Sanya, the city of eternal summer, is a true national treasure for vacationers. With an abundance of attractions and various ways to enjoy the sea, land, and air, it’s a destination that offers something for everyone. To make your trip effortless and enjoyable, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Sanya travel guide that covers all the essential information you need.
From the four major bays – Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, Yalong Bay, and Haitang Bay – to the most popular attractions and insider tips, we’ve got you covered. Plus, we’ve included a guide to the most beautiful coastal road in Wanning, which has become a popular spot for social media check-ins.
Sanya Bay
Advantages:
- Convenient transportation, only a 10-minute drive from the city center and airport
- Numerous nearby attractions
Disadvantages:
- Earliest developed bay in Sanya, with average water and sand quality
- Water is relatively dirty
- Predominantly older hotels
Dadonghai
Advantages:
- Close to the city center, convenient for dining, shopping, and entertainment
- Better water and sand quality compared to Sanya Bay
Disadvantages:
- Noisy environment
- Average water and sand quality
Yalong Bay
Advantages:
- Best water and sand quality among the four bays in Sanya
- Most beautiful sea views
- Suitable for visitors who enjoy sea views, swimming, diving, and desire a comfortable accommodation experience
Disadvantages:
- Limited attractions in Yalong Bay
- Inconvenient public transportation
- Predominantly five-star hotels with higher prices
Haitang Bay
Advantages:
- Lined with luxurious hotels offering comprehensive facilities
- Newest hotels among the four bays, ideal for hotel vacations
- Close proximity to duty-free shops
Disadvantages:
- Strong winds and waves, unsuitable for swimming
- High consumption level and expensive hotel prices
Yalong Bay Attractions
Yalong Bay Beach
- Ticket: Free
- Transportation: Bus routes 25/27
- Time: All day
- Highlights: Known as “the best bay under heaven,” featuring Sanya’s most outstanding beach and water quality. Perfect for enjoying a tranquil afternoon or swimming in the lively waves during sunset.
- Recommendations: Try popular water activities like sea flying fish, jet skiing, and snorkeling!
Sun Bay Road
- Ticket: Free
- Transportation: Self-driving recommended
- Time: All day
- Highlights: Sanya’s most beautiful coastal road, flanked by mountains on one side and the sea on the other. Rent an electric scooter or drive a convertible for a romantic and refreshing experience. Capture stunning photos that make you look like the lead actress in a TV drama! Don’t miss the breathtaking sunrise.
- Recommendations: Wear a beautiful, bright-colored dress for photos. The blue sky and white clouds create a high-end look! Drive slowly to capture stunning video footage.
- Warnings: Avoid parking randomly along the roadside. Be quick when taking photos, as prolonged stops may result in parking tickets.
Tropical Paradise Forest Park
- Ticket: 140 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 15/25
- Time: 7:00-18:00
- Highlights: The closest forest oxygen bar to the city, with a high vegetation coverage in the original tropical rainforest. Boasting a beautiful environment and fresh air, it’s the highest point in Yalong Bay and a popular filming location for the movie “If You Are the One 2.” Exciting activities include the Over-Dragon River Zipline, trial wedding room, and cliff-side sky pool. A glass walkway at the top offers panoramic views of the coastline.
- Recommendations: Consider purchasing a package ticket for a more immersive experience, as the entrance ticket doesn’t include attractions like the Over-Dragon River Bridge and glass walkway. Take the sightseeing bus for a thrilling ride around the mountain top. Try the exciting rainforest darts!
Warnings:
- Choose between this park and Yanoda Rainforest, as visiting one is sufficient.
- Avoid visiting on rainy days, as visibility will be poor.
- Be prepared for mosquitoes in the tropical rainforest and take necessary precautions.
- Avoid wearing short skirts or shorts, as the wind at the mountaintop can be strong. Secure your hat to prevent it from being blown away.
- Refrain from wearing high heels, as the paths are steep and can be tiring.
