HAIKOU, China, Oct. 09, 2024 — Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, saw a surge in visitors during China’s National Day Holiday. The city’s inaugural Urban Art Week, held from October 1st to 7th, attracted nearly a million visitors. The week-long event featured a diverse range of cultural events, including musical concerts, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, street art performances, and fashion shows of intangible cultural heritages.

 

Alongside the cultural offerings, the city hosted a number of recreational activities, such as beach sports, SUP carnivals, and basketball leagues. This blend of cultural and leisure options appealed to both Chinese and international visitors.

“Haikou is a city of music,” said Jong May Urbonya, a U.S. blogger, who was impressed by the local concerts and traditional Hainan Opera performances. “If given the opportunity, I would love to come back again,” Urbonya added.

“I am amazed to see such a wonderful painting exhibition. It shows the spiritual essence of the Chinese people,” said Irina from Russia. She and her friends were particularly captivated by Chinese painter Qi Baishi’s work, “Shrimp and Crab” hanging scroll.

The city also saw a significant boost in tourism due to Kanye West’s global tour, which brought 40,000 fans, 95% of whom were from outside Hainan Island.

“By hosting local brands of art festival and fostering platforms for cultural exchange, Haikou aims to develop its artistic identity while driving the cultural tourism economy,” said a representative from the Publicity Department of Haikou Municipal Party Committee.

Haikou, the southernmost historical and cultural city in China, is actively developing the core area of the Hainan Free Trade Port. In recent years, the city has been investing in its urban infrastructure and cultural landscape. This includes strengthening its performing arts economy and improving the infrastructure of urban cultural and artistic spaces.

Source: The Publicity Department of Haikou Municipal Party Committee

CONTACT: Contact person: Ms. Chen, Tel: 86-10-63074558