A gentle night breeze rustles through the coconut trees in the Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in Hainan. Inside a warmly lit café, Steven Greig, who calls himself "Big Head Foreigner," sat with over twenty university students from different countries on the evening of March 18. They chatted comfortably in English about life and studies, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

"A year ago, if someone had asked me if I would move to Hainan to open a café, I would have said it's impossible," Steven remarked. "But now, not only have I come, I don't want to leave." The story of this Australian's life in Hainan is quietly unfolding from this feeling of not wanting to depart.

Steven's connection with China began in 1984 with a prediction from his father. He was 14 years old when his father, a history teacher, encouraged him to learn Chinese. At the time, Steven didn't understand the reason. His father said, "In the future, China will develop very well."

In 1991, Steven came to study at Beijing Language and Culture University, becoming one of the few foreigners pursuing advanced studies in China at that time. Over the next three decades, he held positions such as Chief Representative and Marketing Director for multinational corporations in China, dedicating himself to Sino-foreign trade and cultural exchange, and witnessing China's economic boom.

In China, Steven not only built a successful career but also found love. His wife previously taught at the Harbin Institute of Technology. He jokingly refers to himself as a genuine "Chinese son-in-law."

In 2020, he started a social media account under the name "老外大头" (Big Head Foreigner), sharing authentic local cuisine and cross-cultural stories. Through his lens, he uses this friendly persona to narrate his encounters and connections with China.

In 2025, Steven made a significant decision: to shift his professional focus southward and establish a foreign trade company in the Hainan Free Trade Port. "The open policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port are highly attractive to me," Steven explained. He noted that the area offers foreign investors vast opportunities, including tax incentives, streamlined import and export procedures, and a series of institutional benefits like tariff exemptions on value-added processing.

Initially planning to focus solely on foreign trade, his trajectory changed after an invitation to visit the Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone. This zone brings together 26 renowned Chinese and international universities, with its student and faculty population exceeding 10,000 by the 2025 academic year.

What impressed Steven was the campus's lack of walls, allowing students to take courses across different universities. Graduates can earn dual degrees from both Chinese and foreign institutions and have opportunities for exchange programs at partner universities. The combination of sunny beaches, international-standard sports facilities, and a flexible, diverse education system creates a unique appeal.

The management of the Pilot Zone invited him to participate in building an international community within the area. "Having been an international student myself, I understand too well what students far from home need," Steven said. Subsequently, he opened a café there, aiming to create a "warm space" for international faculty and students.

Today, Steven's café has become a popular spot for interaction between Chinese and international teachers and students within the Pilot Zone. Regularly held English and Chinese corners facilitate a blend and collision of different cultures. His second venture, a Western restaurant, is also set to open soon.

The island-wide customs closure operation of the Free Trade Port has made Hainan's international atmosphere increasingly vibrant. Currently, citizens from 86 countries can enter Hainan visa-free. Last year, Steven invited relatives and friends from Australia to visit. They were amazed by Hainan's blue seas and skies and deeply impressed by the region's openness.

On April 16, 2025, Steven served as the host for the Lingshui Global Investment Promotion Conference, introducing the area to the world from his perspective as a "new Lingshui resident."

In his view, Hainan's charm lies not only in its natural scenery but also in an intangible吸引力—a comforting sense of "embrace." Whether it's scenic spots and duty-free shops in places like Haikou and Sanya accepting foreign credit cards, or the growing number of foreign tourists seen around town, the same message is conveyed: this place is becoming more convenient and more inclusive.

It is precisely this atmosphere that has given Steven a greater sense of belonging. He and his wife are currently involved in trade, education, and tourism-related work in Lingshui. They also plan to launch a new educational project organizing short-term Chinese language study tours for Australian students at the Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone.

Transitioning from a former "student" to a current "bridge-builder," Steven hopes to open a window for more young people from overseas to understand China. "I want to be the one who connects the dots, enabling more foreign youth to come to Hainan and learn about China," he said.

Witnessing Hainan's rapid development and experiencing the openness and warmth of the Free Trade Port, Steven感慨由衷: "I have not only established my career here, but I have also left my heart here."