A contestant arrives at the welcoming party. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A welcome party was held Monday at the seven-star Beauty Crown Sanya Hotel,which also marked the debut of all the candidates. The contestants received flowers presented by Sanya primary school students, and the Li people, an ethnic minority group in Hainan, performed their unique bamboo dance.

The final contest will be held on Dec 19 in the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre, which was built in 2003 specifically for Miss World competitions. The reigning Miss World, Rolene Strauss of South Africa will crown her successor.