Programme Overview

Hainan Province, China 

This adventurous programme emphasises personal development, which will be achieved through a combination of individual and team challenges. These activities will be conducted in safe, supportive and very beautiful surroundings. Hainan is the smallest and southernmost province of the People’s Republic of China. It is also the country’s most tropical island, prompting many to call it ‘the Hawaii of China’.

With less than 9 million inhabitants this warm, mountainous island is among China’s least populated provinces. Yet, it’s home to many ethnic groups that together weave a rich cultural tapestry. Han Chinese, known locally as the Hainanese, make up 84% of the population while the Li (Hlai) make up 15%. The Miao, Zhuang, Utsuls, and Tankas together account for the remainder. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about some of these groups while hiking and camping in the mountains of the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone. There they will hike a spectacular gorge, take in a cultural show and try their hands at fishing.

The other portion of this programme will unwind at sea level, for Hainan’s wide beaches lend themselves to team building and other exercises. In addition to learning new skills associated with certain water sports, participants will learn about the ocean itself and of the key ecological challenges it faces.

One such challenge is pollution. To help understand this problem participants will undertake a beach cleanup and audit (survey). This will require recording and categorising solid waste items, in an effort to understand their origins. It is thought that by knowing the key sources of this waste, participants will be in a better position to understand why the pollution happens and therefore in a better position to help stop it from happening. Rather than just playing in this paradise, we hope that participants will come to understand and appreciate it and that some may be inspired to help protect it.

Header image from Hainan Tourism Bureau