Yanoda Tropical Rainforest
- Ticket: 158 CNY
- Transportation: Intercity Line 1
- Time: 8:00-18:00
- Highlights: A 5A-rated scenic spot suitable for all ages, offering a variety of entertainment options, even more than Yalong Bay Forest Park. As a natural oxygen bar and the only tropical rainforest located at 18°N in China, the vast park is divided into two routes – mountain and water – for visitors to freely explore. Upon purchasing tickets, a sightseeing bus will take you to the observation points. Enjoy attractions like the glass walkway, high-altitude zipline, swing, and more. Experience the beauty of the tropical rainforest while engaging in thrilling activities.
- Recommendations: Try the devil swing, made famous by Jackson Wang, for an exhilarating experience!
- Warnings: The “Waterfall Wading” activity may result in getting slightly wet. To avoid wardrobe malfunctions, wear dark-colored clothing and bring a spare set of clothes. Choose between Yalong Bay Forest Park and Yanoda Tropical Rainforest, as visiting one is sufficient.
Rose Valley
- Ticket: 34 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 27/37
- Time: 8:00-17:30
- Highlights: Stunningly beautiful during the blooming season from November to April.
- Warnings: Outside the blooming season, there’s not much to see. The area is heavily commercialized, with numerous cosmetics shops and sales staff promoting rose-based beauty products. Avoid purchasing cosmetics or skincare products inside the valley.
Binglang Valley
- Ticket: 96 CNY
- Transportation: Scenic area shuttle bus
- Time: 8:00-18:00
- Highlights: Learn about the indigenous culture of the Li and Miao ethnic groups, which is very unique.
- Warnings: Avoid arriving too early, as it can be scorching during the day. Binglang Valley has a strong commercial atmosphere, and the scenic area is chaotic, with people everywhere trying to sell goods.
Butterfly Valley
- Ticket: 26 CNY
- Transportation: Xinguo Line bus
- Time: 7:30-18:00
- Highlights: In addition to the beach, Yalong Bay also has a pastoral charm. Near the Aile Square Coastal World Butterfly Valley, the valley in the evening has a similar vibe to Pai, Thailand.
Rice National Park
- Ticket: 45 CNY
- Transportation: Bus route 23
- Time: 8:30-22:00
- Highlights: This is the rice experimental base of Grandpa Yuan Longping. The park also features many 1:1 scale dinosaur models and parent-child activities. There’s also a light show in the evening, making it suitable for children to experience.
- Warnings: As it is a rice field, there are few shaded areas. It’s best to visit in the late afternoon when the sun is about to set to avoid the scorching heat. Prepare sunscreen and water, as the convenience store is quite a distance away.
Baifu Bay
- Ticket: Free, activities are charged separately
- Transportation: Take a 20-minute speedboat ride from Taiyang Bay to reach Baifu Bay.
- Time: 9:30-16:30
- Highlights: A lesser-known bay area comparable to Semporna, Baifu Bay’s coral reef is one of the most pristinely preserved coral reefs in Yalong Bay. It features a secluded bay, a diving paradise, crystal-clear glass-like sea, and trendy glass boats. Every scenery is picturesque, and many soft corals and various marine life inhabit the underwater world. Currently, it is only accessible through group tours.
- Warnings: The cost-effectiveness of Sanya’s Baifu Bay is low, with opaque activity prices that can easily lead to being scammed. The environment also suffers from severe garbage pollution.
Shopping and Food
Outlets Town No. 1: The only seafood market in Yalong Bay is located here, with a long-established seafood processing business offering abundant and fresh seafood. Many celebrities have visited this place, and the spicy and joyful crab is highly recommended! It is only a 5-minute drive from the Tropical Paradise, and there are numerous international brand stores with discounts. The street is lined with swaying coconut trees and flowing fountains, exuding a tropical ambiance.
