the Snake Bridge located in Guocang Village, Longtang Town, Qiongshan District, Haikou. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this brick and stone structure spans a stream, with the passage of time leaving deep marks on its surface.

This bridge not only serves as a passage connecting both banks but also stands as a witness to local history and culture. It plays a crucial role in water management, and the legends of guardianship associated with it have become a spiritual bond that unites the community.

Today, villagers near Snake Bridge are actively engaged in cultural and tourism entrepreneurship. Folk inns and creative shops have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, integrating into the wave of cultural tourism development. They have become part of Hainan’s distinctive tourism routes, attracting domestic and international visitors to experience the unique blend of history and modernity.

As spring ushers in a new season, the kapok trees across the county gradually awaken, transforming various locales into picturesque havens of natural beauty.

Notable destinations to experience this floral extravaganza include the secluded Wangxia town, Qicha town, Pai’an village in Chahe town, and Wulie town, each showcasing its own distinct flowering timeline.

Changjiang, renowned as the “hometown of kapok flowers”, shines brightest between February and March when the landscape is adorned in the resplendent hues of kapok blossoms.

To enrich the tourism experience for visitors, the county has curated a series of engaging events from January to March, encompassing a blend of tourist attractions, cultural showcases, and sporting activities.

Visitors yearning to capture the enchanting sight of a train meandering through a sea of kapok blossoms can visit Pai’an village this Sunday for an unforgettable spectacle, according to the Changjiang Converged Media Center.

Cycling enthusiasts can also enjoy leisurely biking trails through the serene countryside and rugged mountain parks while immersing themselves in the floral magnificence.

These advanced technologies were deployed for the first time by the local emergency management department in a bay in the city of Wanning, during the Spring Festival holiday. The devices were joined in rescue efforts by a local branch of the Blue Sky Rescue (BSR) team, a Chinese civil relief squad composed of surfing instructors, diving enthusiasts, and food delivery workers.

Among the equipment was a U-shaped water rescue robot, an intelligent device designed to swiftly reach drowning victims or deliver supplies with high precision.

“Lifeboats or jet skis can sustain damage in rough water, while rescuers can experience physical exhaustion or even risk of drowning,” said Liu Jiao, a member of the BSR.

The U-shaped robot addresses these challenges, offering a safer and more efficient solution. Operated remotely from shore, the compact and flexible robot can navigate difficult conditions, significantly reducing risks for rescuers, Liu added.

This robot can be used in various environments, such as pools, reservoirs, and rivers.

Beyond Hainan, the robot is already in use in some other coastal regions, including Fujian and Guangdong.

China has been vigorously promoting innovation in robotics, integrating these technologies into various sectors such as agriculture, industry, and specialized services. Efforts are underway to accelerate the adoption of robots, improving safety and efficiency across multiple sectors.

Instead, it sat comfortably in a designated pet seat beside its human companion. “It costs an extra 1,000 yuan (about 139.48 U.S. dollars), about the same as a child’s ticket, but having him with me made the trip home for the Chinese Lunar New Year much happier,” Liu said.

Da Vinci’s journey is part of a growing trend in China’s aviation sector. Airlines and airports are offering innovative services to cater to the country’s expanding pet-owner community.

From dedicated pet lounges to in-cabin travel options, the industry is redefining what it means to be pet-friendly, driven by surging demand for animal companions.

This year’s Spring Festival travel rush, which began on Jan. 14, saw China Southern Airlines launch its upgraded “Pets in Cabin” service on select routes, including the round flights between Guangzhou and Shanghai.

For an additional fee, passengers can now reserve exclusive pet seats. Each flight accommodates up to two small cats or dogs in the cabin. During the first week of the holiday season, the airline transported over 400 pets departing from Guangzhou — with around 35 percent of in-cabin pets opting for dedicated pet seats.

Hainan Airlines, a pioneer in pet-in-cabin services since 2018, resumed its “Pet in Cabin” program in 2022 after a pandemic-induced pause. By November 2024, the carrier had transported more than 10,000 pets in-cabin across trips involving 27 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Its subsidiary, Lucky Air, introduced similar services in May 2024. Strict protocols ensure hygiene and safety as pets must wear clothing, muzzles and diapers — and are required to remain in carriers during flights.

