Boao

Background

Bo'ao Town belongs to Qionghai, Hainan, and lies around the mouth of the Wanquan River, Hainan's third-longest river, known for its clear water and tropical scenery. The Jade Belt Beach is a long, narrow sandbar separating the South China Sea from the Wanquan estuary and can be reached by boat from Bo'ao. The permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia is on Dongyu Island, where the forum's annual conference is held. In the aftermath of the 1998 Asian financial crisis, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and former Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa proposed an Asian forum; the Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001, and its annual conference has been held at the permanent site in Bo'ao every year since 2002. Nearby Tanmen is a well-known fishing port with a tradition of deep-sea fishing and boatbuilding, and the former residence of General Cai Tingkai, also nearby, shows traditional Hainanese architecture.

Local customs

• Take a boat to the Jade Belt Beach to see open sea on one side and the river mouth on the other
• visit the permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia to see its buildings and walk along the shore
• go to Tanmen fishing port to see the boats and the seafood market, and try seafood and qingbuliang, a cold coconut-milk dessert.

Travel tips

• Bo'ao is small and can be seen in about half a day at a relaxed pace
• check the official information for site-visit and boat prices. During the forum's annual conference some areas are restricted, so check official notices before you go
• summers are hot, humid and rainy, so bring sun protection and drinking water.
• Bo'ao is east of central Qionghai
• from Haikou or Sanya, take a high-speed train to Bo'ao Station and transfer. The Jade Belt Beach is reached by boat. You can visit all year round
• winter is the most comfortable, summer is rainy, hot and humid, and in typhoon season you should check the official opening notices.