A holiday gem waiting to be discovered

WHERE better to spend your 55th birthday than sitting in a cradle hurtling high above a rainforest on a tropical paradise … it’s a tough life but someone has to do it, writes Stan Szecowka.

The adrenalin rush was much needed after three days stuck in a hotel conference hall busy taking notes about the future of the global travel and tourism sector.

One of the guest speakers was a multi-millionaire movie mogul whose motivational speech to the delegates consisted of him telling everyone how he slept Thatcher-style (late former UK Prime Minister renowned for needing only a little sleep) for around five hours a night, went to the gym religiously, didn’t eat or drink during flights, didn’t ever need a rest to let his body clock adjust on landing in a far off destination and was the first to call his close friends to find out how they were doing or simply to say hello.

Well, well done, Mr Perfect. The very thought drained my energy levels and the only way to restore my will to live was to put my life on the (zip) line.

And where better than on Asia’s longest rainforest zip-line measuring more than 680 metres taking about two minutes to fly from the top of a mountain to the terminal below.

Fortunately, it wasn’t terminal … but what a ride!

When a trip to China was first mentioned I expected smoggy cities and avoiding Asian flu. Instead I found myself in Hainan, the smallest and southern-most province of China and on Hainan Island, the main island of the province.

It is located in the South China Sea, separated from Guangdong’s Leizhou Peninsula to the north by the shallow and narrow Qiongzhou Strait.

Haikou on the northern coast of Hainan Island is the capital whilst Sanya is a stunning location full of five-star luxury hotels and numerous new ones appearing on the horizon, and tourist-friendly gloriously soft-sanded beaches and bays on the south coast.

Hainan has over 1,500km (580sq/m) of tropical forest, in which live 4,600 kinds of plants and more than 570 species of animals.

There are various ethnic groups living in Hainan and their lifestyles and traditions are celebrated and provide an essential ingredient to the visitor experience.

The Li are the largest indigenous group on the island in terms of population. The Li And Miao Ecological Cultural Tourism Area of Ganza Ridge Areca Valley is called ‘Binglanggu’ for short and located in the Ganza Ridge Natural Reserve on the border of Sanya City and Baoting County.

Approximately 28km from Sanya. It is named Binglanggu because it is formed by a valley, several kilometres long, covered with thousands of areca palms and lush jungle on both slopes.

The reserve comprises three major features the primitive Li village, the ecological Miao village and tropical jungle. It is one of the most important tourist attractions on Hainan and is among its top 10 scenic spots.

Traditional songs and dance routines are performed alongside speedy barefoot tree climbing and fire-breathing thrown in for good measure, as well as some nose-pipe playing, slightly difficult to play with a heavy cold one would imagine.

The craft-making is amazing and the art of weaving and wooden spindles in action adorn the village. There are greetings with ancient hand signals and nose touching which I would suggest are best to be avoided to ensure no misunderstandings take place and you don’t end up proposing your hand in marriage to the tattooed elderly lady in the chair.

And, located just 40km west of Sanya City along the Hainan West Expressway, is a window on China’s traditional Buddhism culture.

The Nanshan Cultural Park highlights China’s diverse social customs. The key feature of the zone is a giant three-sided bronze statue of Guan Yin Buddha which stands 108 metres tall on a man-made island in the sea.

It’s larger than the statue of liberty and visitors can walk or take a lift up the top of its base by the feet which offers a marvellous view and where believers can pay homage, burn incense, leave messages and receive a spiritual lift.

Down on the beaches and up in the mountains there are plenty of rocks and bridges which are symbols of love and fertility which makes the island a hotspot for weddings and honeymooners.

Hainan Island is a holiday gem waiting to be discovered by discerning Gulf tourists, says Rüdiger C. Hollweg, general manager of Kempinski Hotel Haitang Bay Sanya.

The resort is located 25 minutes’ drive from the island’s airport in the Haitang Bay Sanya costal area which features a 20km continuous strip of white sand described as the most pristine environment on Hainan.

“Hainan Island, especially Sanya, has not been detected yet by visitors from the Gulf region. After the opening of the Haitang Bay International Shopping Centre, planned in autumn this year and offering international luxury tax-free shopping on more than 120,000sq/m, Sanya will definitely show on the map of places to go,” Mr Hollweg predicted.

Guests can also relax in an outdoor bathtub with panoramic views of either the resort garden and the Qing Dynasty pagoda or the sweeping ocean. The outdoor bathtub is standard in all rooms and suites, perfect for two persons and unique only to Kempinski Haitang Bay Sanya. All rooms and suites also come with exquisite Chinese-style furnishing.
There are fun dragon boat trips available around the hotel’s canal waterways and there is also an 18-hole pitch and putt golf course.

Although there are no direct flights from the Gulf region travellers can fly from Dubai to Guangzhou and take a short one-hour-and-30-minute hop over to Sanya airport.

Compared to parts of mainland China, the air quality of Hainan is excellent. Throughout 2012, for example, it had the highest air quality in the country. It has a tropical moist monsoonal climate.

Other top hotels include the five-star Narada Resort & Spa Qixian Mount in the tropical rainforest and boasting hot springs, set at the foot of the Seven Fairy Mountain.

Website: www.hainanparadise.com

And the Royal Begonia Luxury Collection Resort, Sanya, features 142 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms and 18 private villas nestled on sparkling ivory beaches.

Website: www.starwoodhotels.com