From August 22 to 23, more than 20 international media representatives from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Russia, as well as from China's Hong Kong and Taiwan regions visited Haikou. Through on-site explorations of historic districts, industrial parks, and leading companies, the group got a first hand look at Hainan's history, industrial vitality, and open development policies.

Journalists captured the area's Southeast Asian-style charm and historic sights through their lenses. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

Upon arriving at the Haikou Qilou Historic & Cultural Quarter, the journalists were immediately captivated by the area’s unique architectural character and vibrant neighborhood atmosphere. They eagerly pulled out their phones and cameras, capturing the area's Southeast Asian-style charm and historic sights. The ornate carvings on the arcade facades, locals enjoying a refreshing bowl of Qingbuliang (a traditional coconut-based dessert) by the roadside, and travelers taking souvenir photos all showed up vividly in their reports.

Journalists took photos of sculptures in the Qilou area. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

Journalists took photos of a "coconut master". (Photo: Li Peng / Hainan Daily)

When they noticed a "coconut master," a live streamer performing at the quarter, the journalists were impressed by her skillful moves—chopping coconuts with one hand while tossing and catching them in the other. Rouini Chaima, Al Jazeera Beijing bureau chief, happily exclaimed that she finally got to see the performance in person. She had previously followed the livestreams while learning Chinese.

Rouini Chaima shot extensive video footage on her phone. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

Rouini Chaima also shot extensive video footage on her phone and interviewed a representative of Shangnantang, a local tea store, about the history and production process of Partridge Tea. She commented, "What interested me most during this trip was learning about Haikou's history, especially the origin of the city’s name. I plan to use the footage I've gathered to produce a report that will air on Al Jazeera's platforms, helping in Arab countries gain a deeper understanding of Hainan."

Journalists toured the Hainan Free Trade Port Achievement Exhibition. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

At the Hainan Provincial Chronicles and History Museum, the delegation toured the Hainan Free Trade Port Achievement Exhibition, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the province's significant progress in setting up “Three Zones and One Center”. They posed questions to the staff and museum docent, seeking the latest updates. After the visit, Konstantin Kobaidze, a reporter from Russia Today, happily shared with the docent: "This is my first time in Hainan. The exhibition is very meaningful, and I think the future of the Hainan Free Trade Port looks extremely promising."

The journalists viewed a model of the "Fendouzhe" (Striver) deep-sea submersible. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

At the Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park, journalists listened to briefings on the park's development. They then toured the Cross-border Data Service Industrial base, where they held face-to-face conversations with entrepreneurs based in the park, learning in detail about their business journeys in Hainan and the cross-border livestream e-commerce operations.

The journalists watched a cross-border livestream e-commerce session on site. (Photo: Wang Chengxian / HIMC)

The delegation also visited Haikou International Duty-Free City, where they learned about the expansion of duty-free product categories, innovations in consumer scenarios, and the effectiveness of policy implementation, gaining a firsthand impression of the vibrant energy driving Hainan's duty-free consumer market.