“So, Hainan did something interesting today. Even though it’s South China, they actually flew over to Chongqing​ to hold a press conference. Why? They’re hyping up the new Hainan Free Trade Port. It’s basically their first big sales pitch since launching those special customs rules back in December.”

“At the event, officials basically gave everyone a full update. They talked about how much Hainan has changed since the new customs rules kicked in—covering everything from business reforms and logistics to tourism and investment opportunities. After the highlights, they opened the floor for media questions.”

“Wang Bin—he’s a top official in Hainan’s propaganda department—says the results have been impressive. Since those new island-wide customs rules kicked in last December, the Free Trade Port has been paying off big time.”

“Here are the numbers, and they’re pretty wild. As of last month, Hainan has imported 2.26 billion yuan​ worth of stuff tariff-free. That’s nearly double what they did last year!
Also, local processing is booming. Companies processed goods here, adding at least 30% value, and sold them inland without paying duties. That saved them 24.5 million yuan​ in taxes alone.
On top of that, six companies got the green light for ‘bonded maintenance’—basically fixing stuff for overseas clients without leaving the zone.”
“Port operations are way faster now. At the eight main entry ports, clearing imports takes 28% less time. One company even zipped through 70,000 tons​ of cargo using the simplified process.
And leaving the island? Even quicker. At the 10 mainland-facing ports, they cut the paperwork by 60%. If you’re low-risk, you’re basically cleared in seconds.
“Business is definitely booming. In that same window, Hainan saw 141,200​ new companies register. That’s a massive jump—up nearly 60%​ from last year.
But here’s the crazy part: new enterprises specifically skyrocketed by almost 119%. And it’s not just locals; foreign companies are flocking in too, with over 1,000​ new foreign-funded firms setting up shop.”
“Trade is booming. Hainan’s overseas business shot up by 50%, hitting 137 billion yuan. They’re now dealing with over 220​ countries and regions.
But the real win for shoppers? The duty-free list just got bigger. They’ve expanded the range to 47 categories. And here’s the kicker: if you’re flying out of the mainland to anywhere else, you can now use those duty-free shops too. Plus, five new shops for daily essentials are already open.”
“Wang Fengli, a senior official, pointed out the biggest win: the ‘zero-tariff’ list has exploded. Before, only 21%​ of items were tax-free. Now? It’s jumped to 74%. That covers over 6,600​ different types of goods.”
“Hainan just hit a massive milestone: one trillion yuan​ in total trade. That’s huge. And their service trade? Growing at over 30%​ a year.
Money is flowing everywhere. Transfers through their special EF accounts cover 104​ countries, with a volume topping 5 trillion yuan.
And for travelers, it’s easier than ever. People from 86​ countries can just show up and enter visa-free. It’s literally the best visa policy in the country right now.”
“Hainan isn’t just talking; they’re actually changing the game. They’ve rolled out 181​ new reforms. Out of those, 85​ were so good they got national recognition, and 41​ are now being used across the whole country.
Think about that: they merged all the confusing local plans into one, let machines handle the bidding, and connected all the hospitals. They even launched the country’s shortest ‘negative lists’—meaning fewer restrictions for foreign investors and service trade—and built the first-ever ‘single window’ for international investors.”
“Wang Xuehao, who runs the Business Environment Department, put it simply. They’ve built a service system for companies based on three rules: First, we answer when you call.​ Second, we won’t bother you if you’re not causing trouble.​ And third, we keep our promises.“
“Let’s talk about speed. Hainan launched 36​ ‘one-stop’ services for the Free Trade Port. The result? Getting permits in those key industrial parks is now over 90% faster.
Plus, they’ve got this app called ‘Haiyiban’—basically a one-stop shop for businesses. It’s handled over 1,400​ requests, and people love it. Satisfaction is sitting pretty at 95%.”
“To stop bugging businesses, Hainan did something smart. They passed local laws requiring ‘unified inspections.’ Basically, they show up once, scan a QR code, and check everything at the same time. No more random visits every week.”
“When it comes to keeping promises, Hainan is putting its money where its mouth is. They’ve rolled out over 200​ scenarios where being trustworthy actually pays off.
If you’re a good, honest business, you get perks. Like advance compensation​ if something goes wrong, fast-track approvals, and even credit-based customs clearance​ at the mainland checkpoints. Basically, good guys finish first.”
“The tourism boom is real. From late 2025 to early 2026, Hainan saw 11% more​ visitors overall. But the big headline? Inbound​ tourists absolutely skyrocketed by nearly 60%.
People aren’t just visiting; they’re spending too. Total tourist dollars were up 13.8%.
Chen Tiejun, the head of tourism, says it’s not just hype. Since the new customs rules kicked in, over 2,300​ new travel and entertainment companies have registered. Plus, they’ve locked in 21​ new big projects.”
“Speaking of infrastructure, the ports are massive. Zhang Huawei, a senior official in Danzhou, bragged about Yangpu Port. It now has two 200,000-ton​ berths and one 150,000-ton​ berth.
Basically, they can dock the biggest container ships in the world—those giant 24,000-TEU​ beasts. This place is ready for serious global shipping.”
“Yangpu Port had a monster year in 2025. They moved over 3.3 million containers—that’s a 65%​ jump from the year before.
But here’s the crazy part: that momentum didn’t stop. In Q1 of 2026, they grew another 94.4%. They’re basically leaving every other major port in China in the dust right now.”
“Yangpu is becoming a global hub. They’ve opened 66​ container routes. 36​ of those are international, hitting places like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and both coasts of the US.
For inland cities like Chongqing, this is a game-changer. They can now ship goods via Yangpu using a single bill of lading. No more messy paperwork. Total transit time? Under five days. Routes like ‘Chongqing-Qinzhou-Yangpu’ are now running like clockwork.”
“Zeng Rong, the chief economist at Hainan IEDB, laid out four sweet spots​ for Chongqing companies looking to invest in Hainan:
One: Advanced manufacturing​ (think processing and adding value).
Two: Global trade​ and supply chains.
Three: Tourism​ and building brands.
Four: International HQs​ plus cross-border finance.
The whole idea? Create a ‘Made in West China, shipped via Hainan, sold worldwide’​ pipeline. It’s a shortcut to go global while cutting your costs.”

“Tang Weidong from Chongqing’s Commerce Commission shared some real success stories.

Take XNF Medical​ and Hualun Medical. They’ve already set up shop in Hainan. Their strategy is simple: Do the R&D in Chongqing, handle the manufacturing in Hainan, and export globally.​ It’s working like a charm.”

 

“There’s more. HNA Aviation just set up its ‘Fangda Aviation International HQ’​ right here in Chongqing. And get this: they’re partnering with locals to build a massive engine maintenance base.
On the logistics side, the rail-sea link between Chongqing and Yangpu is now real. It’s a ‘train meets ship + domestic and foreign trade on the same vessel’​ model. Super efficient.
Oh, and aviation history: the Haikou-Chongqing-Seattle​ route is Hainan’s first ever direct flight to the US. To top it off, both regions have signed data-sharing deals. They’re fully connected now.”
“The room was packed. Nearly 200 people​ showed up—we’re talking officials from both Hainan and Chongqing, big shots from business chambers, reps from major industrial parks, and top enterprises. Oh, and the media was all over it too.”