An ocean paradise with all the conveniences of the mainland

As the ship sailed slowly, almost hesitantly, into the harbor of Yongxing Island, after an exhausting 15-hour trip from Wenchang, Hainan province, I was astonished by the dreamlike light-green morning sea stretching in front of me.

The spectrum of colors was more vibrant, more gasp-inducing than I had seen in the Maldives.

But, I had to remind myself, this was the Xisha Islands, two words that have frequently appeared in my daily news reports, yet for the first time I could truly appreciate their scenic lure.