Despite the adverse impact brought by the recent pandemic outbreaks, Sanya — a resort destination as well as a core city for the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, commenced the construction of 54 major projects on Tuesday.

(Photo: Yuan Yongdong / Sanya Daily)

The newly begun projects cover multiple areas including science & technology, education, culture, ecological conservation, logistics, public service, and infrastructure, as well as facilities in preparation for formal island-wide independent customs operations, scheduled for 2025.

A total investment of 10.05 billion yuan (about $1.46 billion) will be made in these projects, with an estimated 6.2 billion yuan (about $900 million) to be in place by the end of this year.

It is notable that over one-third of the projects involve scientific & technological innovation. These include a Nanfan science & technology service center (462 million yuan), an AI computing center (495 million yuan), and an intelligent manufacturing factory (732 million yuan) in the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City, one of the eleven key industrial parks of the Hainan Free Trade Port.  (Editor’s note: Nanfan refers to a method of cultivating summer crops in south China after the autumn harvest is complete in the northern regions.)