Sanya celebrates rose culture with five-day festival

The five-day 2024 Sanya Rose Culture Festival kicked off on Tuesday evening.

The festival features a series of events to cater to a wide range of interests and preferences, including an opening ceremony, a creative flower market, tropical rose tasting, an art parade and an art fair. Around 60 performances will integrate Eastern and Western cultures.

The Rose Island Art Parade will run from Wednesday to Saturday at various locations, including the Yalong Bay International Rose Valley and Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park.

Alain Wong Yen Cheong, the Mauritian ambassador to China, introduced the economic and social development of Mauritius and the rich history of the country's rose culture at the opening ceremony on Tuesday.

He described the 2024 Sanya Rose Cultural Festival as vibrant, with activities ranging from painting and poetry to environmental protection.

"The similarities in geographical environments between Mauritius and Hainan province, both connected to vast oceans, present exciting opportunities for further collaboration. The potential for trade, commerce, and tourism between the two sides is immense, and it's inspiring to envision the mutual progress and economic prosperity that could result from our partnership," he added.

Fan Weizheng, deputy mayor of Sanya, said in a welcoming speech that Sanya, based on its resources, location and other advantages, is committed to accelerating the improvement of high-quality infrastructure, optimizing the international allocation of tourism elements, and building an international tourist resort and modern tropical coastal city.

"By holding the Sanya Rose Culture Festival, the city is dedicated to the high-standard planning and construction of the Yalong Bay Bohou Area, with the aim of creating a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a characteristic city IP," he explained.