Just got back from Sanya! Here’s a travel guide for Xidao Island for you!

First off: Xidao Island is not for those seeking a luxury vacation or a check-in style trip. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a slow pace of life and want to get close to the local vibe.

🚢 How to get to the island:
You need to book your ferry ticket in advance (online purchase 98 RMB/person).
The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes, the waves are mild and the ride is smooth. If you sit by the window, you can see the clear blue sea through the glass.

It’s best to catch the early ferry when there are fewer people and no lines!
If you’re staying on the island, you can get there around 4 PM~

🏨 Accommodation
After researching many guides online, we chose Daidaiwo Homestay.
Their service is really meticulous! Before check-in, they send you some tips for arriving at the place~
They explained several ways to get from the ferry to the island; we chose to be picked up by a local villager 🤗 5 RMB/person, just 10 minutes away.

Plus, the room we booked had a window right next to the pool 🏊, blue view as soon as you open the window. The room has a bathtub, so you can fill it up, swim a few laps, and then soak—super healing and relaxing 😌
Everything in their place is disposable, which feels very reassuring.

Not only that, after check-in the owner gave us a super detailed travel guide—various check-in spots, exact times to watch sunrise, sunset, and tide pooling spots (just about 400 meters from the homestay).
✅ The hotel thoughtfully provides tide pooling tools (bucket, tongs, net, headlamp) plus earplugs for sleeping, mosquito repellent, hair ties, motion sickness patches, and more.

This place really warmed my heart 💗

📍 Super convenient location:
The homestay is right on the main road. Walk 150 meters to the left (tested, just 2 minutes!) and you’re at the beach. Every morning you can wake up, slip on your slippers, and go feel the sand and waves. No crowds at sunset either.

📸 Recommended photo spots:
1️⃣ Coastal highway
2️⃣ Fishing village pier
3️⃣ Century-old coral house—worth a visit, rustic and unique, instantly captures the cultural vibe
4️⃣ Swing under the tree—near “Xidao Meizi Snack Shop” on the map
5️⃣ Heart wall—near the Sea Library, just a quick snap for a check-in

Rent a small electric scooter, ride all around (30-40 RMB/day), but be sure to bargain 👀. Riding the scooter, feeling the breeze, and seeing the coconut groves is a blast.

🍢 Snack recommendations:
✅ Uncle Yelin’s Coconut Chicken
✅ Buqiong Cold Drinks Durian Fried Ice
✅ Qiongye Qingbuliang (a local dessert)
❌ The barbecue stalls in the scenic area—prices are high and taste is average, so choose carefully
❌ 10 RMB for 3 scallops—they’re really tiny… better spend a bit more on big oysters