Tax Free Incentives Give Impetus to Hainan Tourism Destination

Hainan launched an offshore duty-free policy on April 20 as part of its efforts to build the island into a tourist and shopping attraction. This is the second breakthrough since Hainan Hainan Island has introduced an exit VAT refund policy on January 1 this year.

The offshore duty-free policy means both tourists visiting the island and local residents are able to purchase tax-free commodities from designated shops before flying to other destinations in China.

The policy sets the rebate cap on commodities worth no more than 5,000 yuan ($765) for each purchase. Eligible tourists, those 18 years and older, can purchase tax-free commodities twice a year, while island residents can purchase such commodities once a year.

The offshore duty-free policy aims at domestic tourists, so it is regarded as one of the major measures to attract travelers and promote the economic development of the island. The policy is part of the province's plan to build the island into a world-recognized tourist destination, China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement released on its website last month.

The tax-free shop in Sanya, managed by the China Duty Free Group, has a shopping area of 7,000 square meters and offers 18 types of imported commodities, including jewelry, handicrafts, watches, perfumes and cosmetics. It is the only shop of this kind in Hainan and China to carry on an offshore duty-free policy and Exit VAT refund policy till now.

Exit VAT refund policy in Hainan is not the same as the "duty-free" or "tax-free" offers available at airports, on planes, or on ships. According to the tax plan, foreign tourists or citizens from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived in China's mainland for no more than 183 days can receive a rebate of 11 percent of consumer goods purchased within 90 days before departing the island. The rebate covers 324 items that fall into 21 categories such as clothing, shoes, hats, cosmetics, clocks, watches, jewelry, electronics, stationery, sporting goods, medical instruments and furniture.

According to official statistics, Hainan province has five Exit VAT refund stores: Shengsheng Department Store and Minsheng Department Store in Haikou, and Summer Day Department Store,Yifang Department Store and the International Shopping center in Sanya, the most famous tourist destination on the island.

"These two policies have some similarities to the promotion of Hainan international tourism Island construction, but there are a lot of differences between them." Lv Yong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Financial Department said. From the background, the departure tax is a common practice in the world, implemented in dozens of countries, regardless of experience or specific practices and is relatively mature, with the benefit of the experience of a large number of ready references. The tax-free policy implemented in the Okinawa Islands, Jeju Island and a few areas worldwide, has little experience for reference, and it is still being explored.
Others Comments:
The program's launch makes Hainan the fourth island in the world to implement a tax-rebate scheme. While offering a better shopping environment for tourists, the program will also boost the development of the island province as an international tourist destination.---Ms.Du Liyin, Director of the Sanya Tourism and Development Commission.

The three policies can be conceived as a goods-for-services or consumption for development experiment. They are aimed at stimulating consumption in return for development of the local tourism industry and other related services.
China Duty Free Group, the exclusive duty free operator in Hainan, needs to introduce into Hainan competition of different brands of duty free products, and at the same time build up its own competitive edge compared with other countries' duty free operators.
--- Xu Li,Director of the policy review division of Beijing WTO Affairs Center

"I think its more at ease to buy things in the franchise stores designated by the government."Mr. Duan, Tourist

"The tax policy of the Islands was finally extended to the domestic people who come to Hainan, there are more than 1.3 billion Chinese, much more than foreigners visited Hainan! Mr. Wang , University student

Hainan's cruise industry to ride wave of tourism growth

A cruise ship is anchored at the Sanya Phoenix International Cruise Terminal. (Photo: Wu Wei)

The 12th China Cruise Industry Development Conference closed in Sanya, south China’s Hainan province, recently.

Representatives from cruise companies home and abroad, tourism industries and local government attended the conference to discuss the future development of Hainan’s cruise industry.

Hainan, the southern island of China known for its tropical climate and alluring seas, has attracted more than 60 million tourists in 2016, according to official data.

Against this backdrop, how to upgrade Hainan’s cruise industry and benefit from its fast growing tourism has become the focus of the conference.

Hainan has made great efforts to improve the infrastructure of the cruise industry, optimizing the construction of Haikou Port and Sanya Phoenix International Cruise Terminal and improving the cruise berths' condition.

The capacity of cruise terminals in Hainan is expected to reach one million people by 2020.

Some representatives at the conference also suggest that Hainan should strengthen the cooperation with other coastal cities, such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

As one of the earliest provinces that develop cruise tourism in China, Hainan has seen a fast growth in cruise industry thanks to favored policies.

