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    The Wonders of Hainan Island

    Written by: Feng Yang
    Posted on: March 08, 2018 | | 中文

    Sanya, Hainan (Source: Luxurio)

    With rich and unique natural tourism resources, Hainan Island is a very popular destination for domestic and overseas tourists. In fact, the city of Sanya in Hainan, has been rated by The New York Times as one the 52 Places to Go to in 2017.

    As “An International Tourism Island,” Hainan has hosted many international exhibitions, conferences and events. In December 2017, the FINA World Aquatics Gala “Soirée des Etoiles” made its debut in China, at Sanya. More than 1000 top athletes, from around the world, gathered in Sanya, at the gala of aquatic sports.

    Wanning Dragon Boat Race

    Wanning Dragon Boat Race (Source: Explore Hainan)

    Many other such international events are held in Hainan including the Miss World Final, International Beach Music Festival, World Surfing Games, Round Hainan Regatta?Round Hainan Road Cycling Race, Guanlan Lake Golf Star Game, Haikou and Danzhou International Marathon. Hainan has become an international communication and exchange platform. By now, the cities of Hainan have set up sister city-relationship, with 54 cities in foreign countries.

    As Hainan becomes more famous, its infrastructure is also getting upgraded. Expressway and high-speed rail, which run around the island, have been put into operation, leading to a boom of tourism in the province. In Qionghai, Qiongzhong and Baoting, rural roads have been built linking the villages, bike sharing is provided for country tours, and more standard toilets for tourists have been built. Guests to the Boao Forum for Asia found more highlights at the permanent venue. More and more idyllic towns with Hainan characteristics have been repaired or built up, such as Beireng, Tayang, and Zhongyuan. High-end medical tourism products, featuring stem cell therapy and rehabilitation are coming into being, and cluster in the Boao Yuecheng Medical Tourism Pilot Area.

    The Headquarters of Boao Forum for Asia, Hainan

    The Headquarters of Boao Forum for Asia, Hainan (Source: Sunny Hainan)

    In recent years, the province has been expanding its opening-up, by providing special policies and services, such as visa-free entry, shopping tax refund or exemption, cruise home port, houseboat, guessing lottery, and so on. Anna, a Russian girl, is a frequent visitor to Hainan. In recent years, she has started to consider settling down here. From a tourist to a permanent resident, what impress her most are the changes in the local language environment. She says, “When I first came to Sanya, few people could speak Russian. After two years, many hotels started to offer Russian introduction, and more Russian restaurants were set up. Now, even the civil servants have begun to learn foreign languages.”

    As a well-known tourism destination in China, Hainan not only enjoys unique coastal vacation resources, but also boasts a rich historical culture, and ethnic customs. It has built up three grand festivals, including Hainan International Tourism Island Carnival, Folk Valentine’s Day of Ethnic Li and Miao People (the 3rd day of March in lunar calendar), and Wanning and Lingshui Chinese Longzhou (Dragon Boat) Tournament.

    Traditional dance by Li and Miao people

    Traditional dance by Li and Miao people (Source: Chris Travel Blog)

    “Hainan’s gourmet and scenery make me very excited. The beautiful beach and special wedding culture has left a lifetime impression! I would love to bring my family and friends to experience it,” says Dorien from Australia, at the 2017 “I’m In Hainan” Tourism International Promotion Event, when asked to share her experience.

    George Driss is a retired engineer from Belgium. After touring Hainan, he says, “The days I spent in Qionghai are the most comfortable and happiest days in my visit to Hainan. It was so clean, the streets were so neat, and the people were so friendly.” As China’s first “demo province for holistic tourism,” Hainan’s development has brought tourists more pluralistic tourism products and experience, by making all the areas on the island the best tourist destinations for sightseeing and leisure. Ms. Li, a tourist from Dazhou of Sichuan, China, has stayed in Qionghai city for over a month. She says, Qionghai does not have any large scenic spot, however there are attractive sceneries to be found everywhere.

    A farmer collects vegetables in Jiaji Town, Qionghai, Hainan

    A farmer collects vegetables in Jiaji Town, Qionghai, Hainan (Source: Xinhua)

    The development of distinctive towns and leisure farms is even more impressive. With the help of holistic tourism and “international tourism island plus,” Hainan has built up 100 distinctive towns and 1000 beautiful villages, which combine ecological resorts, farming experience and ethnic culture, and integrate the functions of sightseeing, relaxation, vacationing, regimen and shopping.

    Last autumn, Ilona Pankova and her friends from Moscow flew to Sanya and made a special visit to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to see, “an old TCM doctor.” Thanks to the special climate, international tourism resources and years of experience, Hainan has successfully developed TCM health tourism, into a new attraction for foreign tourists.

    A Russian child with cerebral palsy gets treatment in Sanya TCM Hospital

    A Russian child with cerebral palsy gets treatment in Sanya TCM Hospital (Source: China Daily)

    So for those who want to visit Hainan, there is always a reason to be found: waiting for the sunset on a beach with a cup of tea in hand, watching a lively international sporting event, experiencing the folk customs of ethnic li or miao at villages, or just relaxing in a health resort.

    Translated by Xu Donglin


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

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    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
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    January 2021