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Sanya, a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hainan Province, also known as Deer City, is located at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island. Its signature white-sand beaches, lush rainforests, and delicious and affordable seafood are Sanya's hallmarks. Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, and Yalong Bay are the main tourist destinations. Sanya Bay is adjacent to the city center, and Yalong Bay boasts the clearest water.
Sanya is also home to lush tropical rainforests. Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is a great place for scenic hikes, while Yanoda Tropical Rainforest offers the thrill of rock climbing and waterfalls amidst the pristine jungle. A visit to Sanya is also essential, as is a sumptuous seafood feast. The First Market offers excellent value for money, with hundreds of fresh and delicious options to choose from. It's a popular choice for many vacationers.
Sanya belongs to the tropical marine monsoon climate zone, which is characterized by high temperature and heavy rainfall. Therefore, October to March when the temperature is lower is the best time to travel to Sanya.
October-March:
While northern China has entered its cold winter, Sanya remains warm and spring-like. The weather is sunny and rainy, with temperatures hovering around 25 degrees Celsius. This pleasant climate ushers in Sanya's peak tourist season, with numerous festivals and events. During peak season, transportation and accommodation costs increase, leading to higher overall travel expenses. If time permits, avoid the crowded Spring Festival holiday.
April-May:
During Sanya's off-season, temperatures rise to around 30 degrees Celsius, with sunny, hot weather. The local Miao and Li ethnic groups hold large-scale ethnic festivals on the third day of the third lunar month (early April). Hotel and transportation costs are relatively low during these two months, and tourists are less frequent.
Yalong Bay
Yalong Bay is known as the "No. 1 Bay in the World" and is a great place to relax, enjoy delicious food and experience water activities.
It has a 7,000-meter silver-white beach with fine sand and clean and transparent water. You can clearly see the corals and see several different shades of blue from a distance. The scenery is very beautiful.
You can sail on a luxury yacht to see sea lions and seals, enjoy sailing, snorkeling, and fishing, or soar through the skies with a paraglider. Experience a wide range of activities by land, sea, and air.
Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island has beautiful scenery. The island is full of tropical scenery, and the underwater world is even more colorful, with countless colorful tropical fish and charming coral reefs. It is the "best diving base" in Sanya and even the whole country.
The island also has the whitest sandy beaches in Sanya and rich tropical plants. The dragon blood trees from the dinosaur era are the oldest trees left on Earth to date.
In addition to the ordinary scenery, what is more interesting here is the variety of marine entertainment activities. It is a good place to experience motorboats, banana boats, water parachutes, etc.
If you live on the island, you must go to Guanriyan early in the morning to watch the sunrise. It is the best place to watch the sunrise in Sanya.
The End of the Earth
There are many rocks of various shapes standing on this beach, and many of them are engraved with words left by famous people from ancient and modern times.
The most famous of these are the two huge rocks engraved with "Tianya" and "Haijiao" respectively. They have always been regarded as symbols of love and have become one of Sanya's iconic landscapes.
In addition to the "End of the World Stone" and "Cape Stone," other famous stone carvings in the scenic area include the "Southern Sky Pillar" and the "Sun and Moon Stone." The End of the World Stone and the Cape Stone symbolize peace and luck, the Southern Sky Pillar is also known as the "Wealth Stone," and the Sun and Moon Stone symbolizes love. This is a must-see for couples.
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park
Hainan is the main filming location for the movie "If You Are the One 2" and one of the must-see places for tourists to Sanya. There are many lush trees here, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yalong Bay by climbing to the top of the mountain.
Scenes from the movie If You Are the One can be seen everywhere in the scenic area, including the "Dragon Cable Bridge Across the River" that Shu Qi walked across, the "Cliff Lake" on the cliff, and the trial marriage room that witnessed romantic love. These are all check-in spots that couples cannot miss.
West Island
It is a small island located in the southwest of Sanya city. It has beautiful scenery and crystal clear waters, making it a popular destination for various marine leisure and entertainment sports, and is especially famous as a diving destination.
There are seafood restaurants on the island (usually for group dining), Qindao Leisure Bar, Old Captain Bar, buffet restaurant, etc. Compared with the consumption in the city, the prices here are relatively expensive.
At night, you can stay in a sea view hotel or camp and participate in a variety of night activities, such as night fishing, night diving, beach bonfire parties, etc.
Aside from the free beaches, most attractions require entrance fees, often exceeding 100 yuan. Tianya Haijiao Scenic Area tickets are 101 yuan, while Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is 175 yuan. An all-inclusive package to Wuzhizhou Island and West Island costs nearly 1,000 yuan.
Sanya is a coastal city on Hainan Island, historically a small fishing town and now a major tourist destination. It is known for its tropical climate, beaches, cultural sites, and as a gateway for Hainan’s tourism and international visitors.
Sanya is located on the southern tip of Hainan Island, China. It is accessible by air via Sanya Phoenix International Airport, by high-speed train from other Hainan cities, and by bus or taxi within the city. Walking is feasible in beach and city center areas.
Booking in advance is recommended for major attractions, especially during holidays. 2–3 days ahead is sufficient for most sites, longer during peak season.
Guided tours are available in Chinese and sometimes English. Audio guides may be offered at major attractions like Nanshan Temple and Yanoda Rainforest.
Start with a morning visit to a beach, then head to cultural sites like Nanshan Temple in the afternoon, followed by a scenic spot like Tianya Haijiao or an evening stroll along Sanya Bay. Reserve a separate day for rainforest or island tours.
Night beach walks and city lights are accessible. Some resorts offer evening performances, cultural shows, or light displays, especially around Yalong Bay.
Peak season is December to February and during Chinese holidays. Least crowded times are weekdays in the shoulder season (April–June, September–October).
Major beaches, attractions, and tourist areas offer toilets, restaurants, cafes, water stations, shaded rest areas, and souvenir shops.
Beaches and major cultural sites generally provide wheelchair access and paths suitable for children and elderly visitors, though some natural trails may be challenging.
Mobile payments (WeChat, Alipay) and credit cards are widely accepted. Cash may be needed in small vendors or rural areas.
Many seafood restaurants, beachside cafes, and international hotel dining options are available throughout Sanya, especially near Yalong Bay and Sanya Bay.
Vegetarian options are available in most tourist restaurants; halal options are limited but can be found in larger hotels and specific eateries.
Sanya offers a wide range of accommodations including luxury resorts at Yalong Bay, mid-range hotels, and budget guesthouses near Sanya Bay and downtown areas.
Options include high-speed trains and buses to other Hainan cities, taxis or ride-hailing services for local travel, and flights from Sanya Phoenix International Airport to domestic and some international destinations.
