Sanya

Understand

While tourists come in every season, the peak season starts from 1 October to the end of winter after Spring Festival. During the winter, Sanya is a popular escape for Russians, who primarily stay at DadongHai (大东海 Dàdōnghǎi), and Northern Chinese who have migrated south to escape freezing winter weather. In the Chinese New Year, the city will be flooded with tourists and expect everything to be extremely expensive and overly packed: traffic is often a nightmare. As the southernmost city in China, Sanya along with Yangshuo often serves as the last stop for backpackers who wish to spend the remaining days of their visa in China.

History Long before it was opened to the outside world, Sanya served as a place of exile for deposed prime ministers, officials, and scholars. From the Han to the Ming dynasties, as many as 15 prominent figures were exiled to Hainan, with 10 of them residing in Shuinan Village, Yacheng Town, Sanya. To this day, descendants of these exiled officials and scholars still live in the village. Sanya boasts abundant intangible cultural heritage resources that are widely distributed. Among them, the Li ethnic group’s "Chopping Wood Dance" and Yacheng folk songs are notable, with many being included in the records of national-level intangible cultural heritage protection projects. In 1950, the Battle of Hainan Island took place. The People's Liberation Army of China ultimately defeated the Nationalist forces of the Republic of China and captured Hainan Island. The event is officially described by mainland China as the liberation of Hainan Island. With the increasing diversity of tourism products, Sanya has been actively fostering new trends and highlights in tourism consumption. Significant efforts have been made to enhance service quality and the level of internationalization, further expanding the international tourism market. Sanya aims to become a global tourism consumption destination with diverse industries, renowned brands, a comfortable environment, and distinctive features, taking the lead in innovating the construction of an international tourism consumption center. The government plans to make Sanya China's "Free Trade Port" by creating an updated Special Economic Zone to rival Hong Kong.

Culture Sanya has a long and rich cultural history. During the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang established Xiang County in Sanya, earning the city the nickname "Deer City." With its stunning scenery, Sanya is also known as the "Hawaii of the East" and boasts a distinctive local culture infused with maritime charm. According to local le

Getting there

By plane 1 Sanya Phoenix International Airport (三亚凤凰国际机场 (SYX IATA)) is served by bus number 8 from the airport to the city (and back), which stops here in both directions. The airport is about 14 km west-north-west of the city center and it is the hub of China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and is one of the hubs of Oneworld. It hosts flights from most major Chinese cities including Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The airport has its own high-speed railway station, which you can use to travel to other coastal cities in Hainan, but it is best not to take the high-speed train to Sanya Station due to overcrowding. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, and ATMs are near Gate 4 of the departure hall and Gate 4 of the arrival hall of the domestic terminal. Haikou Airport – You may be able to save money by flying to Haikou's larger airport and taking a bullet train to Sanya from there. The Meilan high-speed rail station is in the same building complex as Haikou's 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" (黑车 hēichē) taxis that will take you between the two cities, for ¥350-500 per car. Although it's 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.

By bus 2 Sanya Bus Station (三亚汽车站), 425 Jiefang Road, Tianya District (天涯区解放路425号) (a few steps south (away from McDonald's) of the east end of "Shopping Street" (步行街 bùxíng jiē). Local buses that serve the station include routes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 22, 26, 40, 42, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58 and lines 1 and 3 of Sanya Airport bus service), ☏ +86 898 88252656. Sanya's main central bus station. The station has bus services to destinations all over the island. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Sanya West Bus Station (三亚客运西站), National Highway 225, Tianya District (天涯区225国道旁) (on the east side of the airport runway; local buses that serve the station include routes 14, 16, 32, 34, and 42), ☏ +86 898 88350899. Mainly has bus services to destinations in the western part of Hainan such as Danzhou. (updated Aug 2020) The 3½-hour bus ride from the East Bus Station in Haikou will cost about ¥50. Buses between Haikou and Sanya generally depart about once every hour, though there is a two-hour gap between the 2nd last bus and the last bus; the last bus from Sanya to Haikou departs around 18:00.

By train Sanya can be r

Getting around

By foot Many people stay in beach areas with more-or-less everything within walking distance.

