Sanya, the southernmost city on Hainan Island, has captivated visitors from around the world with its stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and a vibrant local culture.
Boasting a paradise for travelers seeking adventure, relaxation, and cultural experiences, the city offers an array of unforgettable activities in its renowned tourist destinations, such as Yanyoda, a major rainforest site.
The rainforest, famous for its unique tropical vegetation and rich diversity of ecosystems, has seen an increasing number of global visitors following the introduction of China's entry-free policy.
"Very beautiful. I liked nature. I liked tradition. The food is very good. I really like it. My family is delighted too. Well, I generally love Asia. I like to learn a new culture, see new things that I have not seen before. That's why we chose Sanya," said Danil Zinchenko, a tourist from Kazakhstan.
The tourist area offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy. Guests can explore the lush rainforest, participate in guided tours that highlight the area's rich biodiversity, and enjoy the traditional music and dance.
"Well, I've already been here for about the 5th day. There were a lot of excursions. I really liked the circus show, which was held at a very high level. I like local food. Also the people are very friendly," said Dmitry Serov, a tourist from Russia.
Visitors can also indulge in local delicacies.
"I like everything about food, that is, no problems at all. Everyone greets us kindly. Everything is very good. By the way, we'll recommend our friends to come here. We will also recommend everyone to come to Moscow," Arina Pakshtyaeva, another tourist from Russia.
Sanya attracts increasing number of global visitors
An artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model specialized for analyzing human genetic diversity was launched at Shanghai's cutting-edge Model Speed Space innovation hub on Tuesday.
Named SNPBAG, it is the world's first large model built specifically for genomic analysis, promising to precisely predict diseases and advance personalized health care.
The model focuses on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the most common type of genetic variation among people, which influence traits such as height, intelligence and personality.
Currently, SNPBAG can be used for ancestry tracing and kinship identification. In the future, with further training, it is expected to predict disease risks at various life stages based on DNA sequences, offering higher screening accuracy than existing genetic testing methods.
"As far as we know, traditional methods examine SNPs point by point for correlations with traits like height or intelligence, without taking into account, for example, interactions between or among genes. Therefore, we need a model that can autonomously identify these complex relationships. Now, we've found such a tool that can bring close two gene expressions [of the human body] that are far away from each other and provide biological interpretations," said Tang Kun, an expert of computational biology and founder of Shanghai Feipu Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
Looking ahead, the model will support the development of China's sovereign genomic database, promote its domestic self-reliance, enhance AI-driven drug discovery and improve the target screening success rates by over 200 percent. It also aims to make precision health care more accessible.
"The most well-known application is non-invasive prenatal screening. Currently, only a few conditions are covered by national insurance, but there are over 20,000 rare diseases in children. We are now collaborating with Shanghai Children’s Hospital to expand screening coverage," said Lu Sitong, CEO of Shanghai Feipu Intelligent Technology.
With SNPBAG, non-invasive prenatal screening is expected to detect a broader range of rare diseases in the future. The company said it also plans to launch consumer-facing products to benefit the general public.
China launches world's first foundation model for genomic analysis
