Incentives draw top talent to Hainan

Cyclists ride along the beautiful west coast of Binhai Road in Haikou, Hainan province, on May 7. [SU BIKUN/FOR CHINA DAILY]

South China's Hainan province is increasingly attracting high-level talent seeking to develop their career and enjoy life on the island.

Official statistics reveal that since 2018, when the 30th anniversary of the founding of the province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone was marked, over 500,000 skilled individuals have been drawn to work on the island.

Zhao Jian is one of the thousands that arrived.

Having lived and worked in Beijing and Shanghai for more than 20 years, he opened his AI company at Fullsing Internet Industrial Park in the capital of Hainan province, Haikou.

"People who are recognized as 'high-level' talent in Haikou can receive a monthly subsidy of 3,000 yuan ($415) for them to rent an apartment in the city," said Zhao, citing his own experience.

"Here in Haikou, you can rent an apartment using only 3,000 yuan while the living experience is equivalent to that costing at least 10,000 yuan in Beijing," he said.

Apart from the low cost of living and preferential policies for talent, the easy access to work-life balance is another reason why Zhao has chosen the island to relocate.

"You can breathe the clean air all year round, and enjoy fabulous sea views without walking too far, which means I can easily get a break from my tensing job. All these are big attractions to entrepreneurs like me," he added.

Li Hao, hailing from Hebei province and now working at an IT company in Hainan Free Trade Port Resort Software Community, which is located in the island's northwestern Chengmai county, shared similar feelings with Zhao.

Having worked in the company's headquarters in Beijing for three years, Li relocated in Chengmai with his whole family in 2020 and is now the general manager of the company's Hainan branch.

"Thanks to the policies of the Free Trade Port for the talent, I bought an apartment nearby with a very reasonable price, and my child has also been admitted to a good local school," he said.

"All my family members are very happy with their new life in Hainan, and maybe I'm the happiest - not only because life here is relaxing, but more importantly, my career develops well here," Li added.