By bus Sanya has over sixty bus routes, operating from around 06:00 to 23:00. The ticket prices follow a distance-based fare system, ranging from ¥2 to 20. In addition, there are many privately-operated shuttle buses. Darting in, around, and between Sanya city and Dadong Hai is best done by the city bus lines 2 (fastest) or 4 (adds some stops around Sanya River) for ¥2. The buses run along Sanya city's Jiefang Road (解放路), which is the street McDonald's is on, and hit Dadong Bay at Luling Road (鹿岭路), just one stop past the Deer Turns Head Square (鹿回头广场) For trips farther out of town, you can buy bus tickets at Sanya city's bus station or just hail buses on the road that runs along Sanya's beach. Tickets to most destinations will be ¥1-30. You could also hire a van with (or without) an English speaking guide from hotels or people with white and blue displays on the streets of Sanya City or Dadong Bay. If you go with a Chinese tour group, there may likely be several hours of scheduled stops at "infomercial" centers, complete with microphone delivered advertisements.

By light rail A light rail network is under construction. The first line officially began operations in October 2020. It runs from Sanya Railway Station to the city center. Stops include Sanya Railway Station (三亚火车站), Yuxiu Road (育秀路), Fenghuang Road (凤凰路), Shuicheng Road (水城路), Sanya River East Road (三亚河东路), Jiefang Road (解放路), Jinjiling Street (金鸡岭街), Youyi Street (友谊街), Yingbin Road (迎宾路), Jixiang Street (吉祥街), Tuanjie Street (团结街), Xinfeng Street (新风街), Guangming Street (光明街), Yuejin Street (跃进街) and Jiangang Road (建港路). The fare is ¥3 and it takes 35 minutes to reach the end of the line.

By taxi Taxi fare starts from ¥8 for the first 2 km, and ¥2 for each additional kilometer. Due to the cheap fare, taxi drivers like to hover around anywhere outside the downtown to avoid short-ride passengers. This makes getting a taxi in the downtown a bit difficult. Taxis are quite well regulated and they are mostly okay with using a meter, but drivers are mainly immigrant workers who may not be familiar with every place. Some of them also try to fool tourists that the place they want to go is closed, and try to take you farther. Another problem is that since Sanya is only crowded during winter, there are enough taxis to go around. And the government doesn't hire more taxis because during the summer, there would be too many taxis and the drivers would not make any money. To help with this problem, the

See

Parks and beaches

1 DaDongHai (BigEastSea) (大东海; Dadonghai), Jiyang District (吉阳区) (from the airport, take bus nr. 8, Airport Bus 1 or Airport Bus 3; get off at Dadonghai Square (大东海广场); other buses that serve the area include, bus nos. 2, 4, 15, 18, 19, 25, 28, 34, 36, 41, 53, 55, Shuttle Bus 4 and Shuttle Bus 6; Shuttle Bus 4 can be used to get around the area), ☏ +96 898 88212189, +86 898 88212680. Open all day. The main "foreigner area" (especially Russian -- in visitors and signage, there is little English here!) Dadonghai is an easily accessible, beautiful beach -- and tourist/laowai haven. It has a good balance between development and natural beauty. The water is decently clean; the ocean bed is mostly just sand with a rare school of fish or eel. The beach is lined with expensive (and generally not very tasty) restaurants, but the beach is free (although cordoned into "zones" for swimming and boating). The beach is closed at night, but there is a section to the far east (the "military zone") that is just beyond a big fence (with a big hole in it) which is always open. It is not policed or seemingly controlled. The town behind Dadong Bay is more expensive than Sanya, but has foreign restaurants. The shopping, however, may not be as good as Sanya city's. See the beach both in the morning, at sunset (sets gorgeously over the hills), and at night (when people are more scarce). There're beach parties here on weekends, especially, starting early but picking up later (usually after hours) at the "Beach Bar", located in the middle of the beachhead. Just look for music, foreigners, fire torches, and dancing after midnight. Entry to the area is free. (updated Dec 2017) 2 Luhuitou Park (鹿回头公园, 鹿回头风景区, pronounced Loo Hway Toe Park, or Deer Looks Back Park), Luling Road, Jiyang District (吉阳区鹿岭路) (on top of the mountain in Sanya where all the green lasers are shooting out from, take the road toward Da Dong Hai, turn make a right on Li Ling Road, then go up the hill until you get to the ticket booth; from there you can either walk up the rest of the way or pay for a shuttle; buses that stop here include routes 26, 54 and 55), ☏ +86 898 88213740. 09:00-22:30. 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

Do

English Corners An English Corner is an informal regular gathering where locals meet to practice their English. If you show up and are visibly foreign, people will sometimes be eager to talk to you (outside of Dadonghai area). This gives you a chance to meet some locals and socialize even if you don't speak much Chinese. As of 2026, these are mostly extinct. However, you can check these bars to see if you can meet Chinese people who want to meet foreigners:

