The Chinese Riviera

So what was the carrot that kept me slogging through all those pages of student writing?

Hainan, dubbed the Chinese Riviera.
Hainan is an island in the South China Sea,
about the same latitude as Hawaii.

Ahhhhh! Sand underfoot . . .water cold upon entering but just right after swimming a bit.

Wuzhi Zhou Island, a beautiful little island off the coast of Hainan, a bigger island.
Sanya is the city in the background.

A dozen or so Chinese ventured out beyond the roped off swimming area;
lifeguards used little motorboats to generate waves and spray
to force the determined outliers back within the roped in area.

 

Let me explain: This is not the typical Peace Corps experience! Perhaps Southwest University is spoiling the half dozen of us foreign teachers who are being treated to this incredible New Year's holiday. Plane ride from Chongqing to Sanya, posh hotel, ferry rides out to various islands, a little scuba diving. This, of course, is not the Chinese New Year, otherwise known as Spring Festival or Chun Jie, but it's a good enough excuse, apparently, for a trip. (Upon my return I'll have exams waiting for me to grade--I need to enjoy this while I can!) Thanks to our waiban and to Southwest University in Beibei!  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sanya_beach_scene.jpg