Setting sail

The growing interest in the Silk Road is prompting more tourism operators to take people to increasingly far-flung parts of the ancient route and a boom in cruises. Xing Yi and Erik Nilsson report.

The Xisha Islands will soon be offered to more cruise passengers following the popularity of the Coconut Princess cruise liner's new 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road route to the archipelago.

"Demand for Xisha Islands visits generally outstrips supply," Hainan Daily quoted Sansha city Mayor Xiao Jie as saying during the two sessions in March.