From December 1st to December 5th, a special event was held in Hainan and attended by diplomats from 19 countries including the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Seychelles and The Republic of Zimbabwe.
This event aimed to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation, showcase Hainan’s rich cultural and tourism resources to the world, share the stories of how Hainan put the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” into practice, inherited intangible cultural heritage, and spurred cultural and tourism consumption vitality through “N+tourism”. Diplomats have appreciated the beautiful scenery of intertwined mountains and rivers and the integration of culture and tourism in Haikou, Wanning, Baoting and Sanya, deeply exploring the common prosperity brought by the beautiful landscape, and cultural and tourism integration.
Diplomats based in China participated in the 2023 “Discover China Cultural Tour” of Hainan at their first stop in Hainan. In addition, on the first day, they attended the opening ceremony of the Carnival of Hainan, China.
Hainan is a province surrounded by the sea and covered by coconut trees. On the second day of their visit, these diplomats went to the “Shimei Bay”, which is known as the most beautiful highway. Walking along the Shimei Bay, they could see vast ocean waves on the one side and dense forest on the other side, and listen to the sound of waves and the rustling of coconut trees.
On the most beautiful highway, diplomats exclaimed that the beauty of China was beyond description, and the natural scenery here impressed them a lot. The coconut trees on the roadside and the ocean far away all made people relaxed and happy. Walking along the roads in Wanning not only led us to the destination, but also presented a journey to enjoy the beautiful scenery. If there were a chance, I would bring my friends back here together.
The beauty of Hainan goes far beyond the sea and coconut trees. There is the only tropical rainforest in China here located at 18° north latitude -- the Yanoda Rainforest.
Yanoda Tropical Rainforest Scenic Area is famous for the flourishing trees, clear streams, and spectacular waterfalls. The sunlight broke through the gaps and sparkled on the winding path, giving the lush tropical plants a golden tinge. The charming scenery along the way brought these diplomats into a mysterious fairyland and they were marveled by the beauty and wonder of nature. Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, the Ambassador of Pakistan to China who came to Baoting for the first time, said that the weather and scenery here was so enchanting that he fell in love with this place and looked forward to closer cooperation with Hainan in culture and tourism in the future.
During their journey in Baoting, diplomats not only appreciated the beauty of nature, but also deeply experienced Hainan’s ethnic culture in the Hainan Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park here. They saw the traditional handicrafts and different architectural style in the Li culture with their own eyes, and felt the unique charm of this ancient nationality. Diplomats experienced Li’s ethnic bamboo and rattan weaving skills, and learned traditional weaving methods. Under the guidance of experienced local masters, they wove bamboo baskets and rattan chairs themselves. Subsequently, the diplomats watched a wonderful folk performance. This performance included various traditional art forms in Hainan, including Lusheng Dance, Miao clay sculpture, and Li Ethnic Spinning Top. These unique performances and skills impressed diplomats and sparked heated discussions and received favorable comments. They all expressed that this skill had given them a deeper understanding of the ethnic culture in Hainan. After returning, they would share the videos with their friends, giving them insights into Hainan’s ethnic minority culture.
In Hainan, visitors can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery, but can also feel the joy of shopping in the Sanya International Duty-Free Shop. All diplomats thought highly of the Shop for its variety of goods, elegant environment, and first-class facilities. They all said that this was the first time they had experienced the charm of duty-free shopping in China, and felt the prosperity and vitality of China’s tourism industry.
One of the diplomats exclaimed that Sanya International Duty-Free Shop was really a magical place, where the variety of goods, the comfortable shopping environment, and the complete facilities were all beyond his imagination. He also said that through this experience, he had a better understanding of China and a greater appreciation of China’s economic development and modernization.
In addition, diplomats also experienced different culture in the entertainment areas of the Duty-Free Shop. They tasted some Chinese cuisine and Hainan specialties, and also appreciated traditional Chinese performance art. These unique experiences enriched their understanding of Chinese culture and the customs of Hainan.
Moreover, during their journey in Sanya, diplomats visited Wuzhizhou Island and Nanshan, feeling the unique charm of the tropical islands and Buddhist culture in China.
On Wuzhizhou Island, diplomats saw the clear seawater and colorful tropical fish, and were amazed by the first diving base in China. They followed the winding path on the island and admired the beautiful scenery of Wuzhizhou Island featured by rich and unique tourism resources.
At Nanshan, diplomats visited the Buddhist temple where Master Jianzhen of the Tang Dynasty stayed during his eastward journey, gaining a deeper insight of the long history of Nanshan and the culture of longevity and happiness. They also appreciated the magnificent Nanshan Guanyin Holy Statue and experienced the profound Chinese Buddhist culture. What’s more, they tasted special delicacies such as Nanshan Vegetarian food, exposing their taste buds to Chinese Buddhist culture.
“This is a very meaningful trip. I experienced the beautiful scenery and rich history and culture, and also felt the rapid cultural and tourism development in Hainan,” said H.E. Mr. Sergio Cabrera, Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in China.
The Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to China stated that he would like to promote Hainan to the people of his country and invite them to come here to learn pioneering practice in integrating culture with tourism.
The 5-day visit of diplomats to Hainan was an innovative and practical experience in telling the story of China in Hainan. Diplomats stepped on the land of Hainan, realizing the charm of the history and culture, and experiencing the unique features of this place in the new era. During this trip, diplomats learned about Hainan’s economic development and policy advantages, which also brought more development opportunities to Hainan’s tourism. They accelerated the pace of building an international tourism consumption center and assisted in the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. At the same time, by joining in various activities, diplomats also gained a profound understanding of China’s history, culture, and tourism resources. This event enabled them to have better knowledge about China and provided opportunities for cultural exchange and tourism cooperation between China and other countries around the world.