Why This Asian Beach City Now Feels Like a Russian Resort

A travel industry insider says the Chinese island of Hainan has become so popular with Russian tourists that one of its cities now feels nearly like home. Voskanyan Arzumanyan, a member of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, told local radio that Russian-speaking visitors now make up 60 percent of the tourist crowd on the island.

"Our tourists love Hainan, especially Sanya. Sanya has turned into a Russian resort," Arzumanyan said. He noted that while Chinese authorities are trying to promote other beach destinations, Russians keep returning to Sanya more than anywhere else. Beyond the beaches, visitors can explore mainland China tours with sightseeing, strolls through the capital, trips into the "Avatar" mountains, and river cruises.

The expert also shared current price tags. A round-trip flight for two to Sanya with a layover in Beijing runs about 120,000 rubles. Direct flights cost an extra 20,000 to 30,000 rubles. Earlier, other travel specialists pointed out that summer is the cheapest season on Hainan, when even five-star hotels drop their rates significantly.