The typhoon was expected to make landfall later on Friday along the coastal areas from Hainan -- a popular holiday destination -- to neighbouring Guangdong province, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said, citing authorities.
The ministry of water resources on Thursday raised its emergency response to flooding in both provinces to the third-highest tier.
"Yagi is likely to be the strongest typhoon to hit China's southern coast since 2014, making flood and prevention work very challenging," Xinhua said, according to a meeting held by flood officials.
Packing wind speeds of more than 240 kilometres (149 miles) per hour, the typhoon "is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane", according to NASA Earth Data.
In Hong Kong, which experienced heavy rains overnight as Yagi passed within 400 kilometres, the city's third-highest typhoon warning will be in place until 12:40 pm (0440 GMT).
Trading at Hong Kong's stock exchange was suspended Friday, while schools remained closed and public transportation across the finance hub was limited.
Authorities said three people were injured, but the damage was limited as rains continued to pelt the city Friday.
Southern China is frequently hit during the summer and autumn seasons by typhoons that form in the warm oceans east of the Philippines and then travel west.
But climate change has made tropical storms more unpredictable while increasing their intensity -- bringing heavy rains and violent gusts that lead to flash floods and coastal damage, experts say.
Earlier this week, Yagi had triggered floods and landslides on the main Philippine island of Luzon and killed at least 13 people.
After moving through southern China, it will head for Vietnam, on course to hit the northern and north-central regions around the famed UNESCO heritage site Halong Bay on Saturday.
Vietnamese authorities have already urged around 2,200 tourists on coastal islands to return to the mainland on Thursday, and mobilised more than 2,700 military personnel to help typhoon preparation.
burs-hol/dhc/mca
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