Located in the southernmost corner of Hainan Island, the city of Sanya was included in maps of China more than 2,000 years ago and has thus been known as "the end of the earth" in the country since ancient times. Surrounded by the sea on one side and low and rolling hills on its other three sides, this tropical city now serves as an international tourist resort destination thanks to its fascinating coastal scenery and warm climate.

Aside from the natural, tropical landscapes, tourists can also enjoy unique customs and cultures there. The indigenous Han, Li, Miao, and Hui people have been living there for thousands of years and built their distinctive civilizations.

Take the Li brocade for example; it epitomizes the country's earliest textile practices and is thus seen as a "living fossil" in Chinese weaving history. Through spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering, Li women turn cotton, hemp and other fibers into skirts, kerchiefs, accessories as well as other daily necessities. Black, red, yellow and blue are the dominant colors while the patterns on the textiles reflect Li people’s beliefs, traditions and religious convictions.

As far as more than 13,000 kilometers away, on the Caribbean Sea of the Western Hemisphere, a resort in Cuba called Varadero enjoys a similar tropical vibe. Famous for its white and sometimes pink sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters, Varadero offers tourists luxury hotels, shops, various water activities and poolside entertainment.

Though the city has a recorded history of less than 500 years, it quickly developed into a resort destination from the 1930s onwards when an American millionaire built his estate on the Peninsular de Hicacos. Sunshine, fabulous beaches, warm and turquoise-blue sea, and a few Cuban cocktails make Varadero a very laid-back place to visit in Cuba.