Source: Xinhuanet| 2017-12-15 15:52:50|Editor: Zhou Xin

Hainan to accelerate tourism towns construction and bring in foreign investment

BEIJING, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- South China’s Hainan province will take measures to advance construction of tourism towns and villages, as well as to attract foreign investment, reported the Xinhua-run Shanghai Securities News.

Department of natural resources and planning of the province vowed to deepen policy innovation for rural land use, support infrastructure construction, and improve rural ecological environment to boost tourism, the report said.

In the meantime, the department will introduce one or two world-renowned planning firms for drawing on international practices, thus facilitate the bringing in of foreign investment, according to the report.

The department will also innovate policies and service to create business friendly environment in Hainan, said the report. (Edited by Su Dan, Niu Huizhe)

Direct flights, visa free, Hainan free trade zone promoted in London

The inaugural flight of the new Sanya-London direct air route landed at the Heathrow Airport in London at 6:30 p.m. BST on July 12th, 2018. The maiden flight marked the commencement of a direct, twice-a-week service between Sanya and London by China Southern Airlines.

Many public officials and media members attended the welcome ceremony, including Mao Chaofeng, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee; Wang Changshun, Chairman and Party Committee Secretary of China Southern Airlines; Zhu Qin, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission of the Chinese Embassy in the UK; and Chris Garton, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow Airport.

The maiden voyage carried 214 passengers on a non-stop flight from Sanya’s Phoenix International Airport on July 12th, 2018.

Mao Chaofeng, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee

Mao Chaofeng extended his congratulations for the launch of the new route, noting that the launch of the Sanya-London route will help draw more visitors from the UK who might spend their holidays in Sanya, and that the project might also entice UK-based companies to invest and establish facilities in the city.

“The new flight will help Hainan deepen communication, trade, and cultural and tourism exchange with the UK and Europe. The project also contributes to Hainan’s status as an international free-trade zone,” Mr. Mao added.

The following peak summer season, the new route may attract Chinese tourists, including family visitors, study tours, and business travelers.

2018 Hainan Free Trade Zone (London) Integrated Promotion Conference

On the day, the 2018 Hainan Free Trade Zone (London) Integrated Promotion Conference was held at the Landmark London in London. More than 160 guests attended the event, including Mao Chaofeng, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee; Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom; representatives from the British government and business association institutions; representatives from the British tourism industry and representatives from Hainan tourism delegation and media outlets.

The promotional event is an important step towards implementing Hainan’s strategy to allow travelers from 59 countries to enjoy visa-free access to Hainan and will help enhance the awareness of Hainan as an international tourism island.

 

Mao Chaofeng, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee

Mao Chaofeng, member of the Hainan Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial Committee gave a general introduction to Hainan Island. He said, as China’s only tropical island province, Hainan has many advantages such as tourism resources, transportation and preferential policies that will help with the development of its tourism industry.

Hainan province has recorded an increasing number of international tourists in recent years. The launch of the Sanya-London route will surely help increase visitors to Hainan and provide convenient travel for British citizens seeking to enjoy the unique features of the island province.

 

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom said, Hainan is facilitating the construction of China’s Free Trade Zone (Port). The new flight is significant for the accelerating development of the “golden era” of relations between China and the UK.

Sun Ying, Director of the Hainan Tourism Development Commission

During the conference, Sun Ying, Director of the Hainan Tourism Development Commission gave detailed introduction to the Hainan’s diversified tourism resources and tour products, including visa-free policy for tourists from 59 countries, overseas air network layout, local sea water sightseeing routes, and more.

A Dong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sanya Municipal Committee and Mayor of Sanya Municipal Government attended the promotional event.

Julia Morley, CEO of the Miss World Organization, sent an invitation to London citizens to gather at the 2018 Miss World Final in Sanya.

Julia Morley,  CEO of the Miss World Organization, who had previously visited Sanya, extended an invitation to attendees by telling her personal staying experience in the city. She said: “Sanya is a beautiful tropical coastal resort city in China with breathtaking sights and safe tourism environment and the local citizenry is gentle. At the event, she announced the plan to host the 2018 Miss World pageant in Sanya on December 8th, 2018 and sent an invitation to London citizens, welcoming them to visit the tropical seaside holiday destination.

Relax, and soak up the sun in Hainan

AFTER landing in Haikou and then travelling south by train to the beaches of Sanya in southern Hainan, I concluded that this Chinese tropical island has two distinct faces.

