About Boao

Boao town, located in the east of Qionghai city, Hainan province, is the permanent venue for the BFA conference.

Boao town borders on Wanning city on the south and is about 18 km east of Jiaji town, Qionghai county. It is about 134 km from Haikou city and 217 km from Sanya city. The Wanquan River, Jiuqu River, and Longgun River converge here and then rush to the South China Sea. At the convergence site, three isles, Dongyu, Shapo, and Yuanyang, face each other across the water. 

Boao is a semi-fishing and semi-farming town with rivers, lakes, sea, mountains, and isles. It also boasts farms, strange stones, hot springs, coconut trees, sandy beaches, and sea water. With rivers running into the sea, its natural landscape demonstrates its nearly perfect ecological protection.

Boao town is subject to a tropical monsoon climate with barely noticeable changes between the four calendar seasons but distinctive difference between dry and rainy seasons. It enjoys mild weather, sufficient sunshine, and plentiful rainfall, with an annual average temperature of 24.1 degrees Celsius, an annual average sunshine length of 2,155 h, an annual rainfall of 307 mm, and a many-year average wind speed of 2.1 – 4 M/S. The town has a dominant north wind in winter and spring and a dominant southerly wind in summer and autumn. April is its most pleasant month, with a temperature ranging between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius and averaging 27 degrees Celsius. 

Its name, Boao, originated from the Hainan Annals of the Zheng De Period by Tang Weizhou in the sixth year during the reign of Zheng De in the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644), which identified its earliest inhabitants as "fishing residents". According to the dictionary CiHai Boao means "abundant fish and fat fish" and also identifies the source of ample clothing and food for the residents, a connotation that serves well its identity as a BFA site. 

Boao was already home to fishing residents in the Song Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, it was called Boaopu township, and at the end of the Ming Dynasty, Boao township, a settlement for fishing residents. Such institutions were maintained in the Qing Dynasty and until 1929 (the 18th year of the Republic of China). In 1930, Boao township was annulled and Boao was put under the jurisdiction of Shoushan town, Lehui county (renamed Fucheng town in the 36th year of the Republic of China). In July 1950, Boao was under the jurisdiction of Huixian county second district (Lecheng). In June 1955, Boao township was set up and put under the jurisdiction of Lecheng district. In October 1958, Boao township was annulled and put under the jurisdiction of the Chaoyang Commune. On December 1, 1958, Lehui and Qiongdong counties were combined into Qionghai county. In March 1961, the Boao Commune was separated from the Chaoyang Commune. In September 1983, it was renamed Boao district and given jurisdiction over six townships, including Boao, Donghai, Dongyu, Tianyong, Zhulian, and Chaolie. In 1987, Boao district was transformed into Boao town and its six subordinate townships into six administrative villages. In March 2002, Boao town was set up by merging the four administrative villages of Jiuqujiang township, Beishan, Bei'an, Shamei, and Peilan, into Chaoyang township and Boao town. The township government seat was the former Boao town, with its population increased to 23,270. Boao town is now under the administrative jurisdiction of Qionghai city and the government seat is Donghai Village. 

Based on its unique landscape, local culture, and healthy ecology, Boao aims to build itself into a world-class conference center and a tourist vacation resort with distinctive characteristics. According to BFA development demand, Boao will plan and perfect the service and supporting functions of its international conference center to provide guests with all-inclusive vacation services. On April 29, 2003, the Sofitel Hotel on BoaoDongyu Isle opened for business, providing BFA with a new high-end conference venue. In July 2011, the hotel was renamed the BFA Grand Hotel. 

The Yudai Beach of Boao town is an 8.5-kilometer-long natural beach peninsula. With the boundless South China Sea on one side and the tranquil mirror-like Wanquan River on the other, it separates sea water from river water. In that regard it bears a strong resemblance to Miami of the US, Cancun of Mexico, and the Gold Coast of Australia, and is the only of its kind in Asia. In June 1999, the northern part of the Yudai Beach was recognized by International Guinness Headquarters as a Guinness Record Holder, "the narrowest beach peninsula separating sea from river." 

Located in the eastern coastal area of Hainan Island, Boao abounds in marine and river products and tropical fruits. Among the famous Hainan snacks are Jiaji Duck, delicious coconut salt, appetizing and blood-enriching Paederia seed cake, and white and fragrant Qiongzhou coconut soup. In addition, many other seemingly simple dishes will surely surprise your taste, including pig's leg, fried sliced duck, hot spring goose, melon soup, white cake, and chilli orange. 

With a time-honored history, a beautiful environment, a pleasant climate, a unique landform, rich natural products, and convenient transport, Boao will prove to be a living Eden and a paradise for harmonious coexistence between man and nature.