A high-end rubber roll leaves the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, a bag of roasted coffee carrying the Hainan brand is shipped out of Xinglong, and a Thai aircraft takes off from Haikou airport after a maintenance check that took half the usual time.

　　These snapshots from Hainan capture the island"s transformation from a mere transit point to a burgeoning industrial hub, driven by the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

　　The zero-tariff policy in Hainan is making a tangible difference in everyday life. Within the first month, duty-free sales in Haikou hit 2.24 billion yuan ($324.1 million), offering consumers more choices and lower prices. At Boao Super Hospital, imported medical equipment, facilitated by the zero-tariff policy, is cutting costs and easing patients" burden. Children with severe hearing loss can now receive cochlear implants promptly, and high-end cancer treatments are now within reach.