao held a meeting of residents and fishermen in Yongxing Dao and elected three directors of the village committee for managing the Neighborhood Committee of Yongxing Dao. On November 8, 2009, the villages of Yongxing Dao and Zhaoshu Dao held their respective village assembly and elected the southernmost grass-root governmental agencies of China, the villagers' committee of Yongxing Dao and that of Zhaoshu Dao, both under the administrative office of Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Qundao.

On June 21, 2012, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China promulgated the "Notice of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the Approval of the State Council for Establishing the Prefecture-level Sansha City": Recently, the State Council has approved the abolition of the Administrative Office of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao and the simultaneous establishment of prefecture-level Sansha City with jurisdiction over the islands and reefs of Xisha Qundao, Nansha Qundao and Zhongsha Qundao and the relevant waters. The seat of the People's Government of Sansha City was based in Yongxing Dao. In July 23rd the same year, the first people's Congress of Sansha City, Hainan Province was held in the Yongxing Dao, and the organs of power for the city were elected according to law.