Sanya Wanghao Duty-Free Store bursts with popularity

On the morning of Aug 22, a wonderful array of Malaysian durian fruit was put on display at the Durian Festival stand in the Sanya Wanghao Duty-Free Store for Everyday Essentials.

Delivered via a full cold supply chain and still exuding a refreshing tropical aroma, each piece of the fruit had an origin-tracing label on its brown shell.

Customers browse at the Sanya Wanghao Duty-Free Store for Everyday Essentials. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Customers choose some choice Malaysian durians at the display stand. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

The Durian Festival is more than just a treat for the palate. It also a practical example of how cross-border trade facilitation contributed to the consumption of fresh fruits following the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port on Dec 18 in 2025.

Ye Jiasheng, chairman of Hainan Wanghao Industrial Co Ltd, said that the policies of the Hainan FTP have optimized logistics, customs clearance and costs for importing fresh produce. As a result, durians can now be flown directly to Hainan, preserving their fresh taste.

Hainan Wanghao Industrial Co Ltd is now working to establish direct sourcing from Malaysia — using the Hainan FTP's advantages to bring more high-quality Southeast Asian fruits to Hainan, ensuring the benefits reach the local community.

Since its opening on Aug 1, the Sanya Wanghao Duty-Free Store for Everyday Essentials — the second of its kind for local residents in Sanya — has been gaining in popularity.

The tidy 300-square-meter space features over 200 duty-free items — including imported milk powder, beverages and home care products — attracting droves of shoppers to its aisles with impressive hauls in their carts.

The store manager noted that since its opening, imported snacks, cross-border fresh produce and mother and baby products have been in high demand, with restocking happening more frequently than expected.

The store also plans to expand to over 700 square meters, diversify its product range, upgrade its customer services and enhance its overall shopping experience for residents.