Sanya Travel Guide

Basic information Telephone area code: 0898 Emergency call: 110, 119, 120 Service hotline: 38812301 Environmental complaints: 12369 Price complaint: 12358 Destination overview Destination sketch Billed as “China’s Hawaii”, Sanya has 20km long stretches of beach. As the only tropical city […]

Basic information

Telephone area code: 0898
Emergency call: 110, 119, 120
Service hotline: 38812301
Environmental complaints: 12369
Price complaint: 12358

Destination overview

Destination sketch

Billed as “China’s Hawaii”, Sanya has 20km long stretches of beach. As the only tropical city across the coastline, it is definitely booming and packed with a lot of water sports such as snorkeling and jet-skiing, rainforest hiking, and innumerable hotels ranging from zero to five stars.

With sunshine all year around, temperatures hover around 25°C even in January and 30°C in the summer time. Its islands and beaches are beautiful and the water in Yalong Bay and Dadonghai are clean enough to have a good swim, but you may also want to head to Wuzhizhou Island or further north to visit unspoiled and natural scenery.

Practical information

Marriott Post Office
Address: Yalong Bay, Jiyang Town, Sanya City
Phone: 0898-88568888

Yintai Post Office
Address: Dadonghai, Hedong District, Sanya City
Phone: 0898-88210888

Phoenix Airport Post Office
Address: Phoenix Airport, Fenghuang Town, Sanya City
Tel: 0898-88289446

Intercity traffic

Aircraft

Sanya Phoenix Int’l Airport, SYX
Sanya has an airport with flights to most major Chinese cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai or Hong Kong. Fares vary significantly, depending on season and the particular tour. You may be able to save money by first taking a bullet train to Haikou and flying out of the provincial capital’s larger airport. The Meilan high-speed rail station is in the same building complex with Haikou’s international airport. For intercity bus, ticket and overnight lodging can exceed the difference and you should account for travelling 3-4 hours each direction. In addition to the bus, you will easily be able to find “heiche” taxis that will take you between the two cities, for between ¥350-500 per car. Although strictly illegal, you can find drivers that are courteous, safe and reliable, although this is much more difficult without being able to speak at least basic Chinese. Take bus number 8 from the airport to the city (and back), which stops here in both directions.

Train

Sanya New Railway Station
Address: No. 10 Yuxiu Road
Arrival method: bus 4, 5, 10, 20, 22, 30, 31, ticket 1 yuan; take a taxi to go to the city about 30 yuan, go to Dadonghai about 40 yuan, go to Yalong Bay about 60 yuan

Long distance bus

Sanya Bus Terminal
Address: No. 16 Jiefang 2nd Road
Phone: 0898-88272440

Traffic in the city

Bus

Sanya’s public transportation lines are relatively comprehensive, and you can take buses from Sanya to various scenic spots. In addition, the tourist bus is a special tourist bus that is specially opened in Sanya and reaches the main attractions of the city. The car is in very good condition. .

Taxi

The starting price of the taxi is 8 yuan for 2 kilometers, 2 yuan per kilometer after 2 kilometers, 1 yuan per kilometer for the return air fare of more than 20 kilometers in the urban area, and the waiting fee is 2 yuan per 10 minutes. During the May 1st, the 11th and the Spring Festival, The train will add 5 yuan.

Attraction

Yalong Bay

Yalong Bay (Asian Dragon Bay) boasts unparalleled beauty. The 7.5-kilometer (4.7-mile) long, crescent-shaped bay with an area of about 18.6 square kilometers (7.2 square miles) is one of the famous scenic spots in Hainan Province.

With the average temperature of a pleasant 78 °F (25.5 °C) all year round, Yalong Bay is situated in the southernmost part of Hainan Province, about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away from the tropical seaside tourist city, Sanya. The scenery is amazing, with endless rolling hills, serene gulfs, clear blue sea and silvery sand beaches – three times as long as any in Hawaii. Home to several well-preserved coral reefs with tropical fish of varied kinds, colors and shapes, the ocean here is crystal clear, allowing visitors to view underwater sights up to 10 meters (33 feet) deep from the surface.

