Latest news with #Haikou
Malay Mail
24-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Haikou Invites the World: A New Chapter in Cultural and Tourism Exchange
[email protected] Haikou, China - Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2025 - From July 9 to 12, 180 Overseas Chinese youth from Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, Denmark, the UAE, Ireland, and Thailand gathered in Haikou for another summer homecoming. They explored the historic Qilou Old Street, experiencing intangible cultural heritage up close; visited the Hainan Provincial Museum to learn about the province's deep-rooted history and rich culture; studied traditional Chinese arts at Qiongtai Normal University; and rode the waves along the West Coast Tourism Resort, enjoying refreshing sea activities. A nighttime cruise offered them a glimpse into Haikou's romantic cityscape. These vibrant experiences painted a vivid picture of a diverse, dynamic, and delightful Haikou-leading many to exclaim, "Haikou is fun!"Overseas Chinese youth on a journey to trace their cultural roots in HaikouTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:"These exhibits helped me understand what my grandparents meant by 'our roots,'" said Zhang Zhenghao, an overseas Chinese youth from Denmark, after visiting the Hainan Provincial Museum. "These buildings remind me of the old photos my grandfather used to show me," added Yang Fangfei from Thailand, snapping photos of the intricate plaster carvings on time-worn walls. This immersive cultural journey through Haikou not only deepened the youth's connection to their heritage but also built a bridge for international engagement. It inspired cultural recognition and sparked new possibilities under the blueprint of the Hainan Free Trade Chinese youth on a journey to trace their cultural roots in HaikouTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:As a key hub in China's Belt and Road Initiative and the core city of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Haikou is not only the province's political, economic, technological, and cultural center but also a vibrant coastal city ideal for both living and tourism. With an average annual temperature of 24.3°C and an air quality excellence rate of 99%-ranking first among 168 major Chinese cities-Haikou has earned titles such as "World Health City" and "International Wetland City." It offers a natural "comfort zone" for both locals and international visitors is accelerating its efforts to build a globally influential free trade port with Chinese characteristics, aligning with the world's highest standards of openness. As the 2025 deadline for island-wide customs closure approaches, Haikou's international connectivity continues to improve. By July 10, the city had launched 35 international and regional passenger air routes, connecting with 23 major global destinations including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, London, Melbourne, Seoul, Ulaanbaatar, Auckland, Vientiane, Osaka, Moscow, Seattle, Dubai, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Jeddah. These routes are creating faster, more accessible air corridors for trade, tourism, and cultural is making strong progress in improving payment accessibility, helping international visitors feel right at home. Today, major global card networks, including UnionPay International, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover, now support foreign card integration with local platforms for seamless transactions. Additionally, 13 international e-wallets are compatible with Alipay, and 9 with WeChat Pay, enabling quick QR code payments at a wide range of merchants. The "Hainan Payment Service e-Map" offers travelers a one-stop solution to locate foreign currency exchange banks, institutions, facilities, and foreign card ATMs - delivering a smooth, accessible, and hassle-free payment official from the Bureau of Tousism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Haikou City noted that the "A journey to trace your culture roots" serves not only as a cultural bridge, but also as a platform for Haikou's global engagement. Driven by cultural exchange and supportive policies, more international visitors are transforming from observers into participants - actively joining the Hainan Free Trade Port initiative and becoming "ambassadors" of Chinese culture and storytellers of Haikou. As a city that connects with the world through sincerity and openness, Haikou is writing new and exciting chapters on the global information:Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Haikou CityJing Cai0898-68725355 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
South China Morning Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chen Feng, founder of Chinese conglomerate HNA, sentenced to 12 years in prison
Chen Feng, a founder of the defunct Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and is subject to a penalty of 221 million yuan (US$30.8 million), nearly four years after he was detained by police. The 72-year-old businessman was charged with harming the interests of a listed company, fraudulently obtaining loans and a breach of duty through misappropriation, according to a court document. The government said 40 million yuan in personal assets were ordered to be confiscated. Also sentenced were Sun Mingyu, former chairman of HNA Group's supervisory board, and Bao Qifa, former chairman of Hainan Airlines Group, which was previously controlled by HNA. Both received prison terms of three and a half years. Sun was fined 9 million yuan and Bao was fined 4.5 million yuan. Chen Feng, who founded Hainan Airlines in 1989 in Haikou and grew it into the sprawling conglomerate known as HNA Group, was detained for suspected crimes in 2021. The detention came a few months after the group declared bankruptcy following struggles to pay off debts that once totalled more than US$100 billion. In the mid-2010s, HNA Group went on an acquisition spree , fuelled by bank loans and profits from its aviation business. Initially focused on airlines, the group expanded into areas including tourism, hospitality and financial services, amassing stakes in companies like Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Deutsche Bank and Ingram Micro.