I’d landed at Haikou’s Meilan Airport on a bleak and rain-swept afternoon, and wondered if that was a portentous sign of what was to come.

But pure, unadulterated sunshine greeted me on Sanya Bay’s golden sands the very next morning.

It’s no wonder that, when it’s cold and bleak in northern China, Hainan is the place in the sun to which the Chinese flock. Perhaps it’s also not surprising, then, that Hainan has earned itself a nickname – the Hawaii of China.

Sanya’s tourism industry has boomed in the last decade and the bubble isn’t about to burst. With scores of luxurious resorts (big names include the Banyan Tree and Sheraton Resorts) and 50 more planned, Hainan sure is shaping up as a destination to note for other Asian countries.

While most just relax on the white sandy beaches, others come to experience adventurous water sports like jet skiing, snorkelling or scuba diving in the clear waters of the South China Sea.

Yalong Bay Dive at Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Resort, where I stayed, for example, organises one-on-one, instructor-guided dives from a platform anchored off the bay.

The beginner’s dive costs S$90. Serious divers are taken further afield for two dives, costing S$170.

For a while, though, I just lounged in the lap of luxury in my private villa at the resort, which had a plunge pool, relaxation sala and a separate TV room. That all held me back – momentarily – from exploring the beach. As the resort isn’t immediately on the sands, a cart whisked lazy ol’ me to a private beach with a stretch of shade umbrellas.

But beach activities aren’t all that’s on offer in Hainan.

Here, golf is developing in tandem with tourism. With over 15 courses and more planned, Hainan has many challenging fairways and complex greens to navigate.

With Yalong Bay Golf Club (www.yalongbaygolfclub.com) just a short chip shot from the resort, it was this course that I chose to conquer.

Clubhouse facilities match the excellent course conditions and, while the sea breeze will play havoc with some golfers’ games, it will keep others feeling feeling cool and refreshed.

Before you hit the resort lifestyle, though, think about staying at the Pullman Oceanview for a couple of nights.

This gives you easy access to some beaches, and also allows you to explore the town of Sanya.

Visiting the First Market in downtown Sanya is a must as it brims with seafood snacks, local fruit, clothes, CDs, DVDs, tea, watches and electrical goods.

The streets near the market are lined with restaurants that specialise in fresh and delicious seafood dishes. In the evenings, head down to Pub Street near the banks of the Sanya River.

The Pullman Oceanview – located close to the train station – is also notable for another thing: its One Cantonese restaurant. If you visit, make sure you order the chef’s special pork dish with sweet and crispy skin, and durian turnovers. The Red Sun Bar with its semi-open ambience on the top of the building is one of the best places to enjoy a Tsing Tao beer at sunset.

The author is a freelance writer based in Kuala Lumpur. His trip was sponsored by Jetstar.

HELPDESK
Tropical island: 热带岛屿 rè dài dǎo yǔ 
White sandy beaches: 白沙滩 bái shā tān 
Fairways: 高尔夫球道 gāo ěr fū qiú dào 
Turnovers: 糖三角 táng sān jiǎo

Going to Sanya

FLIGHTS

HAINAN, just 50km from mainland China, is a short flight away from Singapore.

With direct flights on Jetstar (www.jetstar.com), visitors can consider the new and exciting beachside destination of Hainan for beach trips.

Jetstar flies to Haikou using new Airbus aircraft four times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and the journey takes just over three hours.

Return flights depart from Haikou early in the evening, allowing for a full, final day’s relaxation by the beaches of Sanya.

GETTING THERE

The new Haikou to Sanya fast train takes just 90 minutes and costs S$20 for one way, with the station located conveniently below Meilan Airport near Haikou.

Driving takes four hours and it can be a nerve-racking experience.

STAY

Pullman has resorts in Sanya and at Yalong Bay (www.pullmanhotels.com). Stay a few days in each to enjoy the pleasures of two different beaches.

Sanya is more city-based while Yalong is more resort-style.

Both have excellent facilities and immediate access to long golden beaches.

Choose a private villa at Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa and deluxe room in the recently opened Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa.

OTHER INFORMATION

For more information on Hainan – such as where to go to eat and what to do and see – visit the official tourism website at http://en.visithainan.gov.cn/ hainanTourismEn/

SANYA TOURISM CHIEF WANTS INT’L AIRPORTS IN HAINAN, MSAR

China’s tourism city Sanya, Hainan is looking for a deeper cooperation with Macau in regards to tourism.

On Tuesday, Sanya’s tourism development committee held a campaign in Macau to promote tourism in Sanya.

