China's Hainan eyes tourists from Nordic countries and Russia

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Hainan Province in southern China is hoping to attract tourists from Nordic countries and Russia, a delegation from Hainan has said.

The delegation comprising of artists, media personnel and politicians from Hainan is currently visiting Finland, Norway and Russia, exhibiting scenic photos, showcasing traditional music and dance and updating on the open-up policies.

Wang Qi, head of the delegation, said that the three countries are among the 59 nations in the newly announced visa waiver program. The citizens of these countries are allowed to enter Hainan Province without a visa if their stay is less than 30 days, given a Hainan tourist agency is operating the tour.

Helsinki harbor, Finland. /VCG Photo

"The warm climate and coastal recreation in the tropical island offers Scandinavians an alternative summer vacation destination, instead of going to Italy or Spain," Li Haojie, a TV documentary editor from Hainan Broadcasting Station, told Xinhua on Thursday.

At an introduction event held in the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki early this week, 74 photos were displayed with three themes - "This is Hainan", "International Tourism Island" and "Cultural Exchange," showcasing the economic, social and cultural development of Hainan Province in the past 30 years since it was approved as a special economic zone.

Artists from Hainan Provincial Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble gave a remarkable performance at the curtain raiser event. Embroidery culture of Hainan Miao community was also reflected in the dance presentation, which was especially choreographed for the event.

Traditional bamboo and wood musical instruments were used in other songs and dances. Chen Liang, deputy chief of the Ensemble, even performed pieces of music by simply using a rubber tree leaf, winning a big round of applause from the audience.

Oslo City Hall, Norway. /VCG Photo

The traditional dying and embroidery technique of Li people was shown at the scene. Fu Renling and Fu Renjian, two girls from eastern Hainan, displayed a number of handicrafts such as costumes and scarves made from brocades of Li ethnic group. The traditional technique has been listed on UNESCO's "Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding."

"This cultural exhibition is impressive and gives an overview of the beauty of Hainan. It is expected that there could be more exchanges between Hainan and Helsinki in terms of culture and education," said Catia Suomalainen Pedrosa, director of Helsinki International Cultural Center.

Similar events are being organized in Oslo, Norway and Moscow, Russia in mid-September.

Phoenix Island, Sanya, Hainan, China. /VCG Photo

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency