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With China Duty Free Group and Hainan Provincial Duty Free Co Ltd (HNDF) both announcing huge duty free development projects on Hainan Island, industry attention is understandably focused on the extraordinary growth of shopping on the resort island.
But Hainan has much else going for it. It’s a beautiful island with over 1,500sq k of tropical rainforest, over 4,600 kinds of plants and more than 570 animal species.
Guests at China Duty Free Group’s recent Vendors’ Conference got a wonderful opportunity to see some of the island’s natural wonders during a visit to the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone.
This was an amazing experience, interesting on one level to witness China’s domestic tourism industry in full flow (and to start to appreciate its scale) and simply beautiful on another. 1,000 year-old Banyan trees, hibiscus flowers and orchids of exquisite, fragile beauty, swing bridges across beautiful lush caverns – almost more than the eye could take in during our all too fleeting visit. This is yet another place on my global travels that now has a ‘must return’ mental note in my mind.
I won’t be alone. Over the coming years, millions of Mainland Chinese will be drawn to Hainan. Yes, shopping may be the main drawcard, but this lovely island has more, much more to offer.
[This magnificent Banyan tree is at least 1,000 years old]
[The fragile beauty of the Hibiscus flower adorns the Yanoda zone]
[Johnnie Voutzas of Folli Follie makes a feathered friend]
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