Hainan: China's Hawaii

Hainan is what many Chinese officials hope will one day be known as the world's "Hawaii of the Orient." In January, 2010, China's State Council laid out plans to turn the once little-known agricultural island into an international tourist hotspot by 2020.

China's Hainan Province lies in the South China Sea, not far from the coast of Guangdong Province. The province is comprised of the main island "Hainan Dao" as well as other smaller islands scattered off of China's southern coast.

The Boao Forum for Asia (a yearly forum for Asian and world leaders to discuss issues related to Asia and the world) is held yearly in Hainan. The Miss World beauty pageant has also been held several times in Hainan.

While still a leading source of vegetables and tropical fruit for mainland China and other nearby regions, much of the land once used for producing food has given way to urban expansion. Housing developments, transportation infrastructure projects, and resorts sprawled across beaches are all forming the new face of Hainan. In addition to blue water, white sandy beaches, and palm trees dotting the shore, the island also contains tropical rain forests, hot springs, and mountains.

Efforts have been made to court foreign tourists, especially Russians and Japanese, to visit a tropical island that is closer (and in theory, less expensive) than Hawaii or Bali. World class golf courses (such as Mission Hills) have been carved out of the fertile soil, and multinational hotel chains such as Ritz Carlton Sanya and the Sheraton in Haikou have planted roots.

With its fresh seafood and tropical temperatures, the People's Government of Hainan says Hainan has attracted tourists from both mainland China and other countries. No visas are needed for mainland Chinese to visit, and transportation links - mostly by air - make getting to and from Hainan an affordable, convenient tourist option.

Each year many elderly and more wealthy mainlanders with property in Hainan escape to the island when the cold of winter begins blowing through northern China. Mainlanders and international investors have begun speculating on properties on the island, leading to higher prices and worries of over-development.

At a January 6, 2010 press conference, Hainan Communist Party Chief Wei Liucheng answered questions concerning rising housing prices in Hainan, and the potential impact of Hainan's international tourist destination designation on Hong Kong.

Sources: english.gov.cn, hainan.gov.cn