Malay Mail
03-07-2025
- Malay Mail
Int'l media charmed by "China tour" amid cool summer in Hainan
The international media team immersed itself in the colorful experience that the "cool island" of Hainan offered in summer. (Photo credit: Jing Chen) The international media team immersed itself in the colorful experience that the "cool island" of Hainan offered in summer. (Photo credit: Dan Sandoval) HAIKOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 3 July 2025 - This summer, journalists and photographers from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries gathered at China's Hainan Free Trade Port, experiencing firsthand the vibrant pulse of its industrial most of the media delegation, this was their first visit to Hainan. At the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, the team explored various medical institutions, gaining insights into the local healthcare landscape, specialized medical policies, and unique wellness programs blending traditional Chinese medicine with Western techniques. As China's only special medical zone, Lecheng collaborates with more than 180 healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical device institutions across 20 countries, providing a series of world-class medical and healthcare services. In the first five months of this year, it welcomed more than 180,000 tourists from China, Canada, and pristine tropical rainforests and vibrant Li and Miao cultural traditions stand as its most iconic ecological and cultural hallmarks. At Haikou's Qilou Old Street, Baoting's Binglanggu Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park, and Baoting's Shenyu Island, the media delegation was captivated by dynamic displays and exhibits of UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage—such as the 3,000-year-old Li traditional techniques of spinning, dyeing, weaving, and embroidering—alongside national and provincial treasures like Hainan agarwood, coconut carving, Li pottery, boat-shaped houses, and bamboo pole remarked that witnessing and engaging with these time-honored crafts in person was far more striking than viewing them through photos or videos. Many showed a strong interest in Hainan agarwood, marveling at its historical significance and medicinal properties. After experiencing a Li medical massage, one reporter said that his back pain was finally relieved and that he "should have come to Hainan earlier."Beyond its beaches, Hainan offers a wealth of unique summer experiences that reshaped international media's perceptions: the Taoist healing, the Li long-table banquet, and refreshing forest bath on the Shenyu Island; the tropical coastal skydiving at Skydive Tarhe; the underwater suites and theme park of the Atlantis Sanya; the shopping spree in the International Duty-free Shopping Complex; the island scenery and fishermen culture in the West Island. Each destination offers distinct charms, revealing Hainan's diverse Hao, deputy director of the Sanya Tourism Board, revealed that in addition to strengthening duty-free shopping, Sanya has also prioritized low-altitude tourism and yachting in recent years. Last year alone, yachts embarked on over 120,000 sea trips, more than 10,000 visitors experienced low-altitude skydiving, and international cruise traffic, including home-port and visiting-port throughput, reached 59,200, placing Sanya among China's top to the Hainan Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports, as China's only tropical island province and the largest Free Trade Port, Hainan enjoys the best visa-free policy in the country. In 2024, the number of inbound tourists exceeded 1 million, a record high in the past 5 years. The island has designed 10 categories of tourism products (e.g., marine tourism, high-end shopping, and healthcare) and allows ordinary passport holders from 85 countries to land without a #HainanDepartmentofTourism,Culture,Radio,TV,andSports The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jeddah airport launches first Hainan Airlines flights
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has welcomed the inaugural flight of China's Hainan Airlines, marking the launch of the first direct route between Jeddah and the Chinese city of Haikou. The new service will operate three times per week, positioning the airport as the first in the Kingdom to offer direct connectivity to Haikou, reported SPA. The launch of this route boosts air traffic between Saudi Arabia and China, reinforcing King Abdulaziz International Airport's growing role as a global logistics hub and expanding the Kingdom's direct air links with China. The inaugural flight was received by Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar; Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Jeddah Wang Qimin; and several officials from the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, and various government and security sectors operating at the airport. Hainan Airlines, ranked among the world's top ten airlines by Skytrax, brings a new level of service to the airport. Its entry is expected to enhance the quality of air travel services and contribute to providing a superior travel experience. