The Xisha Islands lie in the middle of South China Sea, consisting of Xuande Islands and Yongle Islands. To the southeast of Hainan province, the Xisha is a cluster of islets, sandbanks and reefs, famous for their rich fishery resources and unusual tropical scenery and ecosystem.

Sansha City, located on Yongxing, the largest among the Xisha islands, was founded in July 2012 to administer about 2 million square km of islands, coastal areas and territorial waters in the South China Sea.

The southernmost city of China envisages tourism as its economic engine, and administers three island groups, Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha, along with surrounding waters in the South China Sea.

Since the founding of Sansha, an increasing number of Chinese fishermen came to settle in the city from other areas in Haian. There are now more than 700 fishermen living in Sansha's eight different islets.

Two villagers fish at a reef in the Yongle Islands, Hainan province, on May 25, 2013. [Photo by Zha Chunming/Asianewsphoto]