Yun Fan clarifies the shadow water, and in the painting, the coconut city is full of vitality. Haikou, the southernmost national historical and cultural city in China, is named after its location at the mouth of the Henan River, the mother of Hainan Island. Since its opening in the Song Dynasty, it has been over a thousand years. From the perilous isolation of the ends of the earth to the emergence of three sages within a mile, the ancient cultural heritage has been infused and passed down, nurturing the renowned "Qiongtai Blessed Land" both domestically and internationally; From "often plagued by water" to "human water compatibility", ecological governance has been carried out one after another, creating an international wetland city; From the "place where business boats gather" to the important fulcrum of the "the Belt and Road", multiculturalism is surging and blending, nurturing a unique and rich openness. The river and sea are rushing, and new trends are surging. The humanistic, ecological and open Haikou of the new era is accelerating the construction of the core area of Hainan Free Trade Port and striving to write a chapter of Chinese path to modernization in Haikou. Embracing diversity and cultural heritage, "Nanming is vast, with strange mountains and thousands of miles in between." Since ancient times, Hainan Island has had beautiful scenery and abundant resources, but it is also considered a "land of nine deaths and a lifetime" due to its "perilous southern wilderness". However, the geographical barriers hanging alone overseas have not hindered the pace of Chinese cultural exchange and integration. Entering the Hainan Provincial Museum, visitors flock to it. The Han Dynasty bronze pot still display cabinet unearthed in Hainan has attracted many tourists due to its exquisite patterns on the four ears and auspicious animal statues. General, draw your bow, and the waves will open up Over two thousand years ago, Emperor Wu of Han dispatched the Fubo general Lubode to cross the island of Haiden. Professor Zhang Xingji from the School of History and Culture at Hainan Normal University said, "The copper pot is the beginning of the connection between the Central Plains and Hainan, as confirmed by historical records." During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Lady Xian, the leader of the Baiyue tribe known as the "Lingnan Holy Mother," developed Hainan and accelerated the integration of the Han and Li ethnic groups; Li Deyu, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Li Gang and Zhao Ding, the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty, and Li Guang and Hu Quan, famous ministers of the Southern Song Dynasty, founded schools, spread culture, and cultivated talents; During the Ming Dynasty, Qiu Jun and Hai Rui, known as the "Twin Treasures of Hainan," set an example for generations with their upright and honest character and practical thinking. Nowadays, Lady Xian's popular "Junpo Festival" is held in rural areas of northern Hainan every New Year; In front of the Wugong Temple on the first floor of Hainan, in the Thirteen Streets of Qiongtai Fudi, there is a continuous stream of citizens and tourists; The Qiuhai Avenue, named after Qiu Jun and Hai Rui, flows endlessly; The Qiongtai Academy's string songs never cease, and the sound of books resounds... "Haikou culture has innovatively developed through thousands of years of Han Li integration and migration to the south, forming a cultural characteristic of a coastal city that is both in line with the Central Plains culture and rich in island features," said Cai Pa, a cultural scholar from Hainan. Haikou, which is diverse and inclusive, sincerely accepts every guest. Generations of immigrants from all over the world have integrated into and fallen in love with this land. 42 year old Anhui native He Jiehua started his own business in Haikou 15 years ago. Driven by his love for culture, he transformed from a corporate employee to a promoter of Hainan's history and culture. He carefully produced over 300 short videos, aiming to show more people the "other side of Hainan" - not only the beautiful scenery of the island, but also touching legends, stories, and profound history. I never felt like a stranger in Haikou, but in this tolerant and open-minded place, I have become even more tolerant He Jiehua sighed. Long flowing context is even more important than distant origins. Hai Rui Cultural Park will be renovated by the end of 2022 and become an important place to express gratitude for the words and deeds of our predecessors; The key renovated arcade building historical and cultural block will be rated as a national 4A level tourist attraction in April 2024; Creating new public cultural spaces along the most beautiful coastline, such as the Haikou Bay Performing Arts Center and the "Sky Mountain" Station, introducing or creating excellent stage