Baihua Valley Commercial Street, Yalong Bay Yatai Commercial Street, Dongrong Food Plaza (Diadiade Coconut Chicken, Qingbuliang, Qiongxiangge Hainan Cuisine)
Xinhonggang Fruit Market: The largest comprehensive fruit wholesale market in Sanya. It’s a good place to buy fruits, coconut chips, and local specialties. The quality is excellent, and prices are lower in the inner stalls. Bring a bottle of mineral water to check the accuracy of the scale. It is not recommended to mail fruits back home, as the shipping fees are very expensive.
Haitang Bay Attractions
Wuzhizhou Island
- Ticket: 138 CNY
- Transportation: Bus route 28
- Time: 8:00-17:30
- Highlights: Known as the domestic “Little Maldives,” it is renowned as the best diving base in China. The seawater is clean, crystal clear, and offers a variety of water activities.
- Recommendations: Take the sightseeing cable car to tour Wuzhizhou Island and enjoy the beautiful scenery. For the island’s entertainment activities, be sure to purchase the extreme package, which includes 16 items for a thrilling experience. As the boat ride to the island can be prone to seasickness, it is recommended to take motion sickness medication half an hour in advance.
Route: Start with a tour around the island → Sun Rock → Lover’s Island → Beach loungers → Sea View Corridor, then enjoy water activities such as diving → jet skiing → parasailing → water flying → taking photos on the trendy glass boat
Warnings:
- The island is overly commercialized, with high consumption costs. Food and drinks are very expensive, so be sure to bring your own water and snacks!
- Scenic area restrictions: Pregnant women and elderly individuals over 70 years old are not allowed on the island. Pets are also not permitted!
- Take the first boat to the island to have ample time to enjoy all the activities. Be sure to allocate sufficient time for departing the island, as there are often long queues, especially during peak seasons. If you miss the designated time, you will have to go to another pier.
Houhai Village
- Ticket: Free
- Transportation: Bus route 28
- Time: All day
- Highlights: The largest surfing village in China, attracting a large number of surfing enthusiasts! It is a prime location for surfing and beachcombing, making it an excellent choice for family trips. You can take your children to catch small crabs at Houhai, which is particularly enjoyable! The scenery at Houhai is also very beautiful! In the evening, there are parties and bars by the beach, where you can enjoy some drinks and dance, making it especially suitable for young couples.
- Recommendations: Surf during the day and dance at night. It is a popular spot among young people, with many trendy small shops.
Warnings:
- Houhai is suitable for beginner surfers; experienced surfers are not recommended to come!
- When surfing at Houhai, be sure to book a professional coach in advance and inquire about the weather conditions to determine if it is suitable for surfing.
- Apart from surfing, Houhai does not offer many other entertainment activities. If you want to enjoy other activities, it is recommended to visit Wuzhizhou Island.
- Houhai is not very suitable for surfing in winter as the seawater is quite cold.
Haichang Fantasy Town
- Ticket: Free, activities are charged separately
- Transportation: Bus routes 33/35
- Highlights: A new popular tourist attraction in Sanya, featuring beautiful lights at night.
- China’s first immersive marine-themed cultural and entertainment complex, a nightlife hotspot for shopping, dining, and trendy activities in Sanya
- Themed around the “Silk Road,” the architectural style is unique
- Offers various global cultural performances and marine animal shows
- Features a giant Ferris wheel, a popular spot for taking photos
- The lighting atmosphere is fantastic, suitable for families with children and couples
- At night, there is a grand light parade with excellent interaction
- Cool water party with bubble battles, guaranteed to bring joy and excitement
Warnings: Haichang Fantasy Town opens at 4:00 PM and is mainly visited at night for its Ferris wheel and numerous children’s activities. It is recommended to purchase a package ticket for better value. There are also food options inside, so you can enjoy eating while playing in the evening.
International Duty Free City
- Ticket: Free, shopping is charged
- Transportation: Bus route 34, duty-free store special line
- Time: 10:00-22:30
- Highlights: A massive 70,000-square-meter shopping mall, a shopping paradise for refined ladies! It offers a wide range of luxury goods, skincare products, and cosmetics from various brands, with numerous discounts.