While in-cabin services grab headlines, airlines are also competing to improve traditional “live pet cargo” experiences. In 2018, Sichuan Airlines debuted “Pet Airfare,” a premium service featuring climate-controlled holding areas, GPS tracking and door-to-door transportation.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport opened China’s first dedicated pet lounge in 2024 — a spacious facility equipped with air quality monitors, species-specific zones and play areas.

“When I had to send my husky, Qiqi, back to Hebei, the staff fed her, took her on walks, and let us video chat. It was a huge relief,” said its owner surnamed Zhang.

These initiatives are responses to what is a booming market. According to an industry white paper, the value of China’s urban pet (dog and cat) sector reached 300.2 billion yuan in 2024, up 7.5 percent year-on-year, and featuring a nationwide pet population of over 120 million. Owners increasingly prioritize professional services, cleanliness and digital convenience — trends that airlines and airports are eager to tap.

Notably, nationwide sales of pet travel carriers, collapsible bowls, noise-reducing muzzles and GPS trackers have skyrocketed.

“As ‘fur babies’ have become part of many families, they require more thoughtful care and services, making this a market with great potential,” said an official from Shenzhen Airport.

What started as a small service has now become a sign of China’s shifting view on pets, with “furry children” no longer an afterthought but valued passengers in their own right. For the aviation industry, this change is not just about kindness but is also a smart move in a market that’s set to grow, according to industry insiders.

Festival, the social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional New Year, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity last December. This upcoming Spring Festival, Hainan has planned 300 programs to highlight its intangible cultural heritage. In addition to traditional activities such as Hainan Opera spear tricks, Lantern Festival flower exchange, carp lantern spring festival celebration, Qionghai Nanzhong dragon dance, Sanya Phoenix Island Carnival, and display of Li brocade craftsmanship, visitors can taste delicacies such as zhegu tea, coconut rice, and brown sugar rice cakes. With a feast for the eyes and a delight for the palate, a journey to the island promises to be truly unforgettable.

In addition, to make tourists’ winter experience delightful and tailored to their specific needs, Hainan has designed eight routes (e.g., unwinding at romantic beaches, driving around the island) and 72 packages (e.g., ethnic culture, cuisine plus culture).

Since the end of last year, China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been extended to 240 hours, and two ports of entry have been added in Hainan, allowing international guests to enter and exit the island via any of its three international airports (Haikou Meilan, Sanya Phoenix, and Qionghai Boao).

“Qilou (arcaded buildings), food, surfing… I saw a Hainan that is both traditional and modern. Now that there is a 240-hour visa-free policy, I would love to visit Hainan again to explore further!” said Liu Wenxin, a Singaporean tourist who recently returned from a trip to Hainan.

According to the Hainan Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, TV, and Sports, the three major airports in the province have resumed operations after COVID-19, with 70 international and regional passenger routes connecting Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Hong Kong, Macao, and beyond. In particular, new routes from Hainan to the United States, the UAE, and New Zealand provide added convenience for overseas visitors.

Moreover, Hainan authorities have introduced multiple payment options to enhance the experience for international sightseers. “When I buy anything, I can scan to pay or tap to pay,” said American tourist David, who used Alipay to make a quick purchase of a souvenir on Haikou’s Qilou Old Street. “From getting off the plane to visiting scenic spots, a mobile phone is all I need. This is incredibly easy!”

The island province of Hainan is gearing up for an anticipated surge in visitors during the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, especially an increasing number of new energy vehicles for self-driving tours.

The specialized transport ship for NEVs, Lv Yuan Yi Hao, embarked on its maiden voyage from Haikou Xiuying Port, Hainan across the Qiongzhou Strait on Dec 29. Following that, another NEV transport vessel, Lv Yuan Er Hao, completed its first journey on Jan 8. The two vessels are dedicated to ferrying NEVs across the Qiongzhou Strait to Guangdong province, boosting transport capacity and ensuring heightened safety measures as the Spring Festival travel rush kicks off on Tuesday.

