Estuary of the Wanquan River in Qionghai, a county of South China's Hainan province [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

The HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College (HAITC) organized practical studies in South China's island province of Hainan from January 12 to 16 for its class of 2019 and teachers, a total of 284 people.

Focused on the island’s history, coastal landforms, hydrological features, geological protection and beautiful scenery, the activity was designed to help students consolidate and strengthen their knowledge learned in class and inspire them to approach things with a lively mind.

During the field trip, they visited the Wenchang Space Launch Center, where the Long March 8 -- the latest in China's Long March space vehicle fleet -- conducted its debut flight, and Yingge Salt Farm, the largest saltworks on Hainan Island.

Raw sea salt heaps up on the beach during the sun-curing process. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

Apart from experiencing the salt making process, students also investigated the local characteristic coconut industry, and learned more about the island's coconut culture.

Students and accompanying teachers pose for a group photo at the gate of the Sea Salt Culture Center. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

The island tour included a museum and geoparks, giving students vivid geography and history lessons. They got a close look at the underwater archaeology of the South China Sea and the history of local fishermen.

The island's beautiful granite coastal landform and Danxia landform also gave the students a broader perspective. They learned how the landforms are formed and why they are valuable today.

The granite coastal landform in a rock park, Wenchang city, Hainan province [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

On the one hand, students visited Boundary Island in Lingshui Li autonomous county and Yalong Bay in Sanya city, typical targets of Hainan's tourism development, to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and explore ways of boosting the sightseeing tour. On the other hand, they saw the fearful results to the coastal zone caused by unreasonable artificial reclamation, which has greatly affected local tourism.

HAITC always attach great importance to extracurricular practice, an indispensable part of the college's specialty cultivation program. The five-day field trip gave the class of 2019 a further understanding of the current situation of tourism development and laid a solid foundation for their further professional practice.

Boundary Island, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan province [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

Cactus grows in the arid coastal zones of Changjiang Li autonomous county, Hainan province. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]