Warnings: Make a reservation for the duty-free store bus in advance; download the app beforehand to use points for discounts; collect various cash coupons with no minimum spend. A departure ticket is required.
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
- Ticket: Charged, package ticket available
- Transportation: Bus routes 33/34/35
- Time: 10:00-18:00
- Highlights: Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark offers a wide range of entertainment activities, including thrilling water rides suitable for adults and water parks suitable for children.
Recommended order: The best order to enjoy Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark is: Shark Encounter → Octopus Racers → Point of No Return → Poseidon’s Revenge → Aquaventure Waterpark Roller Coaster → Aquaconda → The Abyss → Raging Rapids
Warnings:
- Prepare a waterproof phone pouch, long-sleeved swimsuit, and towel in advance. Wear beach shoes and avoid bringing jewelry.
- Try to bring fewer items. If you have many belongings, you can rent a small locker for a rental fee of 30 CNY and a deposit of 20 CNY.
- Many rides at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark have height restrictions, so it is not recommended for younger children as there are limited activities suitable for them.
Atlantis Aquarium
- Ticket: Charged, package ticket available
- Transportation: Bus routes 33/34/35
- Time: 10:00-18:00
- Highlights: The aquarium is home to nearly 86,000 marine animals from around 300 species, with each species accompanied by a written description. Visitors can dive and have close encounters with these marine creatures.
Warnings: The aquarium ticket is quite expensive and not worth visiting. However, it is a great spot for taking beautiful photos, so it is recommended for photography enthusiasts!
Haitang Bay Food Recommendations
- 68 Food Street: Located in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the prices are relatively high, but restaurants can arrange transportation to and from the hotel.
- Lin Wang Night Market: A lively night market with a variety of street food stalls. Those who have higher requirements for the environment may not find it suitable. Recommended dishes include the Qing Bu Liang (a traditional dessert) recommended by Li Jiaqi and the beef offal pot at stall No. 13.
Dadonghai Scenic Spot Collection
Dadonghai and Xiaodonghai
- Ticket: Free
- Highlights: The most pristine beach scenery. Xiaodonghai Scenic Area also features a small Santorini-style photography base where visitors can take photos for free.
Luhuitou Park
- Ticket: 35 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 5/26
- Time: 8:00-22:00
- Highlights: A great place to climb high and enjoy the view, particularly suitable for watching the sunset and night scenery from the top of the hill! Visitors can take in the stunning views of the entire Sanya Bay and Yalong Bay. Be sure to choose a clear day to visit.
- Recommendations: Go after 5:00 PM! The coffee shop on top of Luhuitou Hill has an Instagram-worthy style and is perfect for taking photos! Luhuitou also has a free one-meter-high staircase where you can take great photos.
Warnings:
- Pay attention to the weather. On cloudy or rainy days, there will be no sunset, and the night view will be foggy.
- Avoid visiting Luhuitou in the morning or at noon, as it can be very hot!
- There’s no need to allocate too much time for Luhuitou, as there are limited activities!
- If you encounter macaques along the way, do not touch them with your hands.
Phoenix Hill Haishi Shanmeng
- Ticket: 75 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 22/24
- Time: 8:00-21:00
Highlights: A romantic-themed, lesser-known scenic spot that also offers a bird’s-eye view of Sanya. The scenery is particularly outstanding, making it suitable for visiting with loved ones. The cable car also has ample space!
Warnings: For similar scenic spots, Luhuitou is more recommended. The ticket price for Haishi Shanmeng is expensive, and visitors only get to ride the cable car, resulting in low cost-effectiveness.
Banshan Peninsula Jiqing Square
Highlights: The European-style street is very charming, with a Barcelona flair, allowing visitors to take photos that resemble being abroad! There is also a food street, making it convenient to explore and dine.
Warnings: Although the European-style street inside is quite charming, Jiqing Square is currently not open to tourists. The railings clearly state, “Wedding photography base, no visiting allowed!”
