Jim Turner Photography

Sanya is at the southern tip of Hainan, a tropical island in the South China Sea, between Hong Kong and Vietnam. Because of it’s strategic position, hidden behind the hills in the background is a large Russian naval base. The hotels along this stretch cater for mainly Russian tourists.

Until recently most Western visitors missed out on this view of the former Imperial Palace, as the entrance and exit were at the more imposing southern front. Now during the peak summer months, visitors are channelled from the entrance to the rear exit at the northern end to avoid congestion.

fishing on the river li, guilin

the dragon’s backbone, or longji rice fields, were started in the 13th century and completed at the beginning of the 20th century and have been in coninuous use throughout.

the area is home to a branch of the yao people, a distinct ethnic group of southern china. yao women wear distinctive red clothing (hence their name of hong yao) and grow their jet black hair to a length of up to two metres, which is worn in different styles depending on their age and marital status.

yao women also have some interesting courtship practices, which involve pinching the bottoms and treading on the toes of potential boyfriends.