From the People's Daily app.

This is Story in the Story. 

In the southern tip of China sits the island province of Hainan. Its unique blend of tropical climate and rich local culture has made it a top tourist destination for millions of Chinese each year. 

In May, China opened up the island to tourist from 59 countries, allowing them to stay on the island for as long as 30 days without a visa. Since the implementation of the new policy, Hainan received 24,000 travelers from the countries on the list in May, a jump of 8 percent compared to the same time last year. Yet, none has embraced the the island province quite like Russian tourists. 

Today’s Story in the Story will explore how Hainan is transforming into a growing tourist economy: 

On Yalong Bay, a crescent-shaped inlet of unparalleled natural scenery in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, Russian women are seen in summer dresses enjoying the tropical sun while nibbling on exotic fruits. 

They are among the many Russians who flock to the island for its beaches, and acupuncture therapy offered at local hospitals. 

Almost all stores and restaurants in Sanya have foreign languages on their awnings, with Russian ranking at the top.

Compared with similar destinations in Southeast Asian countries, Hainan has obvious advantages, said Wang Haitang, manager of local tourist agency. 

He pointed out the island's safety, clean environment and urban development as important factors that make Hainan an excellent choice for vacation.

Wang suggests that the island is becoming a popular overseas destination, thanks in part to the number of new direct flights that have included Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major Russian cities. 

At a small store selling beverages, a shop assistant said that all their employees can speak a little Russian. Some local vendors can even bargain with Russian tourists in their language with confidence. 

Chen Min, a student majoring in Russian at the College of Foreign Language at Hainan University, was recruited as a translator by a four-star hotel in Hainan's capital, Haikou.

"I am mainly responsible for the daily translation for Russian guests and taking care of their personal needs and collecting their feedback," Chen told the Global Times.

"Russian-speaking graduates are becoming more sought-after," Chen added. "Preferably, if they know how to promote local culture and tourism features to foreign clients."

Traditional Chinese medicine therapy such as acupuncture and cupping treatments at hospitals in Haikou are especially popular among Russian visitors.

Public hospitals in Hainan have also set up a pilot zone for medical tourism. As a foreign medical service innovation experimental field, Sanya International Friendly Chinese Medicine Sanatorium, founded by Sanya Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, is exploring a series of health tourism products.

Hainan-based acupuncturist Zang Jinpeng, who has been treating foreigners for more than five years, taught himself Russian to communicate with the growing number of Russian patients.

Statistics released by the Hainan Tourism Development Commission showed that the island hosted roughlyl a quarter of a million Russian tourists from January to October of 2017, a year-on-year increase of 380 percent. 

"Going to Sanya for medical care will become fashionable for Russians in the near future, I can confirm," Wang Haitang said confidently.

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ziyi Zeng and Lance Crayon. Music by: bensound.com)