HAIKOU, June 29. /TASS/. The Hainan authorities plan to give the local tourism industry a whole new look in the coming years by creating exciting products that more fully demonstrate the island's intangible cultural heritage, reported the Hainan Daily newspaper citing the local administration.

"In recent years, Hainan has been constantly expanding the scope of the system for the protection of intangible heritage sites, both national and provincial, county-wise: their number has increased to 32, 82 and 300, respectively," a source in the regional department of culture and tourism told the newspaper.

According to him, among the key objects attracting close attention of the international community, the embroidery technology of the small ethnicity Li is worth mentioning, the Li people predominantly inhabit the central and western parts of the island, and in 2009 was included in the "list of UN intangible heritage sites in particular need of protection". 

Chen Siguang, director of the Beijing Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Fund, said that in addition to traditional beach holidays, seaside entertainment and other tropical tourism products, Hainan has a rich tourism program. "The island is famous for its excellent ecology and, moreover, has a rich original culture and ancient history," he stressed. The head of the organization noted that the southernmost Chinese province is located at the intersection of important sea trade routes, which constantly enrich its cultural image.

Among the intangible cultural heritage of Hainan, which drew the attention of Chinese and foreign experts, are the song folklore of the fishing villages of Danjia sub-ethnic group, which migrates depending on the season, the energetic dance art of the Miao people - the descendants of soldiers recruited about four centuries ago by the central government of imperial China for suppression of uprisings on the island and protection of the southern maritime borders (representatives of this national minority today mainly inhabit the provinces in the south and southwest of mainland China), folk art of Hainan salt workers, ancient religious rituals and so much more.

Hainan remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in China all year round. According to official figures, 83 million tourists visited the southernmost province of China in 2019. In connection with the pandemic over the past year, this figure decreased by 22%, amounting to 64.55 million people.