China is experiencing rapid growth in industrialization and urbanization, and one of the significant drivers for its development is the characteristic towns. The construction of characteristic towns aims to turn small rural areas into places that integrate industrial production, tourism and residence by preserving their own characteristics.

Hainan, China's southernmost island province, has been promoting the project of building "a hundred towns and a thousand villages" – a plan to build beautiful countryside and advance tourism development in rural areas. So far, great progress has been achieved from the project.

Today it is home to seven characteristic towns, naming Yunlong, Shishan, Tanmen, Zhongyuan, Huiwen, Boao and Fushan, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD). Follow CGTN and take a closer look at the two most famous ones – Boao and Fushan. 

Boao in Qionghai City

In regards to Boao, what usually pops into people's mind is the renowned Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), which is scheduled to be held from March 26 to 29 this year. However, the town of Boao is far more than that.

Located in the eastern Qionghai City, it is a semi-fishing and semi-farming town with the spectacular natural landscape of rivers, lakes, mountains and isles. As noted in Cihai, a large-scale dictionary of Chinese Mandarin, Boao means "abundant fish and fat fish," referring to the ample resources for fishing residents.

The construction project of the beautiful countryside has brought several successful examples in Boao, with Nanqiang Village and Shamei Village standing out as the most representative ones.

They demonstrate the revitalization of rural areas that have turned the seldom-visited villages into popular tourist spots. You can either bike or walk around the countryside, experiencing the slow-paced life as well as the hospitality of local people.

If you're looking for fun activities, then Boao Water City is your next destination. It has not only hot springs that are rich in beneficial minerals, but also offer various recreational activities. It will be a perfect getaway when traveling with families and friends.

Fushan in Chengmai County

Fushan, located in Chengmai County, is a half-an-hour drive away from the capital city – Haikou. What makes it special is its coffee. Coffee plantation is rarely seen in China, but here we have the earliest coffee production site in Hainan Province.

It is said that coffee firstly arrived in Hainan in 1935 when Indonesian-Chinese Chen Xianzhang brought coffee seeds to the Fushan area. Two years earlier, Chen inspected the area and found that Fushan could be an ideal place for coffee plantation with its vast, flat terrain, fresh water, rich soil and suitable weather.

He was the first person to grow coffee successfully in Hainan and started a business. Now, the Fushan Coffee brand is famous throughout Hainan. In the Fushan Café, you'll enjoy the harmonious mix of the smooth coffee and the beautiful natural setting of water and trees.

You can also stop by at the Fushan Town Center of Coffee Culture and Customs if you're curious about its history and production.

Local delicacies

Traveling in Hainan is never complete without trying local specialties. Wenchang Chicken, Hele Crab, Jiaji Duck and Dongshan Lamb are the four most famous dishes here. Also, as rice noodles are quite popular, it is a common sight to see street stands and small eateries where a delicious bowl of noodles can be picked up for just a few yuan.

Duty-free shopping

Those traveling in Boao now have another fun thing to do – duty-free shopping. On January 19, Qionghai Boao Duty-Free Shop officially opened to the public. Launched in April of 2011, the Hainan offshore tax-free policy is now embracing a new set of consumption expansion tasks.

Domestic and overseas tourists, as well as island residents,  can make duty-free purchases if they spend no more than 30,000 yuan (4,475 U.S. dollars) per person within one year, up from the previous limit of 16,000 yuan (2,386 U.S. dollars).