Qionghai, a city situated on the east coast of Hainan Province, the southernmost island province in China, is the home of the Red Detachment of Women, the world-renowned combat unit, which was established in Qionghai in 1931. Boao, a town in Qionghai, is the permanent venue of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). Qionghai is the ideal place in China for travelers who want to embrace bright sunshine, the blue ocean and — especially in winter — evergreen trees.

Qionghai is located at the lower reaches of the Wanquan River, which is the third-longest river on Hainan Island. The river is known as the "Amazon of China," as it nourishes the tropical rainforests along the riverside, and as it nurtures the people of various ethnic groups who inhabit the river basin. 

The city has a tropical monsoon climate, and the temperature does not vary greatly throughout the year. The warm climate, ample sunshine, fresh air, and good ecological environment combine to provide a paradise for travelers who want to escape the cold in other regions of China. 

Women Heroes 

"The water of the Wanquan River is crystal clear. I make bamboo hats for the Red Army." Those lyrics are from the song, Wanquan River is Crystal Clear, which is well-known in Hainan Province. The song has built an enduring image of a group of legendary women soldiers, who fought for liberation during the 1930s, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, on Hainan Island. The combat unit was an all-women special company of the Second Independent Division of the Red Army, commonly known as the Red Detachment of Women. The women soldiers, most of whom were aged 20 or younger, took part in many battles against Kuomintang forces, and they played an important role in the women's liberation movement in China. 

The heroic deeds of the women soldiers became known to nearly every household in China, through a movie (1960) and a ballet (1964), both called the Red Detachment of Women. For more than half a century, the spirit of the Red Detachment of Women has influenced generations of Chinese. 

The Memorial Park of the Red Detachment of Women, which opened in 2000, is a red-tourism attraction in Jiaji, a town in Qionghai. In September 2023, the memorial park reopened after two years of renovations and expansion. It reflects the brave deeds of and displays the precious photos and objects connected with the Red Detachment of Women. 

Different Cultures

Boao is located in the eastern part of Qionghai, in the area where the Wanquan River flows into the South China Sea. The first annual conference of BFA was held in Boao in 2002. As the permanent venue of BFA, Boao has been transformed from a little-known fishing town into a key location for diplomatic exchanges. 

The Boao Forum for Asia Theme Park, located near BFA's permanent venue, has nine courtyards, and distinct buildings. The theme park displays Hainan specialties, and it reveals the charm of Hainan's intangible cultural heritage. 

Cai's Mansion, located in Liuke, a village in Boao, is a complex of interconnected buildings with a combination of Chinese, Western and Southeast-Asian architectural styles. It was built during the Republic of China (1912-1949) period by Cai Jiasen, Cai Jiajin, Cai Jiahong and Cai Jiabing, four brothers from the Cai family. 

During the late Qing Dynasty (1616-1911), many people in Qionghai took long journeys to seek their fortunes in Southeast Asia, despite multiple cultural barriers. After these overseas Chinese achieved their success, they returned to their hometowns, with cultural elements of the countries they had visited. Cai Jiasen, born in 1886, went to Indonesia when he was 15. He made his fortune in the rubber and shipping industries, and he became a wealthy businessman. Due to his deep attachment to his hometown, he returned home to build a house with his brothers in the 1920s. The mansion was completed in 1934. Now, the mansion is a platform for travelers to understand the integration of Southeast Asian cultures with the local culture in Qionghai. 

Jade Belt Beach, another must-see tourist attraction in Boao, is an 8.5-kilometer natural peninsula. When the tide rises, the narrowest point of the beach is just 10 meters. In 1999, the northern part of the beach was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as "the narrowest beach peninsula separating sea from river." 

Qionghai offers a unique blend of stunning natural scenery, abundant cultural heritage, and modern infrastructure. There is something for everyone in this enchanting city.

(Women of China English Monthly January 2025)

Editor: Wang Shasha