During Lv Yuan Er Hao’s debut voyage, 165 new energy cars and trucks were ferried across the Qiongzhou Strait. Captain Huang Wanli said that the voyage, mainly involving the loading of logistics company vehicles, aimed to test operational processes and loading safety in readiness for upcoming NEV transport operations.

Measuring 129.8 meters in length, 28 meters in width and weighing 7,404 metric tons, the reconstructed vessel is set to navigate the route between Zhanjiang in Guangdong province to Haikou. It stands as the largest deck cargo ship tailored for NEV transport across the Qiongzhou Strait, and has room for about 160 vehicles without passenger accommodation. Drivers and accompanying personnel are concurrently transported by supporting passenger ships.

“This new transport model not only mitigates inherent safety risks associated with NEVs, but also addresses space issues in NEV transport ships, offering substantial economic and social benefits as the preferred mode for sea transport of NEVs,” Huang said.

To cater to the transportation needs of NEVs, the vessel underwent diverse modifications. The vehicle loading and unloading operation involves five lanes with vehicles facing the bow and another five lanes with vehicles facing the stern, following a circular motion facilitated by the single-deck layout. Huang noted that this layout offers a more direct and convenient experience for drivers compared to multi-deck passenger ships, ensuring loading and unloading times are comparable, if not quicker, despite carrying more vehicles.

The captain highlighted the implementation of firefighting measures, including water cannons with a 75-meter range on both ends of the ship for comprehensive coverage. The deck features two isolation channels to contain any fire outbreak and prevent its spread, bolstering safety with additional firefighting-related facilities.

“We will collect feedback during the operation of the new vessel, optimize processes, enhance operational efficiency, and provide a more convenient and high-quality cross-sea experience for drivers and accompanying passengers,” said Huang.

The number of passenger cars traveling to and from the island province via the Qiongzhou Strait is expected to reach 773,000 trips during the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, showing a 2.7 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, 390,000 trips of freight trucks are projected to traverse the Qiongzhou Strait to and from the tropical island, indicating an annual growth of about 6.2 percent, according to a news conference held in Haikou on Dec 20.

Beginning Dec 31, 2024, visitors intending to travel to Hainan by car can purchase entry tickets to the island 15 days prior to their planned visit, and tickets for departure from the island will be accessible for purchase 30 days in advance of the travel date, local authorities announced on Dec 20.

Top-selling US rappers are on the radar of tourism officials in Haikou, the provincial capital, following the success of the rapper and producer’s two shows at the Wuyuan River Stadium in September, the latter of which was added due to overwhelming demand.

“Haikou sees itself as being among the world’s unique performing arts cities with a highly open and inclusive attitude,” said Wang Ke, chief of the city’s bureau of tourism, culture, radio, film and television, during a government meeting on Friday.

Wang said 95 per cent of the 80,000 fans who attended West’s shows – his first in China since 2008 – came from outside the province and drove tourism consumption of 730 million yuan (US$99.5 million). Tickets were sold out in seconds on Chinese ticketing platforms.

Wuyuan River Stadium can accommodate up to 45,000 spectators, while a newly completed gymnasium on the same site can take 18,000.

Cardi B, who has topped global music charts since her debut in 2015, is not only known for hits such as “I Like It” and “Bodak Yellow”. Her social commentary during the Covid-19 pandemic, which showed appreciation for China’s efforts and policies, grew her fan base in the country.

The 32-year-old Grammy winner has since made her way onto Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin, where she boasts over 1.6 million followers.

Houston rapper Travis Scott’s Circus Maximus stadium tour, which began in October 2023 and concluded a year later, sold 1.7 million tickets and grossed nearly US$210 million, breaking the record for the highest selling tour by a solo rapper.

MV Piano Land, China’s first independently operated state-owned cruise vessel carrying 456 passengers on this trip, docked at the Sanya Phoenix Island International Cruise Port Friday morning.

