Hainan inn chain seeks to promote eco-culture

Feng Qingxiong, a native of Hainan province, has tried to develop a chain of inns to share with visitors the eco-culture, tradition and lifestyle of the tropical island - elements that he says carry an everlasting charm and deserve to be protected.

With local Hainan elements blended and presented with ethnic folklore features, Feng's inns are becoming a window to display the natural and cultural essence of the island in southern China, and the homestay-style inns are often seeing room occupancy higher than 80 percent often.

The 49-year-old Feng, who is chairman of the board of directors of the Forest Inn Resort, attributes his success to the changes Hainan has seen during the country's reform and opening-up over the past 40 years.