In September 2024, Kanye West sold out two 42,000-seat stadium shows in Haikou, Hainan. Following Ye’s success, Hainan’s tourism bureau plans to invite more Western musicians to perform on the island for cultural exchange and a tourism boost — starting with Cardi B and Travis Scott.

Hainan is an island province known for palm trees and beautiful shorelines, attracting tourists year-round. At a recent press conference, Wang Ke, director of the Hainan Tourism, Culture, Radio, Film and Television Bureau commented, “In 2025, Haikou City will continue to strengthen our tourism, performing arts, sports, and exhibition developments, [and] continue to attract domestic and international performers such as Dao Lang, Travis Scott, [and] Cardi B…”

In 2020, the Chinese government set plans in motion to transform Hainan into a free trade port, investing in tourism, economic globalization, and high-tech industries. The development was designed to attract foreign investments, partnerships, and cultural imports.

Ye’s two concerts last year attracted 80,000 visitors to Hainan Island, with 95% of them coming from outside of the province. These two concerts alone drove tourism consumption by 730 million RMB (about 100 million USD).

It seems that the Hainan Tourism Bureau wishes to replicate this success with more international stadium concerts. Following Kanye, the popular American musician Charlie Puth and the Philadelphia Orchestra have also visited the island.

In 2024, Hainan Island attracted 9.72 million visitors, 1 million of them foreigners. To attract more international engagement, a new visa policy was introduced in 2024 that allows a conditional 30-day, visa-free entry into Hainan for travelers from 59 countries, including the United States.

Given Cardi B’s explicitly sexual songs, like “WAP,” and her form-fitting and revealing performance wardrobe, some netizens have wondered about the legitimacy of the news. Cardi B seemed to confirm the invitation herself in a post on X, however.

Following the announcement, netizens have discussed the possibility of inviting other artists in the future, including Doja Cat, Lady Gaga, and the Weekend. Chinese netizens are also wondering whether “WAP” will be on the setlist, and what potential lyrical alterations there will be.

Overall, Chinese hip hop fans are excited for the revived trend of international hip hop artists performing in China, with Travis Scott and Cardi B continuing last year’s momentum in Hainan.

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