Hainan Island became China's 31st province in 1988. It is the country's southernmost province, located 30 km off of Guangdong province and is close to the Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Hainan has a 2,000 year history and at one time served as a place of exile for poets and politicians critical of the government. With a population of over 7.7 million, Hainan is home to various ethnic groups including Hanzu, Lizu, Miaozu, Zhuangzu and Huizu. The Lizu live only on Hainan and are known for their talents in spinning, weaving, printing, dyeing and embroidery.

In addition to its rich and diverse ethnic traditions, Hainan has been designated as one of China's special economic zones for foreign investment, trade and tourism. Since the island is located at about the same latitude as Cuba and Hawai'i, it is developing into China's main tropical resort. With resorts along Hainan's 1,600 kilometers of coastline, the inland boasts acres of tropical rainforest rife with hardwood trees, rhesus monkeys and other wildlife.