Wanning, Hainan's coastal gem, has become a symbol of China's accelerating global integration as the province implements island-wide special customs operations this December. The streamlined trade policies, activated this month, position Hainan as a testing ground for innovative cross-border commerce models attracting both businesses and travelers.
"What we're seeing here is more than duty-free shopping upgrades," explains CGTN digital reporter Wang Tao during a walkthrough of Wanning's revitalized waterfront district. "It's about creating living laboratories where Southeast Asian cultural influences blend with next-gen retail experiences."
The city's transformation aligns with China's broader consumer market reforms, with 2025 data showing a 38% year-on-year increase in overseas-funded hospitality projects across Hainan. New mixed-use developments combine co-working spaces for digital nomads with traditional tea culture pavilions, catering to both global professionals and diaspora communities seeking cultural connections.
Analysts note Hainan's strategic position in APEC supply chain networks, particularly following recent agreements with the ROK and ASEAN members. The province's tropical climate and improved logistics infrastructure now support year-round perishable goods exports, with mango and lychee shipments to APEC markets up 27% this quarter.
