Our group of 26 students with four teachers leaving for Hainan, China.

We arrived at Hainan after 3hrs 40min flight.

The curved, multi-functional structure, cast in white concrete and developed using both CNC and 3D printing technologies, was designed by MAD Architects and unveiled in 2021. The design incorporates openings of varying sizes, allowing the building to “breathe” while flooding the interior with natural light. Its 690-square-meter reading space accommodates approximately 10,000 books, a café, and a terrace. Additionally, a 300-square-meter public rest area features a bicycle parking system, public restrooms, and shower facilities, creating a harmonious balance between functionality, comfort, and aesthetic expression. 

Qilou, or Chinese arcade houses form the city's most exotic landscapes, and they can principally be found on Bo'ai Street, Zhongshan Street, Xinhua North Street, Deshengsha Street and Jiefang Street.

With its origins dating back around 2,000 years to ancient Greece, arcade architecture was introduced to Haikou by overseas Chinese merchants from 1820-1840. Standing between two and four stories in height, a Qilou has its ground floor set back halfway into the building so that it can be used as a storefront to take shelter from rain and sunlight.