The Chinese term chuang hai, which directly translates as "venturing across the sea", evokes a grand narrative of daring migration, particularly in the late 1980s in China.
When Hainan Island in South China formally became a province, around 100,000 people from all corners of the country, driven by aspirations for a better life, crossed the Qiongzhou Strait and flowed onto this island teeming with promise and opportunity.
These pioneering venturers paved the way for Hainan's transformation from a remote island to an international tourist destination over the past three and a half decades.
Their audacious spirit of exploration and resilience laid the foundation for the island's development trajectory.
A new reality show set in Hainan channels the indomitable spirit of chuang hai, highlighting its enduring relevance and resonance in today's context.
This Is My Island aims to reignite this spirit of daring exploration and resilience by tasking a group of celebrities with building an experimental home from scratch on a secluded island in Hainan province.
