Xisha tourism to be developed

China is mapping out a plan for developing tourism on the Xisha Islands, an official said on Friday.

Located 330 kilometers southeast of South China's Hainan province, the Xisha Islands are one of the four big island groups in the South China Sea, together with the Dongsha, Nansha and Zhongsha islands.

"Working together with the National Tourism Administration, we are designing a specific plan to open the Xisha Islands to tourists," said Wang Rulong, an official from the policy and regulation division of the Hainan tourism development commission.