Pang Yongda, Head of the promotional department of the Sanya Tourism Development Commission (the Commission), expressed his hope that by working together, both Macau and Sanya would be able to turn their own airports into international transportation hubs.

According to Pang, since May 1 this year, when Sanya launched a visa-free policy targeting nationals of 59 countries, more than 100,000 overseas tourists have traveled to Sanya under the policy.

In the middle of July, a direct flight between Sanya and Macau was inaugurated. According to Pang, the flight not only provides a convenient mode of transportation between the two places, but also enhances economic and trade cooperation, human and cultural communication, and tourism communication between Macau and Sanya.

The flight is also said to pose an advantage in terms of transportation for international tourists, who will visit Sanya and Macau under visa-free policies.

Yu Dandan, director of the Commission tourism sales center, revealed that since the launch of the Sanya-Macau flight, the number of Macau tourists in Sanya has increased.

Through this promotional campaign in Macau, Sanya hopes to attract more Macau residents and to increase the flight seat occupancy rate.

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has already received an invitation from Sanya to attend a tourism event in November. MGTO hopes to promote Macau’s events and tourism industry while attending the event.

Hainan United Airlines Travel Group also said that the company will explore further and better tourism products aimed at Macau’s market.

Hainan Partners with Xiaozhu.com to Boost Rural Tourism via Home Sharing

HAIKOU, China, July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hainan, China's southernmost province has teamed up with Xiaozhu.com, China's largest home sharing platform, to boost rural tourism via home sharing according to a strategic agreement signed by Hainan provincial tourism development commission and Xiaozhu.com on July 25th.

The two parties will jointly promote beautiful villages in Hainan, build village B&B (Bed and Breakfast) accommodation for poverty alleviation, and establish a B&B industry association according to the agreement. This is the first home sharing platform in strategic collaboration with Hainan after the Chinese central government announced its goal of further developing the infrastructure of Hainan to develop it into an international tourism island.

Ao Liyong, deputy director of Hainan Tourism Development Commission, Zhang Xinhong; chief information officer of the State Information Center, Li Na; a partner of Yunfeng Capital, Chen Chi; co-founder and CEO of Xiaozhu.com; and Wang Liantao, co-founder and COO of Xiaozhu.com, attended the press conference.

Ao Liyong, deputy director of Hainan Provincial Tourism Development Commission, said Hainan attaches great importance on the development of village tourism. There are about 516 rural tourist sites across the island, bringing about 1.75 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of this year, up 14.2 percent year on year according to Ao.

Zhang Xinhong, chief information officer of the State Information Center, said the sharing economy creates a historic opportunity for China's economic development and is a great example of China leading global innovation inthe mobile Internet era. In 2018, Chinese sharing economy companies clearly increased their competitiveness globally, and both central and local policies provided unprecedented support to the sharing economy, playing a positive role in leading innovation and poverty alleviation. The expansion of house sharing in villages is driving the emergence of village B&Bs and tourism and is expected to become an important driver of village rejuvenation. Zhang Xinhong said the sharing economy model breaks geographical boundary and connects resources in villages and cities.

Hainan Tourism B&B Association was established at the press conference with Wang Liantao, co-founder and COO of Xiaozhu.com, acting as president and Hainan Tourism Development Commission acting as the supervisor. The association is committed to regulating the development of the B&B industry in Hainan, establishing a mechanism for police-citizen interaction, solving problems in B&B operations, improving the industry's service level and driving competition.

Wang Liantao claimed that Xiaozhu participates in China's village rejuvenation strategy by developing village B&B products. After six years of development, Xiaozhu has built a complete eco-chain and service system, connecting smart and IoT devices. Next, Xiaozhu will build a hand-on classroom for home-sharing entrepreneurship in Hainan's villages, providing better solutions for B&B entrepreneurs and operators.

Xiaozhu.com has over 420,000 house listings in 652 cities across the world and over 35 million active users. In last November, Xiaozhu raised $120 millionin a new round of financing led by Yunfeng Capital. In the first half of 2018, Xiaozhu reached strategic collaboration with Fliggy, the tourism brand of Alibaba Group, and agoda, the online booking platform under Booking Holdings. According to a data report the Xiaozhu released earlier this month, the platform now has over 30,000 village B&Bs. Each village B&B averagely creates 6 local jobs.