plays such as "Su Dongpo in Hainan" and "Li Ethnic Homeland", and organizing cultural activities to benefit the people... The beautiful life of citizens and tourists continues to be "enhanced". A tropical coastal tourist city that blends tradition and modernity, with both weight and vitality, shining brightly on the southern islands. A hundred years of water management and rejuvenation, the Yangtze River and its waters are the lifeline of Haikou, a "water city" with 43 major rivers flowing through it; Water management has also been a compulsory subject in this land by the sea and by the river throughout history. A hundred year old snake bridge and a thousand acres of farmland, with beautiful scenery of green waves and ripples. On the delicious river in Guocang Village, Longtang Town, Qiongshan District, Haikou City, there is an ancient stone bridge built more than 500 years ago for water control. It is about 200 meters long and resembles a crouching snake. When the water rises, it hides, and when the water recedes, it appears. Nowadays, this is a popular check-in spot for citizens to play and relax. According to records, during the Ming Dynasty, Qiu Jun, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, returned to his hometown to show filial piety to his mother. The local area was flooded with water, and the people were unable to cultivate. Before the arrival of the young man, he wept tears to inform him. Qiu Jun led the people to take volcanic rocks and build stone bridges on site, dredge the river channel, and excavate ferry crossings to solve the problem of water system drought. Once the water falls, the seedlings will have a long life, allowing farmers to resume production and live and work in peace and contentment. One kilometer away from the Snake Bridge, the Yantangbei and Tingtangbei water conservancy projects, which were built earlier, are known as "Dujiangyan Irrigation Project in Hainan". After the Tang Dynasty Prime Minister Wei Zhiyi was exiled to Haikou, he saw the high terrain of the fields near his residence, which made it impossible to irrigate during droughts and had nowhere to drain during floods. The farmers suffered greatly, so he hired workers to dig rocks and build embankments. Before his death, he instructed his descendants to continue repairing the pond and its walls. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that two ponds and ponds were completed, and to this day they can still 'divert water for a long time, irrigate thousands of hectares and appear vast'. Constructing water conservancy, protecting ecology, and benefiting people's livelihoods. A difficult history of water management, engraved with the vision of Haikou people to strive for improving the water environment, further highlights Haikou's urban character of learning from the past and the present. Fish and shrimp roam the shallow bottom, while mangroves cover the beach. Standing on the boardwalk of Yawei Creek Wetland Park in Haikou City, Huang Yongrong, a citizen over 70 years old, exclaimed, "There is a long lost freshness in the bustling city here." In earlier years, Yawei Creek was a "scar of the city": the water was black and smelly, and pedestrians covered their noses. The key to water management is to apply principles and consider human emotions. Haikou regards pollution control projects as a livelihood and popular project, and through intercepting pollution sources and dredging water systems, the Yawei River has regained vitality. Nowadays, the magnificent coastline stretching over 160 kilometers reflects the evening sun, and nearly 30000 hectares of wetlands light up the city's "green heart"... As one of the world's first "international wetland cities", Haikou is a "wetland park without walls". Respecting nature is the key to sustainable growth. In the Dongzhai Port National Nature Reserve in Hainan, the Qing Dynasty's "Fengguan Liban" stele and Minyue Village Chronicle still shine brightly, recording the ecological protection agreement of local villagers planting mangroves and prohibiting knives and axes from the Qianlong to Daoguang periods to "support the village for a long time". General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "Hainan must unwaveringly adhere to the ecological foundation of the province and make the construction of ecological civilization a top priority. Following the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, in 2022, Haikou will launch the "Six Waters Joint Treatment" project, aiming to comprehensively control water pollution and return it to the people, water, and sea; In 2023, the water quality compliance rate of the nearshore waters and rivers entering the sea in Haikou will be 100%, and the air quality status will rank first among 168 key cities in China. Some rare animals and plants will reappear in nature reserves. At present, Haikou is deeply promoting the construction