Island succeeds in boosting global profile

By hosting international events and showcasing its local culture and art overseas, Hainan island has given a boost to its global profile in recent years.

As China's only tropical island, Hainan is blessed with big waves and moderate temperatures even in winter, attracting surfers from all over the world. Riyue (Sun Moon) Bay in Wanning on the island's southeastern coast is praised as the country's best surf spot and the city has hosted an annual international surfing festival since 2010.

It caught media attention in January when 66 professional short-board female surfers from 14 countries and regions gathered at the bay to compete for a world championship title.

Soccer is another sport that has drawn world attention to Hainan.

A team comprising girls of the Li and Miao ethnic groups from the Qiongzhong autonomous prefecture in central Hainan beat a Swedish team 4:3 to win the world under-12 girls championship in Gothenburg, Sweden in July 17, making history.

The education department of Hainan government signed a deal with real estate giant Evergrande Group, the owner of Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande, on Aug 19 to establish a foundation to support the development of campus soccer in Hainan.

The tropical island is the main winter training base for Chinese soccer teams because of its warm weather.

It may also be the "hottest" place in the world in winter when beauties from around the globe gather in Sanya, Hainan, to compete for the Miss World crown.

Sanya has hosted the Miss World Final five times since 2003 and will host the pageant final again in December. Three billion people around the world watch the event on television, making it a strong showcase for the island's scenery and culture.

The provincial government of Hainan is active and creative in its overseas promotions to introduce the island's unique culture and arts to the world.

Hainan culture made its first appearance in London, the global capital of cultural creative industries, in September 2014 at Hainan Culture Week. Ninety British businesses discussed the possibility of cooperation with 12 enterprises from Hainan.

The documentary Meeting Hainan People won an award at the China International Film Festival London in December and has been aired in more than 90 countries and regions.

It features Ian Wright, a well-known host of travel shows on the Discovery channel. He cycled around Hainan Island in 22 days, making video diaries of the people he met and the local customs.

"Hainan culture went global through the documentary. It has shown the island's cultural soft power and promoted the communication and exchanges between different countries and nations," said Meng Mian, a counselor at the Chinese embassy in Britain.

Contact the writers through xujingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 08/28/2015 page20)