This area, centred on the city of Qionghai (Hainanese Heng Hai, pronounced "Heng High"), is emerging as a rival to the Southeast Coast (namely Xinglong Hot Springs), siphoning off some of the tourist traffic (especially Chinese tourist groups) that makes its way single-mindedly from Haikou to Sanya.
Boao (Hainanese Bak Ngao, pronounced "Buck Gow") wins a lot of local traffic on the strength of its role as permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia. Recognising Boao's distinctive dynamic, the Hainan provincial government has now more than doubled the area of the "Boao Aquapolis", expanding it southward to take in the coastal beaches of Wanning city. However, development of this area will take many years yet.
Hainan East Coast Introduction (Ctrip) Nice overview; includes area from Wenchang down to Lingshui in 'East Coast'.
Eastern Hainan: The Vicious Empress and Women Soldiers This travelogue by Singaporean of Hainanese descent, Tan Wee Cheng, coming home to his ancestral island gives lots of fascinating background that the bland tourism sites pass over completely.
Boao
Simple map of Boao (from Sunnysanya.com)
China Guide: Qionghai -- almost completely devoted to "Bo’ao (Newly-Built Tourist Attraction) - The Permanent Venue of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia" and "The Bo’ao Forum for Asia will bear a series of important responsibilities". Content may be imagined :)
Boao Forum for Asia and Surrounding Attractions. From Chinasanya.com. With photo of the conference hall interior, but the language is Chinglish.
Boao Town Comments and photos by Canadian tourist Leigh Kirkwood. Leigh has seen Boao exactly as thousands of Chinese tourists see it every day.
BFA brings about local all-round progress Chinese news item on the role of the Boao Forum for Asia in bringing progress to Qionghai.Guantang Hot Spring
Guantang Hot Springs (Ctrip) Helpful and honest.
