A Miss World contestant interacts with a child at a welfare center in Sanya, Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Finalists of the 65th Miss World visited children in a welfare center in Sanya in South East China's Hainan province.

The contestants, along with the vice-mayor of Sanya Xu Zhenling, paid a visit to the welfare center and interacted with the children under its care.

The Miss World pageant, which started in 1951 in the United Kingdom, is the oldest surviving international beauty pageant.

According to Xinhua, the Miss World organization has raised more than $500 million for children's charities.

The finals will be held in Sanya on Dec 19.