of the National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone, continuing to move towards greenery, making the beautiful scenery of clear water, green banks, fish and seagulls gathering, and harmonious sea of people within reach. On the south coast of the Qiongzhou Strait, the blue sea and sky are picturesque. Overlooking the Haikou New Port Comprehensive Transportation Hub Station from the sky, it looks like a Kunpeng spreading its wings and is magnificent. Currently, Hainan Free Trade Port is accelerating its preparations for customs clearance operations, and the construction of key port facilities is in full swing. More than 20 kilometers east of the coast here is' Baishajin '. According to the "Qiongtai Chronicle" by Ming Zhengde, Baishajin in the Song Dynasty was already a gathering place for merchants and ships. Since then, merchants and ships have gathered together, and the sea has been bustling. To the north lies Hai'an, to the south is Jiaozhi, to the east is Qizhou, and to the west is Hepu. The superior geographical location nurtures open genes. During the Ming Dynasty, Haikou became a mid way safe haven and supply station on the Maritime Silk Road, and in modern times, it was designated as a foreign trade port... "Nanyang culture and Hainan culture blend here, and commercial civilization and traditional culture intertwine, interpreting the unique charm of Haikou as one of the earliest port cities to open up to the outside world for over a hundred years," said Cai Pu. Strolling around the Bell Tower area in Haikou, the arcade building block with a blend of Chinese and Western styles and Nanyang architectural style comes into view. The Haikou Qilou Old Street, which was once selected as one of the top ten famous historical and cultural streets in China, was built by overseas Chinese merchants from Nanyang during the Republic of China period to establish businesses in their hometowns. Nowadays, the door plaques of century old brands, carved window frames, dried vegetables of all sizes hanging on balconies, and neighbors chatting and drinking tea across balconies... With over 600 buildings of various sizes, a history of more than 600 years, and 12 streets, it constitutes the largest preserved area and the most vibrant living atmosphere of indigenous residents in China. For thousands of years, the genes of openness, inclusiveness, and progress have always flowed in the "blood" of Haikou. "Boiled -sliced cold chicken, Buddhist Food pot, sweet potato leaves..." authentic Qiong dishes attract tourists from all over the world to taste. Qiongcai originated from the Central Plains and has undergone more than two thousand years of development. It integrates the culinary arts of Fujian and Guangdong, absorbs the customs of Li and Miao cuisine, introduces Southeast Asian flavors, and forms its own unique style when blending traditional five flavors. The cuisine is young and distinctive. We have created the Qiongcai brand food IP and organized various food exchange activities, becoming a shining business card of the international tourism consumption center. In the future, we will deeply explore the cultural connotations of 'openness' and' diversity 'in Qiongcai, and promote Qiongcai to constantly emerge with new brilliance Chen Gang, Secretary General of Hainan Hotel and Catering Industry Association, said. During his inspection in Hainan, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to "form a larger, broader, and deeper pattern of opening up to the outside world. In the new era, Haikou has a more distinct characteristic of openness and a more firm pace of openness. As the host of the China International Consumer Goods Expo, it welcomes high-quality consumer goods from around the world to participate every year, and foreign companies are increasing their investment in China; The shopping frenzy at Haikou International Duty Free City, the world's largest single duty-free shop, continues unabated; Becoming one of the first Chinese cities in the Lancang Mekong Tourism City Cooperation Alliance... Haikou's international style and openness are becoming increasingly prominent. At the same time, Haikou's outward oriented economy is flourishing, with an average annual growth rate of 94% in actual utilization of foreign capital and 70% in newly established foreign-funded enterprises in recent years; The airport and seaport routes have been continuously densified. Since last year, Haikou Meilan International Airport has opened more than 20 national and regional routes to jointly build the "the Belt and Road". In the future, it will build a regional gateway hub for aviation facing the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean... Haikou looks like a billow, surging tide. Standing at a new historical starting point, Haikou is striving to write a new chapter of reform and opening up in the new era. (New Society)