Hainan's round-the-island tourist highway is expected to completely open on Dec 31, according to the Hainan Provincial Department of Commerce.

To boost tourism, the scenic highway around the tropical island will link existing roads in 12 coastal cities and counties, such as Haikou, Qionghai, Wanning, Sanya, and Yangpu Economic Development Zone, and pass through cliffs, wetlands, windmills, coconut groves, estuaries, countryside and other characteristic landscapes. The total length of the main line is 988.2 kilometers. Along the route, 40 leisure stations are planned to show local natural and cultural features.

The construction of the round-the-island tourist road officially started in July 2021, and the construction was carried out smoothly according to the department.

The planning and design work of the leisure stations is being conducted through international competition, and the province will establish an integrated management mechanism for the highway and its stations, and unify project identification and service standards for its operation.

Hainan also hopes to attract social capital from central enterprises, state-owned enterprises, foreign companies and private enterprises. "We sincerely invite domestic and foreign enterprises to participate in the projects of the road's leisure stations, and jointly contribute to the construction of Hainan's international tourism consumption center," said Yue Yang, deputy director of the provincial department.