Sanya to Beijing: Attending a springtime celebration

As the spring breeze flows silently through it, Bohou village — in Sanya's Jiyang district — is beautifully adorned with flowers.

The parking lot is filled with a long line of cars from out of town, while the terraces of local guesthouses are alive with the laughter and chatter of tourists.

This was the lively scene that met the eyes of visitors in Bohou village during the first Spring Festival holiday after the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Su Shaohong (left) chats with Yuan Feifei, manager of the Shanhai Wutong Inn. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

"The nine-days holiday saw 45,300 tourist trips to the village and 9.7154 million yuan ($1.41 million) in tourism revenue," said Su Shaohong, a deputy to the National People's Congress and the Party secretary and village committee director of Bohou. During an interview, Su stood by the local lake, sounding both pleased and thoughtful.

"The steady stream of tourists from home and abroad tests not just our hosting abilities, but also our skill in providing services that meet international standards," he added.

Bohou village's popularity initially stemmed from its prime location near the Yalong Bay Tourist Resort and was further boosted by a cluster of 76 boutique inns.

Nonetheless, Su saw the future of rural tourism as hinging on the warmth and detail of the services being provided. This insight came from a seemingly minor incident that kept him up at night.

A while back, a Russian woman and her kid were hanging around near a fruit stand at the village entrance. Since she hadn't exchanged her currency for yuan, they had to leave without buying anything.

"The look of disappointment on the kid's face really got to me," Su said. He quickly bought some mangoes, caught up with them, and used a translation app to repeatedly apologize, explaining that there wasn't a currency exchange in the village yet.

This incident sparked Su's mission to improve international services in the village. He started walking around with a notebook, jotting down things such as where the nearest currency exchange was and how many signs had both Chinese and English on them.

"The launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan FTP isn't just about opening the door, it's about making sure that those who 'come in' feel welcome and at ease," Su noted.

To him, things like an English road sign, a bilingual menu, or a currency exchange machine are all ways for Bohou village to embrace the world.

Even though the Spring Festival holiday is over, Bohou village still draws many visitors looking to avoid the crowds.

Watching the tourists come and go, Su's eyes were filled with resolve: "I'm heading to Beijing with the hopes of the local community, and I'll bring back the spirit of the two sessions," he declared.

"I want Bohou village to be a place that offers both the charm of 'poetry and faraway lands' and the comfort of 'feeling right at home.' That's my goal and mission as an NPC deputy," he said.