Located just far enough away from Sanya to weed out some tourists, Yalong Bay (Yàlóng Wān, 亞龍灣) is the area's premier beach offering good ol' R&R. The resorts here are fairly low-key (except during the annual hosting of the Miss World Pageant), and while water sports are an option, most people come to Yalong to enjoy the sand and sea (and pools and cocktails). The water is very clear and good for a snorkel if you are interested in getting off your lounger, and boats are available to take divers to outlying islands for a peek under the surface. The strip of luxury resorts on Yalong Bay is basically complete, so there will be no further construction in this area for a while to come—Yalong is ready to just be relaxing. Hainan guide | Sanya guide | Sanya attractions | Sanya flights Sanya hotels | Sanya (Yalong Bay) hotels Sanya on the China Travel Blo... more >>

Dadonghai Beach (Dàdōnghǎi, 大东海) is one of the most popular of Sanya's beaches. It's a nice stretch of white sand meeting blue water, perfect for swimming (there's absolutely no surf here). Don't expect to be alone in Dadonghai, though. It's a busy beach, and the weather's always nice here so expect people to always be here. Swimmers beware of jet-skiers and boaters and sunbathers beware of 4-wheeled sandbuggies (and their inexperienced Chinese drivers). It's beautiful, nonetheless, so enjoy the mango and coconut vendors and the spectacular sunsets... but be prepared, because as soon as that sun dips down, the fireworks come out, proving once again that the Chinese don't adhere to the "peace and quiet" sect of vacationing. There are also large numbers of Russian families on vacation and Dadonghai is their favorite spot. That means that bars have opened up back f... more >>

Not too long ago Luhuitou Peninsula was a quiet piece of land jutting into the South China Sea, inhabited by a few villagers. Now that it's been "discovered" the penminsual has become the famous (in China) Serenity Beach or  半山半岛 (ban shan ban dao) super luxury resort area. The Intercontinental Sanya built a very modern, very beautiful resort here and the boutiqe chain Banyan Tree also has a resort hjere. The whole peninsula has become the "beverly Hills" of China, as they liek to cal lit, with highrises sandwiched inbetween resort villas and perfectrly manicured walkways. The high rises house the rich and wealthy and command an average of 49,000RMB per/m2 The mountains that separate the peninsula from the rest of Sanya are a good place to glimpse endemic flora and, if you're lucky, some fauna. The beaches aren't the best around, ... more >>

Nanshan Temple stands as a fascinating monument to the crosscurrents flowing through contemporary Chinese society—currents that to many an outsider may appear contradictory while feeling perfectly natural to many a Chinese citizen.  A massive Buddhist temple complex completed in 1998—just a generation or so from the Cultural Revolution and its tragic vogue for smashing up ancient religious sites—Nanshan Temple was built explicitly as a tourist draw. This fact, however, hasn’t stopped it from becoming the site of authentic Buddhist pilgrimage and worship (to be fair, the site, at the foot of Nanshan—South Mountain—has been a holy site for many centuries). The result is the kind of fake authenticity—or authentic fakeness, if you prefer—that in so many ways defines the "real China," a hybrid society grappling with divers... more >>

When the Chinese believed their empire encompassed all creation beneath a circular heaven and bounded by a square earth, the southern tip of Sanya must have truly felt like the far end of the world. Aside from the stunning natural beauty of this sandy cape dotted with gargantuan boulders, Tianya Haijiao (Tiānyá Hǎijiǎo, 天涯海角) holds great cultural significance. During the Song Dynasty, the south of Hainan Island was a place of exile for officials and poets who had offended the Emperor, hence the name, which means "the ends of the heavens and corner of the sea." Their isolation and despair is recorded in the annals of Chinese history and on a number of the elephantine stones at Tianya Haijiao, where poems and proverbs are carved alongside a myth about a pair of lovers who were transformed into stone when their families forbade them to marry. Elsewhere, you'll find... more >>

19 km northeast of Yalong Bay and some 50 km northeast of downtown Sanya, the mineral-laden waters of Nantian Hot Spring's 67 pools bubble up through the bedrock. Acclaimed nationwide for their restorative and health-giving qualities, the springs are very popular with Chinese tourists. Groups spend hours in the pools, which have been substantially engineered to provide a range of experiences: there are perfumed pools, waterfall pools, medicanal herb soaks, cold-water dips, a variety of warm-to-hot pools suited, and "fish therapy" pools full of exfoliating nibblers that industriously work over any exposed skin. The pools are complemented by spa and massage services, and the site is set amidst attractive palm trees and tropical foliage, making for a relaxing experience indeed (unless your idea of relaxation involves a high degree of solitude). Tropical fruits and coconuts... more >>

The corridor is actually a 10,000 meters long ocean road leading from the city to the sea. It is divided into three parts: a recreation and entertainment area, a public swimming pool area and the part closest to the sea will be developed into a group of resorts. The ocean road starts from Sanya Port and ends to the west at Tianya Bay. Coconut trees are spread along the two sides of the road abnd you can buy from the locals along the road, who will grab one from teh pile, hack it up and insert a straw, all you have to do is slurp. Sanya guide | Sanya flights | Sanya Hotels | Sanya on the Blog more >>

The Big and Small Dongtian scenic spot (大小洞天; Da Xiao Dongtian) is located about 40 km to the west of Sanya city, and 13 km away from Tianya Haijiao. It has a history of more than 800 years and became famous during the Song Dynasty as a place for monks to run to for monks seeking the Truth. It's said that when the Chinese eminent Buddhist monk Jian Zhen visited Japan for the fifth time, he was struck by a typhoon  and floated here where, grateful for being alive, he built the Dayun Temple to spread Buddhism culture. The current site is encased in a tourism park that includes the beach, the two caves that were once a retreat from civilization and variouos steles and parks that sprung up out of nowhere in the last five years. The park is often crowded, the entrance fee has skyrocketed and you can not access the caves. Sanya guide ... more >>

Home to what might be China's best waters for scuba and snorkeling, Wuzhizhou Island (Wúzhīzhōu Dǎo, 蜈支洲岛) lies within easy reach of Sanya and makes for a nice alternative to the increasingly busy resort town's enclaves of five star hotels and overdeveloped beachfront. Ringed by beaches and coral reef in Haitang Bay, just 2.7 km (1.7 mi) offshore and about 30 km (19 mi) from downtown Sanya and the airport, the 1.48 sq km (0.57 sq mi) island is home to a handful of attractions and scenic spots, some stunning beaches, and one of Hainan's most pleasant resorts, Wuzhizhou Island Resort. Divers will appreciate the clear seas, with 10-30 m (33-98 ft) visibility, depending on location and weather, especially off the southern end of the island, where coral reefs host a colorful range of tropical sea life. The southeastern quadrant of the island is fairly rugged, wi... more >>

The ancient Yazhou city is the present Yacheng Town that is located 40 kilometers west from Sanya. The ancient Yazhou city has a long history dating from South-north Dynasty and thus has many historical scenic spots. Many senior government officials were censured here during Tang and Song Dynasty. This old city is constructed by earth before Song Dynasty. Brick walls were built in 1198 and it becomes a firm big city of Hainan Island through Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty. The south gate that has been renovated is the only remained original gate of the ancient Yazhou city. more >>