 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hainan-partners-with-xiaozhucom-to-boost-rural-tourism-via-home-sharing-300689079.html

Hainan ‘eyeing further DF reforms’ as tourism surges

China Duty Free Group’s (CDFG) Haitang Bay International Shopping Complex generated $42m (+6%) during the last Golden Week of Chinese New Year in 2017.

Inbound tourism to China’s Hainan Province increased by 50% to 1.1m in 2017 as the island looks to further relax restrictions on duty free sales, reports the state-run Hainan Provincial TouriBsm Development Commission.

Growth of +21% in total tourism revenue to RMB81.19bn ($12.8bn) outpaced growth in total tourist numbers (+12%) to reach 67.5m year-on-year, reveals the provincial tourism development commission’s official Sunshine Hainan Network and Visit Hainan portal.

Meanwhile, foreign exchange income rose by a remarkable 95% year-on-year to total $681m dollars.

Addressing attendees at a conference earlier this week, Hainan Tourism Commission Director Sun Ying revealed Hainan has targeted 74m tourists this year, including 1.33m inbound tourists (+22.6%).

FURTHER ALLOWANCE REFORMS?

Alongside a raft of investment, reform and development initiatives such as developing the inbound tourism market, publicising visa-free policies and multi-modal transportation, Hainan will reportedly focus on six tasks in 2018.

These are said to include plans to promote further relaxations on restrictions of duty free sales, increase the current duty free ceiling, and unify duty free shopping policies for island tourists.

If the Commission’s aims materialise, this would represent a huge boost for the duty free business in Hainan and its two competing operations in Haikou and Sanya, the latter operated by China Duty Free Group.

As reported, the Chinese Ministry of Finance moved to double the special duty free allowance in 2016 to RMB16,000 ($2,432) for mainland visitors.

In an important development, China mainland’s official state-run Xinhua News Agency (xinhuanet) today reported that Hainan’s provincial finance bureau on Thursday confirmed sales for offshore duty free shops totalling approximately RMB30.59bn (US$4.7bn) for the province’s duty free programme since its launch in 2011.

The report adds that the two competing Hainan Island duty free shop operations in Haikou and Sanya received more than 9.7m customers with a per capita consumption of RMB3,133 ($495).

By LUKE BARRAS-HILL | Friday, 26 January 2018 12:04

11 Reasons Why You Should Visit Hainan Island For Your Next Resort Holiday

Teeming with unspoilt, luxuriant nature, Hainan Island stays true to its natural and ethnic roots with unexpected charms. Here’s why you should visit Hainan, an idyllic but oft-overlooked vacation spot, for a short, quiet getaway.

Think tropical island resorts and the usual suspects float into your headspace — Bali, the Philippines, Tioman Island, Langkawi, and whatnot. Yet along the same, beachy vein lies Hainan Island that’d probably never skip through your mind, especially not when the thought of it being a part of China alone might be off-putting for some.

Photo credit: En.sanyatour.com

But unlike the China many may perceive, Hainan is actually separate from the mainland, resulting in its own unique appeal, dotted with forests, beaches, sleepy towns and restful resorts. It’s not hard to understand why people call this little island China’s answer to Hawaii!

If your typical destinations for a beach holiday are done and dusted (or you just want to escape hoards of Singaporeans), here are 11 reasons why it’s time to give Hainan Island a chance to impress you.

Also read: 10 Essential Apps for Travelling in China

1) White, sandy beaches galore

Dadonghai Bay. Photo credit: Sunnyhainan.com

Naturally blessed with a coastline that stretches for days, Sanya, the southern tip of Hainan, is a buzzing beach resort hub with its 3 most popular — Dadonghai, Sanya Bayand Yalong Bay — regularly making it onto China’s top beach lists.

Authorities have made strides in ensuring the beaches remain free and open to the public, so even if you’re not shelling out for a stay at a 5-star beachfront hotel, you’re still free to revel under the sun and get lit, beaches!

For the adventurous, you can even dabble in water sports like snorkelling, scuba-diving and paragliding.

2) It has a volcano park 

Photo credit: Sunnyhainan.com

What was once a cluster of over 40 volcanoes is now converted into the Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark, with people still living in 2 “lava villages” where houses are made of volcanic rock. You can also walk through lava caves from past volcanic activity, or climb up to the rim of an extinct volcano to enter the crater itself!

3) Tropical rainforests for the outdoor adventurer

Photo credit: Visionsoftravel.org

Yanoda Rainforest isn’t your average Bukit Timah Nature Reserve; Hainan’s tourism scene is relatively new, so obviously they’d go all out to keep you captivated all day. We’re talking hiking up waterfalls, swinging suspension bridges, ziplines, and even a chance to play real-life counter strike inside the forest in full battle gear!