Dolphin Bar (Dadonghai) Casa Corona (Dadonghai, beside the JW Marriot Hotel) Casa Dolphin (Sanya Bay) The Mana Pool (Dadonghai)

Games and sports

Biking Sanya is a popular destination for pro-amateur bikers who are eager to hover around the whole island. However, almost all bikers take their own bike. Bike rental service is not as omnipresent as other touristy places such as Yangshuo or Lijiang. Most bike shops are located at Sanya Hexi Lu (Sanya River East Road), you need to pay ¥1000 for deposit and prices start from ¥40 for 1 day hiring. Several hostels also have a bike rental service. A route from Dadonghai to Yalong bay, then to Haitong Bay has a well-constructed, -lit and smooth road which stretches over 30 km and make it ideal to ride. However, the urban area of Sanya has some of the worst traffic in China and the local police are notorious for being impotent on cracking down traffic violations.

Golfing Sanya is home to numerous practice range, suitable for beginner and several demanding golf courses for more challenges. Some international tournament take regularly place in different Sanya golfing venues. Hotels offer weekly package where you can golf every day on a different course.

1 Mystic Springs Golf Club (神泉国际高尔夫俱乐部), Nantian Hot Springs Tourist City, Haitang Bay (海棠湾南田温泉旅游城), ☏ +86 898 3188 8008, [email protected]. 06:00-19:00. 2 Yalong Bay Golf Club (亚龙湾高尔夫球会), 22 Longhai Road, Jiyang District (吉阳区龙海路22号) (bus nos. 24 and 27), ☏ +86 898 88565888, toll-free: +86 400 1661868, [email protected], [email protected] EMAIL. (updated Aug 2020)

Hiking In Sanya, you may more likely do more walking than hiking. With its pretty flat landscape and well-developed roads, hiking is not particular popular among tourists. Hikers often take a bus in the Sanya Bus Station at Jiefang Road and head to Wuzhishan (五指山) to start their hiking tour. The 90-minute bus is available every hour from 07:00 to 16:00 and fare is around ¥16.

Surfing Hainan has pretty consistent surf most of the year. In the summer, the south winds bring waves to San

Buy

The area produces pearls in abundance and they are sold everywhere. Prices are highly negotiable; overcharging tourists is common. Tour guides get a fat (often 50%!) commission for bringing tourists to pearl shops; try to go without one and beat the price down. Coconut powders and teas are also popular Chinese buys, but for Westerners looking for something less commercially produced... the cone-shaped hats that women wear here with pictures inscribed are only ¥5 at The First Market (第一市场 dìyī shìchǎng) in Sanya city. Lines 2 and 4 have a stop there. Don't head into the department store; instead, stick to the side of it and walk down the road filled with small shops and street vendors.

1 Corner's Deli (每一角落), 三亚市愉亚大道夏日百货五楼, 5/F, Summer Mall, Yuya Avenue, Dadong Sea (at Summer Mall, fifth floor of south end, in Dadonghai), ☏ +86 898-88216733, fax: +86 898-88216771, [email protected]. until 22:00. Offers a wide range of imported food and drinks. For anyone living in China and wanting to take back a few western groceries that can't normally be found, this small deli is worth the trip. 2 China Duty Free Sanya Mall (CDF Sanya Mall, 三亚国际免税城), 118 Haitang Road North, Haitang District (海棠区海棠北路118号) (free shuttle buses are available from several of Sanya's five-star hotels; you can also take public bus routes 33, 34, 35 and Haitang Bay 1), toll-free: +86 400 6996956, [email protected]. 09:00-22:00. A government-run duty free shopping center for luxury goods. Here you can buy all the Gucci, LV, etc. to your heart's content. You would need proof of a plane ticket leaving Hainan and you must pick up your goods at the airport when you leave.

Eat

Restaurants There are plenty of good Chinese regional-food restaurants, including many Sichuan, Cantonese, and DongBei places. There are also a few foreign / Western food restaurants, especially Dolphin and Young Bar, and of course the ubiquitous McDonald's (DaDongHai [3] and Jiefang Lu), Starbucks (in Summer Mall) and KFC (105 Jiefang Lu; Duojialian; 63 Guoxing Dadao; Renmin Lu). Seafood is of course also a mainstay in the cuisine of Sanya, and DaDongHai is filled with overpriced seafood restaurants. 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).