Yalong Bay boasts the five essential elements of modern tourism: sea, sands, sunshine, lush green plants and fresh air. In 1992, the Secretary – General of the World Tourism Organization once marked that this bay embraces the unique and unparalleled natural settings, sands, crystal sea water, endless seashore, unspoiled hills and pristine vegetation, making it a paradise for holiday travelers.
Address: Yalong Bay National Tourism Resort
Phone: 0898-88565588

Tianya Haijiao

Tianya Haijiao, a romantic and beautiful scenic spot, lies to the west of Sanya City, Hainan Province. It receives many visitors from home and abroad every year since its open in 1988. It also attracts thousands of young lovers from every corner of the world to hold their wedding ceremonies here.

Tianya Haijiao means ‘the furthermost part of the sky and the sea’ in Chinese, suggesting an unattainable place. In the past, Chinese people believed that the sky was square and the earth was round. Therefore there was definitely a furthermost part of the sky and the earth. Hainan Province, the southernmost part of China, was believed to be the location of Tianya Haijiao.
Address: At the foot of Xiamaling Mountain, Tianya District, Sanya City, about 23 kilometers away from the main city of Sanya City
Opening hours: 7:30-18:30
Tickets: 100 yuan / person in the peak season, 97 yuan / person. Low season 85 yuan / person (including government price adjustment fund 5 yuan / person); large, middle and primary school students, 60-69 years old, disabled people with valid documents, height between 1.2-1.4 meters children, 50 yuan / person
Phone: 0898-88910131
Www.aitianya.cn

Nanshan Temple

Situated 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Sanya City, Hainan Province, the Nanshan Temple (South Mountain Temple) ranks as one of the attractions in the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone. Occupying an area of 400 mu (66 acres), it is the biggest Buddhist preaching site established since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Nestling at the foot of Nanshan Mountain, an auspicious region famous for Chinese Buddhist culture with emphasis on longevity-happiness, Nanshan Temple was completed on 12 April, 1998, the 2,000th anniversary year of Buddhism coming to Chin
ddress: Nanshan Scenic Spot, Sanya City
Tickets: 150 yuan / person. With student ID, military officer’s card and half price of elderly people over 60 years old in Hainan
Phone: 0898-88837888

Dongtian Park

There is an interesting story about its name. In Taoist Culture, there are 10 big Dongtians, 36 small Dongtians and 72 blessed fairylands. Dongtian means fairyland where the Gods live, so the name was given. In Southern Song Dynasty, Mao Kui, the supervisor of Hainan Province, found a big Dongtian and a small Dongtian in the South Mountain in Sanya. He then developed this area into a tourism resort and left some inscriptions on the stones and cliff. Now, there is only a small Dongtian under the cliff. According to a book recording the history of Hainan Province, there should be a big Dongtian too, but it can not be found now, leaving an infinite mystery. The name Big and Small Dongtian is still in use.
Address: 40 km west of Sanya City, about 23 km from Tianya Haijiao
www.sanyapark.com

Wuzhizhou Island

The waters surrounding this island are the most beautiful in Sanya. A popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving, this island has fallen victim to it is popularity. Water is less clear and fish less plentiful than before, so choose dates and times to maximize visibility when visiting. Scuba diving will cost around ¥400-500. Also see Sunrise Rock. It is located on the cliff in the southeast of the island. Standing on the rock, you can get a bird’s view of the whole island and the South China Sea. The Guanri Rock is like a natural stone Buddha facing to the sea. It is also like a huge turtle crawling to the vast ocean. The rock is an ideal place for you to enjoy the sunrise. You can get onto the island by ferry as early as 8:30AM. The last ferry back from the island is 5:30PM. The hotel rates are outrageous so unless you have lots of money, staying the night is not recommended.
Address: Sea area near Haitang Bay, Sanya City
Tickets: 128 yuan / person (including ticket)
Tel: 0988-88751258; 88751256
Www.wuzhizhou.com

Luhuitou Park

This is one of the tourist attractions in Sanya. On top of one of the tallest mountains in Sanya stands a statue of a deer looking back, flanked by a Li boy and a Li Girl. The legend goes that the boy was hunting the deer until the deer approaches a cliff, looks back, and magically turns into a beautiful girl and they fall in love. This place symbolizes young couples falling in love. At night you will see green lasers shooting out from near the statue that is visible from all over Sanya. Beneath the statue is an outdoor barbecue seating area that closes at 23:30. You will see wild monkeys that take food from humans as well. On the back of your ticket, you will see a map of the park so you can guide yourself. There is an abandoned roller coast up here as well. You will see the rusting tracks and closed off entrance area. There is also a wall with chains on it where you can buy a padlock with your names written on it and have your padlocked locked to the chain to symbolize that your love is forever.
Address: 3 km south of downtown Sanya
Arrival method: Take the No. 2 and No. 4 bus from downtown Sanya to Luhuitou Station, and then take the tricycle to the gate of the scenic spot. Or take the 3 or 22 bus to reach the entrance of the scenic spot.
Opening hours: 8:00-22:00
Tickets: Adult 45 yuan / person
Phone: 0898-88818199

Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone

Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone, which lies at 18°N in Sanya, Hannan Island, yields tropical landscapes and fruits. Characterized by tropical rain forests, serene valleys, waterfalls and springs, and herbal SPA, it is an ideal place to escape to. It is a summer resort that makes one pleasantly cool. Yanoda Rainforest is where visitors breathe fresh air, go camping and stream trekking, and experience local Li Nation hospitality. Its name “Yanoda”, which means “one, two, three” in local dialect but means “Hello” locally, evokes an imagery of a beautiful place populated by happy and friendly people.

In 18 square miles (45 square kilometers), the tourism zone consists of Dream Valley and Rainforest Valley.

Dadonghai

Sanya Dadonghai Scenic Area is one of the three most popular tropical seaside tourism areas in Sanya Hainan along with Sanya Bay and Yalong Bay. It is the first free open scenic area in Sanya. This scenic area lies between Tuwei Hill and Luhuitou Hill, about 2.5 miles (4km) southeast of downtown Sanya. Particularly favorable natural conditions, combined with convenient transport and perfect amenities, make Dadonghai an ideal destination for your holidays.

Binglanggu Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park

Located at the boundary between downtown Sanya City and Baoting County, the Hainan Binglanggu Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park is also known as Binglanggu Valley or Betelnut Valley. Thousands of tall and straight betel trees stretch miles along the valley and in this sea of betel trees hides an appealing attraction – the Binglanggu Valley. That’s also how it gets this beautiful name. With rich intangible cultural heritages and tropical landscapes, it is acclaimed as a living fossil that manifests fully the culture of Hainan Island.

The Cultural Heritage Village, Ganza Li Village and Miao Village fascinate visitors with their own distinct features. Follow three different itineraries and you will meet these three villages.

Monkey Island

Situated in the south of Lingshui County, Nanwan Monkey Island is the only tropical island-type nature reserve for macaques – a state protected animal in China. The island boasts of so many special sites, such as the longest transoceanic ropeway in China, the charming coconut palms, the enchanting sand beach, the natural bathing place, multicolored coral reefs, and the unique fishing rafts, as well as being the monkeys’ paradise.

Riding the longest oversea ropeway, which is 2,138 meters (7,014 feet) long at the speed of 6 meters (6.6 yards) per second, you will be delighted to find that you have a wonderful view of the ocean, the neatly placed fishing rafts by the bank and the thick chains of mountains on the island with the birds gently singing and the monkeys’ shouts reverberating around your ears. Soon the mythical Monkey Island unfolds his arms in front of you.

Boundary Island

The island got the name because it is the boundary between two different climates, two different culture backgrounds, and two administrative regions. The temperature is slightly higher with little rain on the south of the island, while the northern region is moderate and humid. So, you can view scenes of different weather conditions at the two ends of the island at the same time. The island also draws a line between nationality groups in Hainan. The minority people mainly reside to its south and the region to its north mainly houses Han people. Also, it is the administrative boundary of Lingshui and Wanning.

Food

There are plenty of good restaurants, including many Sichuan places and some Cantonese. There is one McDonald’s (on the pedestrian street at Jiefang Erlu) and four branches of KFC (105 Jiefang Lu; Duojialian; 63 Guoxing Dadao; Renmin Lu). Seafood is a beach city’s speciality. Inspect the tanks for freshness before eating and beware of the different charges that are often handled by different people at the restaurant (fishery, cooking fee, and sitting fee can be separate). Shellfish go for ¥10-25 per jin (half kilo).

Accommodation

As a general rule, accommodation prices in Sanya are very expensive, particularly during the winter months due to the huge influx of wealthy tourists from northern China. In Sanya city and Dadonghai there are many small, clean moderately priced inns and hotels (¥50-100, even in high season, for 1-3 beds). Some may be located in alley ways just off Sanya’s beach street, sometimes several floors up without an elevator (but the view is worth it!).