(260518) -- WENCHANG, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 16, 2026 shows pandan cake at a store in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province. Pandan cake is native to Southeast Asia and was introduced by overseas Chinese. Wenchang in south China's Hainan is a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, where cultures brought back by overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia have merged with the indigenous ones to form some very interesting customs in diet and entertainment.
The influence of overseas Chinese is evident throughout Wenchang. Visitors can see southeast Asian-style arcade buildings and various schools donated by overseas Chinese. Specialties such as coffee, pandan cakes, envelope cakes, and Laobacha drinks have also flourished here. Surprising to many, volleyball, a sport popular among locals, was initially introduced here by overseas Chinese as well. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