4) A different side of Chinese culture in Sanya

Hainan’s inhabitants have historically been a diverse bunch, housing up to 36 minority groups. This has given rise to “theme parks” / museums like Binglanggu, which gives you an insider’s peek into the Li and Miao people, 2 of the most prominent minorities, the former also one of Hainan’s oldest.

Spanning over 600 football fields, the replica village houses plenty of exhibits to learn about these people — how facial tattoos form their identity, their food, customs, and clothing. You can even catch a live performance to watch those traditions come to life!

5) Luxury accommodation on a friendlier budget

Photo credit: Raffles Hainan

A country that champions its tropical, resort-like atmosphere is bound to attract tons of luxury establishments. The good news is that you can still live like a king in Hainan without breaking the bank — get a room at 5-star hotel Raffles Hainan for as low as ~S$145/night, with a spacious room, private personal butler, swimming pool and more.

Photo credit: Raffles Hainan

The fact that flights to Hainan (see point 10) are already relatively cheap is a good reason to splurge a little more on comfortable accommodation!

If you’re curious about what else Raffles Hainan has to offer, check out our hotel review.

6) Haikou’s old towns and tea culture

Haikou Movie Town. Photo credit: Klook.com

Up north, step back in time and walk through the cobbled roads of Haikou combining distinct Asian and European influences hailing from China’s colonial past, from the old streets of Qilou to picture-perfect Movie Town Haikou.

Haikou also embraces its tea culture very fervently — tea houses packed with hoards of middle-aged men chilling are also part of Haikou’s everyday life, an accurate depiction of the leisurely pace at which locals live. This also earned such tea houses the household name of “daddy teahouse” (老爸茶馆).

7) Unique Hainanese cuisine

Jiaji Duck. Photo credit: Vip-ehome.cn

Hong Kong has its 4 Heavenly Kings, and so does Hainan in the food department — free-range Wenchang Chicken (the OG inspiration behind the Hainanese Chicken Rice we all know and love), grain-fed and lightly-prepared Jiaji Duck, famously tender Dongshan Mutton usually stewed in coconut milk, and meaty Hele Crab.

Luckily for tourists, you can find them all at Qi Lou Snack Street!

Qi Lou Snack Street in Haikou. Photo credit: Sohu.com

Thanks to Hainan’s perpetual tropical weather a la Singapore, coconuts are also commonplace in Hainan. That’s also why capital Haikou is aptly-known as “Coconut City”.

8) Day trips to nearby islands

Boundary Island. Photo credit: Weimeiba.com

If you crave a different scenery you can easily take a day out to any of Hainan’s nearby islands, like Boundary Island and Wuzhizhou Island. Other than the usual water sports like parasailing and banana boats, you can also dive into the waters to get up close with corals!

9) Home to the world’s only protected monkey island nature reserve

Photo credit: Sunnyhainan.com

Get up close with the 2,000 or so monkeys at Nanwan Monkey Island, which is state-protected and 95% covered in greenery. One way to enter is via a cable car traversing over 2km of sea, the longest ocean-crossing ropeway in China!

10) Get to Hainan under 4 hours from S$215

Low-cost carriers like Scoot fly to Haikou Meilan International Airport from S$215 and you can get there in just 3.5 hours — one of the airlines with the shortest flight time.

It’s a short flight, but if it overlaps with breakfast or lunch time (mine did) you can pre-order meals like their Singapore Signature Chicken Rice. Nothing better than having something Hainanese to ramp you up for your trip.

11) Your gateway to visit China, Hong Kong or Taiwan 

Central Pier, Hong Kong

Planning a longer vacation? Visit Hainan as a short stopover to a longer trip to China! You can actually cover Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong via train from Hainan itself. Short flights from Haikou Airport are also possible — fly to Taiwan in less than 3 hours, or Hong Kong in 1.5–2 hours!

If that sounds like a great idea, check out some of the lesser-known sights in Hong Kongwhen you make the trip 😉

As beautiful as it is, Hainan is still a burgeoning tourist destination — not even our second-most powerful passport in the world can be exempted from a visa if you’re not with a recognised tour group. But it’s well worth a visit as a peaceful, quiet destination before further gentrification happens — a free trade zone, gigantic water park and legalised gambling are all in the pipeline for this island.

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This post was brought to you by Accor Hotels and Scoot as part of a media familiarisation trip.