The cruise ship, which departed from China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, will continue its voyage to Vietnam after the Sanya stop.

This route has adopted an innovative “dual homeport” model, in which passengers could choose to board either in Hong Kong or in Sanya as their home port, with a variety of itinerary options available.

“This route is very good and very fresh. The opening of this route has added a lot of new options for tourism in Hainan,” said Zhao, a passenger.

To ensure the smooth customs clearance of the cruise ship and its passengers, the Sanya Border Inspection Station has developed a special duty plan.

The station has also strengthened port control during the ship’s stay using gangway monitoring, fixed-point patrols, and video surveillance to manage the port’s restricted area and ensure the safe and orderly boarding of passengers and crew.

“We have effectively streamlined the entry and exit procedures of cruise ships and their carriers, shortened the customs clearance time at ports, to provide an efficient, convenient and pleasant customs clearance environment for the vast number of inbound and outbound passengers,” said Cheng Hao, captain of Sanya Border Inspection Station first patrol squad.

Piano Land, a 70,000-ton luxury ship, can accommodate more than 2,000 passengers. It’s also the first international cruise ship to arrive in Sanya since the implementation of visa-free policy for foreign tourist groups entering China via cruise ships.

Known for having the best surf in China, Riyue Bay has attracted a wide range of businesses including a vibrant restaurant and bar scene open to international tourists. With conditions and climate that support year-round surfing, Riyue Bay has held international competitions for eleven consecutive years. Standing out as a beacon of success for the Chinese surf scene, Riyue Bay is also home to China’s National Surfing Team.

The PerfectSwell® anchored multi-use development will be the very first surf resort in China. In phase one, the resort will deliver a surf-themed hotel and a designer hotel totaling 132 rooms, a shopping district, bar and restaurants, surf retail shop, and skate park in addition to the PerfectSwell® Surf Pool. Phase two will add more rooms to the hotel and additional lodging options. The project will utilize the flexibility of PerfectSwell® Surf Technology by targeting the existing market of enthusiast surfers from abroad while also catering to beginners among the local population.

Miquel Lazaro, lead engineer from American Wave Machines, describes what it means to add a PerfectSwell® Venue to China’s emerging scene: “We’re stoked to bring our brand of high-performance waves to China. Riyue Bay Surf Resort will provide locals and visitors with something truly world-class. We have seen the impact of PerfectSwell® Surf Parks in other regions and it’s an exciting opportunity to impact China’s incredible surf culture and talent potential.”

About American Wave Machines

American Wave Machines, Inc. is the inventor and developer of PerfectSwell® Surf Technology. AWM’s technology powers world class surf facilities and destinations backed by proven financials, extensive data capture, and stoked surfers. PerfectSwell® is the only sequence based, pneumatic surf technology on the market. Protected by over 50 patents worldwide, PerfectSwell® Split Peaks, Peeling Waves, Air Sections, and Wedge Barrels are all covered by AWM’s robust patent portfolio.

About China Tourism Group

China Tourism Group Corporation Limited (CTG), also known as China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited, is a backbone state-owned enterprise directly managed by the central government and one of the central government-owned enterprises headquartered in Hong Kong. CTG has formed an industry structure comprising travel agencies, scenic areas, hotels, duty-free retail, tourism transportation, travel document services, cruises, real estate, and comprehensive operations in Hong Kong. The operation network spans China’s mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and over 30 countries and regions abroad.

The Yangpu Ancient Salt Field is an archeological heritage site in Yantian village, on the Yangpu Peninsula in Hainan, China.

The site is an example of salt’s various roles in Chinese history. The area comprises more than 1,000 stones, cut flat on top, which are used to evaporate seawater to produce salt.

The stones have a thin rim around the edge to contain the water. During high tide, the surface of the stones becomes filled with seawater. During low tide, this evaporates, leaving the salt, which is then collected.

The area was established around 800 AD when a group of salt workers from Putian city in Fujian province moved to Yangpu.

Today, only a small group of villagers continue to make salt using this method and it is not their main source of income.