1 No. 1 Agricultural Products Market (第一市场), Xinjian Street # 155. close midnight. This is not a restaurant, but a live seafood supermarket, and it's worth mentioning because of its popularity. You buy seafood here, take it across the street around the corner and all the restaurants will cook the food for you. They have seafood, poultry, lamb, pork - almost anything you can think of besides beef. As you are shopping for food, you will get approached by touts that give you a business card with their price list for cooking your food for you. If you agree, after you finish buying, they will take you to their restaurant around the corner and prepare the food for you. If you want to eat seafood but don't want to pay the outrageous prices at seafood restaurants, this is a great option. Varies. 2 Bohemian (波西米亚), 三亚市凤凰路三永凤凰城3号 (Phoenix Road (凤凰路 fènghuáng lù)), ☏ +86 898 88882333. Newly-opened restaurant with an international menu. Very well decorated and furnished and the service by waitresses wearing faux-Bavarian uniforms is exceptional. As soon as you walk in, you have to go up a winding staircase. Very high class feel. You can tell they spent a lot of money to renovate the place. They have private rooms where you can eat as well. Prices range from very expensive (for things like Japanese beef or caviare) to very reasonable for more conventional Chinese dishes. 3 Casamia Italian Restaurant (卡萨米亚意大利餐厅), 三亚湾路蓝色海岸门面旁B211号,2nd Floor (by the entrance of Lan Se Hai An Complex), ☏ +86 898 88889828. A really upscale restaurant with two locations in Sanya with excellent service with authentic Italian dishes. Prices are fair, the presentation is good as is the taste, as is the quality of food. Clean and well run. Recommended for western foods that will delight the palate. All wines and beer served. English speaking staff. It

Drink & nightlife

Coffee The vast majority of coffee shops here open around 10:00 or 11:00. There is a Starbucks in the Summer Mall (in DaDongHai). The Jiefang Lu (解放路) McDonald's has thus become a morning pilgrimage for some Westerners.

Alcohol Times Coast (Shi Dai Hai An) Bar Street This is where all the hottest clubs in Sanya are; it's one big circle with about 10-11 clubs. The big three first tier clubs with all the tourists are Soho, MJ, and 88. The rest of the clubs are second tier clubs that have mostly locals and are less expensive. To get here, hop in a cab and say "Jiu Ba Jie". The most popular local brew is Anchor (actually Singaporean but produced in Hainan). Ask for the 'red label' or 'old' brew, which is the original. It is very hoppy and can be a great escape from Yanjing (燕京) or Qingdao (青岛) beer. Those are available, of course, as well. There are also local pineapple-based beers. Odd, but worth a try. Most of these bars will ask you to buy many bottles at a time (standard practice in China). They are loud, flashy, often bland EDM-anthem places filled with Russians. Mostly tables with people just sitting and drinking, the dance floors are often small and shaped like a model-runway, and often have shows that take place and so everyone just goes and sits at their tables. Foreigners will not get free drinks at these Chinese clubs; you have to go to smaller cities for that (too many Russian tourists in Sanya for that white privilege). Other (and better) bars:

1 The Dolphin Sports Bar & Grill (海豚吧), No 99 Yu Ya Rd, ☏ +86 898 8821-5700. close 02:00. This is THE foreigner hangout in Sanya. Live band (after 9:30pm) and western food. The local expat community often visits this bar, especially Friday / Saturday nights (tourists and professionals / international teachers) and Sun / Mon nights (English teachers). More description of this bar in the restaurant section. (updated Mar 2026) The Mana Pool - Dadonghai, behind Summer Mall. 📱 WeChat: adamreyn / 18889428900. Open Weekends and occasional weeknights. A local expat bar run by a Canadian and a Brit, having a decent selection of board games to choose from. Very chill, a nice place to chill or relax when tired of the party. Sometimes big parties happen after quiz nights or movie nights on Fridays / Saturdays. Usually open all day Saturday and Sunday for board games, and often on Friday nights for quiz nights or movie nights, and other weeknights for nerdy games. Coffee, tea, beer, and mixed-drinks available. Entry is ¥25, which also gives you a choice of one free cheap drink. Beer ¥15-50. (updated 2026) Beer

Sleep

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.

Budget 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!).

