Belarus and China are busy advancing cooperation practically across the board. Tourism occupies a noticeable place in the entire complex of all-weather all-round partnership and is becoming increasingly popular. More and more Chinese guests come to Belarus while Belarusians explore new Chinese resorts. A workshop event took place in Minsk on 10 March to highlight the opportunities for rest and recreation that the well-known Chinese island offers to Belarusians.
Hainan Province looks forward to welcoming Belarusian tourists for the sake of rest and recreation, BelTA learned from Anastasia Korytova, a representative of the Sanya Tourism Board from Hainan Province, China.
She led a large delegation from Hainan Province to Minsk in order to present the tourism potential of the Hainan Province island as a whole and of the city of Sanya in particular. Sanya is one of China’s key resort areas.
Anastasia Korytova expressed interest in attracting Belarusian tourists. “Last year saw a real breakthrough in tourism: in October 2025 Belavia launched direct flights connecting Minsk and Sanya. It opened a new page in Belarusian-Chinese tourism cooperation.”
According to the Chinese side, the visa-free regime that exists between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China is a big advantage. “This is a big plus, as it significantly reduces the time needed to prepare for a trip to Sanya and Hainan on the whole. They attract visitors with their wonderful climate, sea, and favorable conditions, offering great opportunities for a classic beach vacation. You can immerse yourself in traditional Chinese culture as well as the cultures of various nationalities, try the local cuisine, and, if necessary, take advantage of traditional Chinese medicine for health improvement,” said the representative of the Sanya Tourism Board of China’s Hainan Province.
She noted that with the launch of direct flights the number of Belarusian tourists visiting Hainan has increased significantly. “We are confident that this is only the beginning and that the number of tourists will continue to grow in both directions,” said Anastasia Korytova.
The large-scale event in Minsk was organized by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province. Its goal was to present the island’s opportunities for international tourism and expand cooperation with Belarusian travel agencies.
The presentation attracted a large number of representatives of the tourism industry from the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China. Belarusian tour operators showed great interest in the presentation of the tourist resources of famous Chinese resorts. Detailed information was provided about the current visa-free entry policy and plans for the further development of direct air service.
After the presentation special emphasis was placed on getting to know the capabilities of Chinese tour operators and hotels. Representatives of Belarusian companies learned in detail about the variety of services and tourist attractions during individual B2B negotiations with Chinese partners.
Representatives of 31 hotels, tourist areas, and travel companies from China presented their opportunities and tourism products.
Zhao Qingqiu, head of the committee for tourism cooperation with the People’s Republic of China of the Republican Union of Tourism Industry, sees great prospects for the development of Belarusian-Chinese tourism cooperation, including with Hainan Province. “Hainan Island is a region with unique natural resources and modern and diverse resort infrastructure. Hainan is actively developing as an international tourism center. We want Belarusians to learn more about the opportunities offered by Hainan and Sanya so that even more tourists would go there to relax and improve their health,” she said.
Sanya is a tropical seaside resort on Hainan Island, the southernmost city in the People’s Republic of China. Sanya is located along Sanya Bay and is washed by the South China Sea. Sanya has four main resort areas located in bays with white sand beaches and azure sea water: Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, Yalong Bay, and Haitang Bay.
During the presentation a lot was said about the attractions that can be found on Hainan Island. For example, the Nanshan Buddhist Center is the largest Buddhist center and scenic and ethnographic park in Asia. It is considered a model of feng shui, reflecting the harmony between man, nature, and society. Tourists are attracted by the world’s tallest (108m) bronze statue of the three-faced goddess Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. In a separate pavilion in the park, on a white jade pedestal in the shape of a lotus flower, stands the world’s largest golden statue of the goddess Guanyin (weighing over 140kg), decorated with precious stones. The ashes of Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, are enshrined in the head of the goddess.
Twenty-three kilometers away from the city of Sanya huge rocks of bizarre shapes tower over the sea. One of the rocks has an inscription in Chinese characters that reads “Edge of the world”. The inscription was made several hundred years ago. It is this rock that is depicted on the Chinese 2 yuan banknote. From here you can enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the sea and the island.
You can learn about the art and everyday life of ancient peoples in the ethnographic village of the Li and Miao ethnic groups. Nanwan Monkey Island is the only nature reserve in China where wild monkeys live in their natural habitat. Hainan Island also offers many opportunities for diving enthusiasts and fans of thermal springs.
Hainan is officially considered China’s resort and beach capital. As it was noted during the presentation, the active development of the region began in the 1990s. New modern infrastructure appeared, hotels of well-known global brands were built, and the quality of services reached world-class levels. It is important to note that the Chinese pricing policy has always been characterized by fair prices and a very high level of service. And in 2025 the region received the status of a free trade zone. This means that since 18 December 2025 the entire Hainan Island has officially functioned as a single independent customs zone, with goods imported from abroad now exempt from customs duties and VAT, making shopping in Hainan even more attractive.
Moreover, Hainan attracts tourists with its climate. The “Chinese Hawaii” is good for vacationing almost all year round. The province is also good for treatment and recovery in traditional Chinese medicine centers. And, certainly, there is also nature, volcanoes, mountains, springs, national parks, entertainment centers, excursions, cuisine – in short, a whole range of factors that attract travelers from all over the world to Hainan, including those from Belarus.
Pavel Li, marketing director of the destination management company Sanya Eden International Travel, also gave presentations to Belarusian tourism professionals at the beginning of the workshop.
The workshop was attended by representatives of the Yanoda Tropical Rainforest Park, the Binglanggu·Hainan Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park, the Red Canyon complex, and a number of Hainan hotels.
On the whole, the Belarusian participants were impressed by the enthusiastic presentation given by the Chinese guests from faraway Hainan. And, as they say, it’s better to see once than hear a hundred times. Belarusians are welcome at Chinese resorts. And we look forward to welcoming Chinese tourists in order to introduce them to the splendor of Belarusian culture, history, and cuisine. Chinese guests can also expect many pleasant discoveries in Belarus.
By BelTA’s Alina GRISHKEVICH
Photos by the author
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