Xiaodonghai Photography Base
Highlights: It feels like stepping into a foreign island, with a small Santorini-style photography base where visitors can take photos for free. There are many props, making it a great spot for photography enthusiasts.
Dadonghai Night Market, First Market, Daboluo Square, Xinhonggang Market, Hailv Duty-Free Shop
Sanya Bay Scenic Spot Collection
Coconut Dream Corridor
- Ticket: Free
- Transportation: Bus routes 8/26/27, about 5 minutes from the airport
- Time: All day
- Highlights: The best place to watch the sunset in Sanya! Over 20 kilometers of coconut trees and sea breeze, with the reflection of the coconut grove extending for miles along the beach, creating an incredibly beautiful sight.
- Recommendations: The best time to visit Coconut Dream Corridor is around 5-6 PM for a stroll and taking photos with the sunset!
Warnings:
- Be sure to bring a bottle of mosquito repellent, as there are many mosquitoes and midges near the coconut grove, and their bites can be quite severe!
- Avoid engaging with wild photographers, as their skills may be poor, yet they still charge high fees!
- Avoid visiting at noon, as it can be extremely hot!
- Do not enter the sea, as the water is deep, and there are strong undercurrents on the seabed, making it easy to be swept away!
Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone
- Ticket: 108 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 16/25/30
- Time: 8:00-17:00
- Recommendations: A famous Buddhist holy site in Sanya, where visitors can take photos with the 108-meter-tall Guanyin statue on the sea. Be sure to embrace the Buddha’s feet at the Guanyin of the South Sea and pray for good fortune! The scenic area is quite large, so it is recommended to purchase a sightseeing bus ticket.
Highlights: The most important attraction in the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone is undoubtedly the Guanyin of the South Sea. The 108-meter-tall Guanyin statue stands at the edge of the South China Sea. The statue consists of three sides: the first side holds a lotus flower, representing peace and prosperity; the second side holds a sutra basket, symbolizing inclusiveness and exceptional wisdom; the third side holds prayer beads, representing the mutual devotion between the Buddha and all living beings. The integrated trio of statues is considered the world’s largest and is a must-visit spot to embrace the Buddha’s feet!
Warnings: When visiting Nanshan Temple, avoid wearing revealing clothes or slippers! There is a free incense offering area inside the Nanshan Temple park, so don’t be persuaded to buy incense outside, as it cannot be brought in.
Daxiao Dongtian
- Ticket: 60 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 16/25/30
- Time: 7:30-18:30
- Recommendations: The Sky Gate and spiral staircase popular on Instagram are both located here.
Highlights: The environment of Daxiao Dongtian is well-preserved, with beautiful scenery. Built by the sea, it offers a view of vast sea scenery. Daxiao Dongtian is close to the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone, so these two attractions can be visited together. Try to arrive in the morning to avoid long queues.
Warnings: Daxiao Dongtian is mainly a wedding photography base, with many spots for taking photos. Those who do not enjoy taking photos can skip this attraction.
West Island
- Ticket: 90 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 16/25/30
- Time: 8:00-17:30
Highlights: Located at the “golden tourism latitude” of 18 degrees north, it is the largest indigenous tourism island in Hainan. The surrounding waters are a national coral nature reserve and one of the world-renowned diving destinations. It boasts clear seawater, soft sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees, steep reef coastlines, and a colorful underwater world.
Recommendations: A quiet and artistic small fishing village with low commercialization. There are many fishermen, colorful villages, and even sea treehouses, making it a great spot for taking photos. It also offers a wide range of sea activities! It is particularly suitable for families with children to go beachcombing! Riding a small electric scooter around the island is also very enjoyable!
Tianya Haijiao
- Ticket: 68 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 32/25/26
- Time: 13:30-18:20
- Highlights: “Listen to the beautiful legend of Tianya Haijiao,” a romantic spot for couples to check in.
Warnings:
- Although Tianya Haijiao is a must-visit spot in Sanya, it’s not worth spending 68 CNY to see two large rocks.
