Once known primarily for its tropical beaches, Sanya in south China's Hainan Province is now making waves as a dynamic center for fashion and cultural innovation. Major events like the Hainan Island International Film Festival and the Sanya Fashion Week have drawn over 500,000 visitors this year, according to local authorities, fueling a 34% year-on-year increase in cultural tourism revenue.
The city's free-trade port policies, implemented in 2020, have attracted 127 multinational creative enterprises since 2023. "We're creating a synergy between luxury retail, digital art installations, and sustainable fashion," said Chen Wei, director of Sanya's Cultural Development Bureau, in a recent interview.
This transformation aligns with Hainan's broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond tourism. Over 15,000 professionals in design, entertainment, and event management have relocated to Sanya since 2024, drawn by tax incentives and state-of-the-art facilities like the newly opened Phoenix Island Creative Complex.
