Under Chinese Emperor Qingshihuang (221 BC), three counties were established in the south, one of which was Yazhou, or Xiangjun County. During the Tang Dynasty, emperors banished rebel officers to the area, which became known as the "End of the Earth" due to its remoteness in relation to the nation's capital. Sanya today benefits from central and local government initiatives aimed at developing Hainan Island's vast potential for tourism.