Hainan road cycling race speeds around rainforest

This year's Tour of Hainan International Road Cycling Race, the 16th edition of the annual event, kicked off in Qionghai City, south China's Hainan Province on Monday, gathering more than 140 cyclists from 20 international teams.

This year's race includes five stages covering Qionghai, Wanning, Lingshui, and Sanya in Hainan. Taking place from April 7 to 11, the race passes through two of Hainan's most iconic tourism routes – Hainan's round-the-island tourist highway and the ring road surrounding the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.

Founded in 2006, the event has grown to one of the highest-level and most influential road cycling races in Asia, as well as a window to showcase Hainan's unique tropical scenery and rich tourism resources.