S. China's Hainan to build highway loop to boost tourism

BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- A project of the scenic highway around the main island is recently approved for construction in Hainan, southern China's island province. 

With a total investment of 16.7 billion yuan, the project is expected to boost the construction of the international tourism consumption center.

The highway, with the mainroad length of 997.9km and the linkroad length of 442.7km, links 12 coastal cities and counties including Haikou, Qionghai and Sanya, as well as Yangpu Economic Development Zone in Hainan to create a loop around the province stretching along the sea and other parts including characteristic bays, capes, towns and tourist attractions.

As an important infrastructure project for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, the highway construction is of great significance to the innovative tourism road development and operation, according to an official from the Department of Transportation of Hainan Province.

The project is expected to bring the leapfrog development of Hainan's tourism industry in resource integration, investment construction, business innovation, operation management, building the area into a new tourism highlight in Hainan and a state-level highway with breathing-taking views, the official added.