Tropical treat for the winter

For those who cannot stand the cold, Hainan offers the perfect respite. And the local authorities are pulling out all stops to boost visitor numbers, both from home and overseas. Xu Lin reports.

Edward Hutchins, 26, fell in love with Hainan province - the Hawaii of China - the first time when he saw its beautiful tropical scenery. When the New Zealander decided to move to China three years ago, he first visited Hainan and stayed there for three months.

"I'm lucky that I met many friendly people there, who showed me around Hainan, letting me experience the local lifestyle," says Hutchins, who works in a technology company in Beijing.