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin commented: 'We are proud of our strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines and look forward to expanding this collaboration through targeted initiatives and promotional campaigns led by the Saudi Tourism Authority.' He noted that the number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom grew by 52 per cent compared to last year, and that air connectivity between the two countries now includes six airlines operating 29 weekly flights. The Kingdom aims to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by 2030. Johar stated: 'This significant milestone aligns with our strategy to increase the number of international destinations served by King Abdulaziz International Airport to 150 by 2030, in line with the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030.' He added that integrating Hainan Airlines into the airport's network strengthens Saudi–China air connectivity and supports infrastructure and service expansion efforts to meet growing global travel demand. The CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the occasion as an important step toward enhancing the Kingdom's global connectivity. 'Welcoming Hainan Airlines in Jeddah reflects growing demand for travel between Saudi Arabia and China and helps foster tourism, cultural exchange, and economic ties,' he said. He emphasised the role of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who also oversees the Air Connectivity Program, in positioning Saudi Arabia as an approved and attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The Chinese market is targeted to become the Kingdom's third-largest source of inbound tourism by 2030. This development is part of the ongoing efforts by the General Authority of Civil Aviation to strengthen international air connectivity and expand the Kingdom's air transport network. It also supports Vision 2030's broader objective to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics platform and open new horizons for travel and trade. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Asharq Al-Awsat
29-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Int'l Airport Launches First Hainan Airlines Flights
Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah welcomed on Saturday the inaugural flight of China's Hainan Airlines, marking the launch of the first direct route between Jeddah and the Chinese city of Haikou. The new service will operate three times per week, positioning the airport as the first in the Kingdom to offer direct connectivity to Haikou. The launch of this route boosts air traffic between Saudi Arabia and China, reinforcing King Abdulaziz International Airport's growing role as a global logistics hub and expanding the Kingdom's direct air links with China. The inaugural flight was received by Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar; Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Jeddah Wang Qimin; and several officials from the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, and various government and security sectors operating at the airport. Hainan Airlines, ranked among the world's top ten airlines by Skytrax, brings a new level of service to the airport. Its entry is expected to boost the quality of air travel services and contribute to providing a superior travel experience. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin commented: 'We are proud of our strategic partnership with Hainan Airlines and look forward to expanding this collaboration through targeted initiatives and promotional campaigns led by the Saudi Tourism Authority.' The number of Chinese visitors to the Kingdom grew by 52 percent compared to last year, and that air connectivity between the two countries now includes six airlines operating 29 weekly flights. The Kingdom aims to attract five million Chinese tourists annually by 2030, he added. Johar stated: 'This significant milestone aligns with our strategy to increase the number of international destinations served by King Abdulaziz International Airport to 150 by 2030, in line with the National Aviation Strategy and Vision 2030.' Integrating Hainan Airlines into the airport's network strengthens Saudi–China air connectivity and supports infrastructure and service expansion efforts to meet growing global travel demand, he remarked. CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan described the occasion as an important step toward boosting the Kingdom's global connectivity. 'Welcoming Hainan Airlines in Jeddah reflects growing demand for travel between Saudi Arabia and China and helps foster tourism, cultural exchange, and economic ties,' he said. He underlined the role of Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who also oversees the Air Connectivity Program, in positioning Saudi Arabia as an approved and attractive destination for Chinese tourists. The Chinese market is targeted to become the Kingdom's third-largest source of inbound tourism by 2030. The development is part of the ongoing efforts by the General Authority of Civil Aviation to strengthen international air connectivity and expand the Kingdom's air transport network. It also supports Vision 2030's broader objective to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global logistics platform and open new horizons for travel and trade.