1 Blue Sky International Youth Hostel (三亚蓝天国际青年旅舍), 1 Lanhai Alley, Haiyun Rd, Dadonghai, Jiyang District (吉阳区大东海海韵路蓝海巷1号) (take bus 4 to Xia Ri Bai Huo (夏日百货), walk down Haiyun Road and into the alley), ☏ +86 898 88211770, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. One of the oldest hostels in Dadonghai area. The staff is friendly and some can speak English. The hostel can organize trips to all over Hainan. It has internet access, towels, laundry service, mats and hats for the beach. Scooters and motorcycles can be hired. Dorm ¥50, double from ¥160. 2 Sanya Backpackers Hostel (三亚背包客国际青年旅舍), 8 Haihua Road, Dadonghai (大东海海花路8号) (take bus 8 from Phoenix Airport 凤凰国际机场 to Dadonghai Bay 大东海 alight at Luling Lukou 鹿岭路口 bus stop junction Yuya Road 榆亚路 and Haihua Road 海花路), ☏ +86 898 88955890, [email protected]. A resort hostel run by a Singaporean couple. 3 minutes away from the beach in a private palm-tree-covered alleyway. The hostel is very clean (no shoes inside). It has a nice garden around a skate-ramp and pool table and bar. Free internet. The owner can speak some English. Great live music from resident musician and very nice vibe. Also offer PADI scuba diving courses and outdoor adventures. Has an outdoor pool table, bar, and small skateboard ramp. Used to be excellent, now it's only good for the atmosphere of the bar -- which, sadly, closes very early. Dorm ¥75, double from ¥200. 3 Sanya Lama Temple International Hostel (三亚雍和国际青年旅舍), 7 Dazhenling alley (大真岭巷) (take a bus to Luhuitou square (鹿回头广场), head up the road onto the hill next to the duty free store.), ☏ +86 898 88224486. Small and quiet hostel about 10 minutes walk from Dadonghai beach. Clean, friendly and dorms far cheaper than anywhere in Dadonghai proper. There is no temple here, the name comes from its affiliation with Beijing's Lama Temple hostel. Dorms ¥25-30, rooms from ¥130.

Mid-range 4 Guoxi Hotel (果喜大酒店), 13 Jiefang Si Road, Jiyang District (吉阳区解放四路13号), ☏ +86 899 88254888. Four-star hotel with rooms with views of the mountain and sea along Sanya's coastline, cable TV, and free internet and brea

Go next

While most tourists visit Hainan for the increasingly vibrant city of Sanya, the island is large and has many other more remote locations to see. Baoting (保亭), a county just north of Sanya, is a popular destination for its scenic and cultural attractions, including the Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone (呀诺达雨林文化旅游区), the Betel Nut Valley Li & Miao Cultural Heritage Park (槟榔谷黎苗文化旅游区), and the Mount Qixian Hot Springs National Forest Park (七仙岭温泉国家森林公园). A little further on from Baoting, about 70 km northeast of Sanya, is the county of Lingshui. About 15 km south of Lingshui's main town is Nanwan Monkey Island (南湾猴岛), actually a peninsula, which is home to about 2500 endangered Macaque monkeys whose habitat you get to roam freely through. Lingshui is also the location of Perfume Bay (Xiangshui Bay, 香水湾), a relatively quiet and peaceful coastal area, and the scenic island of Boundary Island (Fenjiezhou Island, 分界洲岛). The eastern city of Wanning (万宁), between Sanya and Haikou is home to Shimei Bay (石梅湾 shí méi wān) and Riyue Bay (日月湾 rìyuè wān), the former which hosts the large and very secluded-feeling Le Meridien, and the latter which has become a popular spot for surfers on a budget. The cheaper hotel is ¥480 a night, so not super budget. Take the slow (non-express) bus to Haikou from the bus station and ask to be dropped off at the respective highway turnoff (¥30, 90 min, pay on the bus). Make sure you show them your ticket first or they will take you to another town where a taxi ride back 5 km they charge ¥100. To get back, walk up to the highway and flag down a bus. Express buses won't stop to pick you up. A taxi to either location will cost around ¥300. The Paracel Islands, known in China as the Xisha Archipelago (西沙群岛) are gorgeous, remote, and brimming with tropical life. One of this chain of islands reportedly used to be an exotic vacation spot but is now off-limits to foreign travelers due to territorial disputes. If you happen to be a Chinese national, however, you can take a cruise boat there from the Phoenix Island International Cruise Terminal (凤凰岛国际邮轮港). A round-trip takes around 64 hours and costs about ¥4000.