- Don’t join a tour group when visiting Tianya Haijiao, as you may be taken to hidden consumption spots.
- Don’t trust tickets from strangers or scalpers; discounted tickets can be purchased on certain online platforms.
Tianya Town
- Ticket: Free
- Highlights: A hidden gem of a town with a Japanese anime-style blue and white color scheme, perfect for taking photos. There are also many music restaurants and small bars, making it a very artistic place!
- Warnings: The town’s beauty is in its filters, so be sure to visit on a day with good weather!
Sanya Romance Park
- Ticket: 280 CNY
- Transportation: Bus routes 7/9/26
- Time: 12:00-21:30
Highlights: The park combines performance, culture, and experience. The “Romance of the Song Dynasty” show here is considered one of the world’s top three shows, with a large-scale realistic performance that is very impressive and worth watching!
Recommendations: For Sanya Romance Park, the 5:00 PM show is recommended. There are interactive street performances suitable for children! The children’s amusement park in Sanya Romance Park is free for both adults and children, with bumper cars and a big pendulum that can be enjoyed without limits!
Warnings: The “Eye of the Storm” attraction at Sanya Romance Park is not recommended, as it lacks a sense of experience. Avoid visiting Sanya Romance Park at noon, as it can be very hot!
Shopping and Night Markets: Yiheng Night Market, Youth Song Square, Blue Sea Shopping Plaza. For seafood, the Laid-off Workers Market is recommended.
Popular Attractions Around Sanya
Nanhou Bay Island → Daidai Island → Boundary Island → Sun and Moon Bay → Phoenix Nine Miles Bookstore → Shimei Bay Viewing Pavilion → Shenzhou Peninsula Lighthouse → Jiajing Island → Zhouzai Island → Dazhou Island → Dahuajiao → Shanqin Bay → Shanqin Bay Swallow Cave
Nanhou Bay Island
- Ticket: 147 CNY
- Highlights: The world’s only island-type macaque nature reserve, with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Visitors can see many wild monkeys here.
- Warnings: Monkeys may snatch food and rummage through bags.
Daidai Island
- Ticket: 90 CNY
- Highlights: The beach is gentle and the sand is clean. Every spot is very quiet, without bustling crowds, allowing visitors to enjoy this sea area exclusively.
Boundary Island
- Ticket: 122 CNY
- Highlights: The seawater here is as clear as the blue sky, with the color gradually deepening outward and clear boundaries. There is also Dolphin Bay, where visitors can watch wild marine animals.
Sun and Moon Bay
- Ticket: Free
- Highlights: Adjacent to Shimei Bay, it is nestled between mountains and water. As one of the world’s top ten surfing destinations, there are huge rocks and surging waves in the sea, which is quite spectacular. Navigate to “Sunac Sun and Moon Bay.” The coastal road of the man-made island’s Coconut Grove Avenue is a newly popular Instagram-worthy road, with coconut groves on one side and the sea on the other. It boasts high-quality fixed-point wave types and beach wave types.
Sun and Moon Bay Fairy Pool Waterfall
- Address: Navigate to: Fairy Pool Waterfall, Tong Tie Ling, Sun and Moon Bay, Wanning City.
This is a purely natural and wild scenic spot, with a very spectacular waterfall. The water is so clear and cool that it can be directly consumed.
Wanning Coastal Highway
China’s version of California’s Highway 1, with a total length of 35 kilometers and a one-way journey of about 1 hour. If you take your time and explore slowly, you can easily spend a day here. Starting from Shimei Bay to Dahuajiao, the scenery of mountains, sea, sunset, beaches, and countryside unfolds before your eyes, as if entering a fairyland, creating a grand cinematic rhythm.
The Wanning Coastal Highway is very friendly to tourists, with viewing platforms and small parking lots along the way, making it convenient for everyone to check in and strike a pose!
