Visitors swarm the Haikou Hall at the 6th CIIE

On Nov. 6, the second day of the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Haikou Culture Exhibition Hall attracted large crowds interested in the unique travel offerings of the capital city of southern China’s Hainan Province.

According to preliminary numbers for the day, nearly 30,000 visitors came to check out the Haikou exhibitions, on-site transactions were valued at around 110,000 yuan (approx. $15,101), and 37 Haikou Hall exhibitors signed cooperative agreements for food, tea, handicrafts, intangible cultural heritage arts, and other items worth over 3 million yuan (approx. $0.4 million) in total.

The Hainan Haikou Culture Exhibition Hall. (Photo: Wu Xingcai / New Hainan App)

“I have been hearing that Haikou was a great travel destination for a long time,” said Zhong Xueqin, a merchant from Hunan. She gained more insight into the ancient charm and laid-back vibes of Haikou through the coconut carvings, partridge tea, and other local products on display, which only made her want to visit the city even more.

A coconut Chinese chess set displayed at the Haikou Culture Exhibition Hall. (Photo: Wu Xingcai / New Hainan App)

Wang Ke, director of the Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Haikou City, the Haikou Hall features an interactive experience area, an intangible cultural heritage display area, a cultural travel product display area, a “Laobacha” (Old Dad’s Tea) culture area, and more, showing how open, inviting, and vivid the city is in a variety of different ways.

Items on display at the Hainan Haikou Culture Exhibition Hall. (Photo: Wu Xingcai / New Hainan App)

As the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, the CIIE has established an international platform for cross-border procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchanges, and open cooperation, and has received acclaim and an enthusiastic welcome from people from all walks of life and all parts of the globe.

“As the capital city of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Haikou has not only a wealth of cultural content but is constantly evolving and developing a new look.” Wang Ke asserted that Haikou’s participation in the 6th CIIE will further promote the integration and win-win promotion of the city’s foreign trade, culture, and travel sectors, deepen international exchanges and mutual learning, and attract more interest in Haikou as it develops into a more modern and international city.