Sanya, often dubbed China's Hawaii, is best known for its sandy beaches and holiday scene. But it's also one of the country's key agricultural research hubs for ensuring food security.

For decades, Chinese scientists have used Sanya as a winter breeding base for crop varieties owing to its tropical climate. In recent years, the area has undergone a major upgrade with the establishment of Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City as part of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Follow reporter Chen Mengfei as she spends a day there, meeting Chinese and African experts at the forefront of agricultural research, along with international students training on site.