Phoenix Nine Miles Bookstore
- Address: Seaside of Shimei Bay, Wanning, Hainan
- Time: 8:30-20:20
Highlights: The most beautiful seaside bookstore, with large floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides. Outside, there are blue skies, white clouds, and the sea, while inside, there is the fragrance of books. Order a cup of coffee, and it’s incredibly comfortable!
Shimei Bay Viewing Pavilion
Address: Navigate to: “Viewing Pavilion”
This section of the coastal cliff road is great for photography, and be sure to bring a drone for an excellent view, with half sea and half cliff. In addition to the cliff road, Shimei Bay’s 6-kilometer-long jade sea and silver beach is also a filming location for many movies and variety shows.
Shenzhou Peninsula Lighthouse
Address: Navigate to “Shenzhou Peninsula Taiyue Residence”
Self-driving cars can only park here, followed by a 20-minute walk to reach the lighthouse. Shared bicycles are also available. Against the backdrop of blue sky and clear water, the red and white color scheme appears particularly pure and artistic, making for great photos.
As temperatures can be high during the day, it is recommended to visit in the evening. This lighthouse is also the model for a lighthouse in Hayao Miyazaki’s comics, making it a super photogenic spot for checking in and taking photos.
Wanning Jiajing Island
Highlights: An uninhabited island located in Shimei Bay, with Maldives-style sea views. The seawater around Jiajing Island is incredibly clear, and the marine resources are abundant, providing an excellent diving experience. Although landing on Jiajing Island is not allowed, visitors can participate in water activities in the nearby waters.
Wanning Dazhou Island
Highlights: A national nature reserve with a rich variety of species on the island. The underwater world around Dazhou Island features beautiful corals, and there is an ancient sunken ship in the sea resembling a Greek shipwreck, earning it the name “China’s Shipwreck Bay.” Dazhou Island also boasts a long trailing sandy beach. The island scenery and underwater world of Dazhou Island are even more impressive than those of Jiajing Island.
Wanning Dahuajiao
- Ticket: Free
- Address: Navigate to Dahuajiao, Wanning City
A stunningly beautiful wild beach, with the coastline covered in huge pebbles smoothed and rounded by the waves, giving photos a distinct Great Ocean Road feel. Navigate to “Dahuajiao” and then hike through the woods for 10 minutes to reach Dahuajiao. It is recommended to wear shoes suitable for walking.
Small tips: Both Shanqin Bay and Dahuajiao are undeveloped locations, hidden natural landscapes within villages. When visiting, it is advised to bring food and water.
Hainan Wanning Shanqin Bay
Address: Navigate to Shangqing, Wanning
An undeveloped, unique beach in Wanning, featuring a long silver sandy beach and black reef stone caves. The popular Swallow Cave is located here, perfect for taking high-end silhouette photos. It is a bit far from the coastal highway. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the beach, with Dolphin Stone 50 meters to the right and Swallow Cave 1 kilometer to the left. Swallow Cave is affected by tides, so it may not always be visible.
Warning: Upon reaching the intersection, local people will direct you to park your car in the nearby parking lot and take their electric tricycle in, charging by sections. It costs 30 CNY per person to reach the beach; otherwise, it would be a 40-50 minute walk on a dirt road. This scenic spot is now quite exploitative, operated by locals, so be prepared to be overcharged. Consider it as an entrance fee, given that it is the most unique black reef stone beach on the east coast.
Shanqin Bay Swallow Cave
Ancient temples, black reef stones, and swallow island habitats are the features of Shanqin Bay. It is also described as “half seawater, half flame.” The unique scenery attracts many bloggers to visit and take photos.
Xinglong Town
The main attractions in Xinglong Town include Xinglong Coffee Valley, Bali Village, and Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden.
Xinglong Town
Known as the “Hawaii of the East” and a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, visitors can experience a strong Southeast Asian atmosphere here. Remember to taste Xinglong coffee.
Bali Village
- Ticket: 25 CNY
- Time: 7:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:30)
Featuring Indonesian-style architecture, it feels like being in Bali. - Warning: It’s enough to take a photo at the Sky Gate at the entrance; buying a ticket to enter is not recommended. The inside can be explored within 30 minutes and is quite ordinary.
Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden
Ticket: Ticket + Electric Car: 65.5 CNY
Just a 5-minute walk from Bali Village is Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden, home to many tropical plants. Fresh cocoa fruits can be eaten here. The electric car option is chosen for the included commentary.
Xinglong Coffee Valley
Highlights:
- Cultural atmosphere combining Southeast Asian style and local Hainan elements
- Coffee science popularization area, coffee bean picking area, and coffee shops
- The Coffee Valley preserves many old items from the early days of land reclamation and construction. Visitors can see these old objects and listen to old stories.
Xinglong Southeast Asian Flavors
An extremely popular restaurant serving Southeast Asian cuisine.
✔️ Wanning Must-Visit Checklist
- Go to the undeveloped #Jiajing Island for snorkeling and enjoying the underwater beauty
- Go surfing in Shimei Bay with the coaching team from the movie “Summer Surf Shop;” fewer people and better experience
- Visit #Shimei Bay, the most beautiful bay in Hainan, to see the reef stone sunrise
- Explore coffee culture at #Longyuan Coffee Manor
- Take children to #Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden to quickly learn about many plants
- Ride the exclusive beach sightseeing mini-train at Shimei Bay Le Méridien
- Visit #Fenjieguanzhou Island at the border with Lingshui, which feels like stumbling into a mysterious and dreamy Greek castle
- Go to Shimei Bay for tidal flat exploration and see the waves hiding little starfish in the sand
- Write postcards or read books at #Phoenix Nine Miles Bookstore
- Check in at #Bali Village, a popular photo spot with an exotic atmosphere
- Visit the red and white lighthouse at #Shenzhou Peninsula, which appears in Hayao Miyazaki’s comics
- Explore #Dazhou Island, known as “China’s Shipwreck Bay,” with stunning scenery
- Rent a car and bring a drone to #Riyue Bay to take blockbuster photos of the Wanning No. 1 Road with a view of the sea
- Go to #Shanqin Bay Swallow Cave for high-end silhouette photos
- See the coastline covered with huge pebbles at “Pearl Bay” #Dahuajiao
- Must-eat at #Xinglong Southeast Asian Flavors, the most popular local restaurant
- Visit the Horizon Restaurant at Shimei Bay Le Méridien to watch the sunset and stars while enjoying a beer seafood barbecue buffet dinner, the same as in “My Wife’s Romantic Travel”
Must-Eat Foods in Wanning
✔️ Dongshan goat, Hele crab, Hou’an noodles, seafood, Xinglong coffee
Sanya Seafood Market Collection
- Train Head Ten Thousand People Seafood Market: Right next to Sanya Train Station, selling more than 150 types of seafood, all directly supplied and sold by local fishermen
- Youyi Road Laid-off Workers Seafood Square: Has seafood specialty stalls and seafood processing stalls; you can choose a processing stall based on the stall number; prices are relatively affordable
- Chunyuan Seafood Square: An old seafood processing square providing one-stop services for seafood selection, purchase, and cooking; prices are relatively affordable
Sanya Seafood Market Tips to Avoid Traps
- Bring a small scale when purchasing seafood to prevent vendors from shortchanging
- After selecting seafood, be sure to pour out the water in the bag and cut a small hole
- When picking seafood, always choose the lively and active ones; those lying still are generally not very fresh and may not be usable after purchase
- Don’t rush to buy as soon as you enter the market; you can look around more to familiarize yourself with the price range of each type of seafood and have a sense of it in your mind; also, those near the entrance are usually more expensive
- It is recommended to make a unified purchase at one stall in the end for the convenience of bargaining with the vendor
Coconut chicken may not suit everyone’s taste; the chicken soup may have a slightly sweet flavor.
In addition to numerous attractions, Sanya also offers many experiences such as yacht trips and helicopter sightseeing, which will not be elaborated on here one by one!
