Perched on the southern tip of Hainan Island, Sanya is often called the “Hawaii of China,” but it’s far more than a beach escape. Here, lush rainforests meet luxury resorts, and the ancient traditions of the Li and Miao peoples live alongside modern city life. It’s a destination where relaxation blends with adventure, and where China reveals a side many travellers never expect.
Explore a different side of China!
Bays
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Haitang Bay: Luxury and Seclusion
Haitang Bay (海棠湾) is one of Sanya’s most prestigious and rapidly developing resort areas, boasting a 21.8-kilometer coastline. It’s home to numerous luxury hotels from international brands, for example Atlantis, offering top-tier service and amenities. The bay’s water is exceptionally clear, and the sand is fine and soft – perfect for soaking up the sun, enjoying the beach, and taking in the breathtaking ocean views. For those who enjoy shopping, the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex is conveniently located nearby.
Accommodation Advantages:
Luxury: Hotels in Haitang Bay are predominantly five-star and above, providing first-class service and amenities ideal for travelers seeking a high level of comfort during their stay.
Privacy: Most hotels have private beaches and pools, guaranteeing guests privacy and a tranquil atmosphere.
Family-Friendly: Many hotels feature kids’ clubs, water parks, and other amenities that make family vacations comfortable and enjoyable.
Convenient Shopping: The Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex is within easy reach.
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Yalong Bay: Refined Relaxation Amidst Tropical Splendour
Yalong Bay (亚龙湾), known as “the Number One Bay in China,” is renowned for its picturesque beaches stretching 7.5 kilometres. Surrounded by tropical rainforests and golf courses, the bay attracts those who appreciate natural beauty. The resort area also boasts a well-developed hotel infrastructure, offering guests a selection of luxury hotels from world-renowned brands.
Accommodation Advantages:
Luxury Hotels: Yalong Bay is home to numerous high-end hotels, including brands such as Hilton, Marriott, and others.
Diverse Amenities: Hotels are equipped with private beaches, swimming pools, gyms, and spas, allowing guests to fully enjoy their stay.
Active Recreation: Yalong Bay is suitable for active recreation, including diving, surfing, boating, and other water sports.
Tranquil Atmosphere: Compared to other bays, Yalong Bay offers a more peaceful and serene environment.
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Dadonghai Bay: A Vibrant Hub of Activity
Dadonghai Bay (大东海) is a bustling resort area known for its lively atmosphere, affordable prices, and proximity to the city centre, allowing visitors to combine beach relaxation with exploring Sanya’s attractions. The bay offers a range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly choices. Dadonghai also hosts a variety of colourful events throughout the year.
Accommodation Advantages:
Excellent Value: Dadonghai offers accommodation and dining options to suit all budgets, making it attractive to young travellers, friends, and families looking for an affordable vacation.
Convenient Location: Its proximity to the city centre and good transportation links are definite advantages.
Vibrant Nightlife: Dadonghai boasts a lively nightlife scene with numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs.
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Sanya Bay: Tranquility and Affordability
Sanya Bay (三亚湾), the longest bay in Sanya, attracts those who value a relaxed pace of life and a tranquil atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy picturesque views, stroll along the promenade, sample local cuisine, then Sanya Bay is an excellent choice.
Accommodation Advantages:
Affordability: Sanya Bay offers more budget-friendly prices for accommodation and services.
Peaceful Atmosphere: It’s a suitable place for a calm and relaxing vacation, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature.
Convenient Infrastructure: Despite the lower prices, Sanya Bay has a well-developed infrastructure, ensuring comfort and access to necessary services. The proximity to the airport is also an advantage.
Leisure Parks
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Sanya Dongtian Park
Sanya Dongtian Park Tourist Attraction is located to the northwest of Nanshan Mountain, 40km west of Sanya City. The tourist area has beautiful scenery and numerous historical sites. The Park is worth a visit for four reasons: 1) Rich Taoist cultural colors, and abundant and profound historical and cultural connotations; 2) Rare tropical coastal plant ecosystem in China; 3) The unique natural and cultural landscape of the "Nanshan Ageless Pine" group; 4) A pristine bay with beautiful scenery, unique environment, and excellent natural conditions.
The park includes multiple points of interest (Nanhai Fumen, Dragon Head Rock, Small Dongtian Park, and more), and plenty of entertainment (10m rainbow slide, Jungle Flying Car, Water Activities). Learn more >
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Paddy Field National Park
The park is divided into two areas: Tourist Area and the National Rice Cultivation Area.
The theme tourist area has multiple gardens showcasing the various cultures, flower seas, dinosaur park, dining outlets that combine rice and Li Culture, and a multi-media light and sound show. Visitors can also experience rice planting, rice field fishing, rice harvesting, rice threshing, and DIY rice painting, as well as spending a night in the park.
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Yalong Bay International Rose Valley
Jiyang District |8 AM- 5:30PM
Located in the Yalong Bay National Tourism Holiday Resort. The valley, Asia's largest rose-themed park, spans 183.6 hectares with over 1,200 varieties of roses and tropical flowers.
The valley is a modern urban agricultural tourism park that integrates rose planting, rose refinery, rose exhibition, and leisure travelling. With a theme of “Beauty, Romance, Love,” the valley has been a hotspot for wedding photos.
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LuHuiTou Park
Sanya Luhuitou Park covers an area of 82.88 hectares. It leans against the city of Sanya and is ringed by the sea. The peak of the hill, with an altitude of 275 meters, is the best place to watch the sea scenery, the sunrise and sunset, and to enjoy a bird view of Sanya both in the day and at night. The sculpture of the deer looking back is the symbolic sculpture of the city, which is also referred to as “Deer City”.
Nowadays, Luhuitou Park has become a park themed under love culture and eco-demonstration. Main spots in the parks include Tailwind Terrace, Deer Park, slides, Blessings from the East, Love Culture Park, singing and dancing performance of Li minority ethnic group, the sculpture of deer looking back, the mountaintop garden and the observation deck in the north.
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Nantian Tropical Botanical Garden
Situated 18 km (11 miles) west of Sanya, the Nantian Tropical Botanical Garden is uniquely positioned as the southernmost ecological center in China. Covering an area of 143.8 hectares, the Garden targets itself as a modern park that features a balance between natural beauty, education, and relaxation. This balance is reflected in its design, as throughout the park, you will be able to see man-made structures specifically designed to be covered with plants.
The Garden hosts regular botanical courses and guided tours. If these activities do not tickle your fancy, you can just come in enjoy the forests, and relax. Currently, facilities open to guests include World of Orchids, Exotic Plant Garden, Hydroponics Facility, Tropical Fruit Park, Aquarium, Tea Pavilion, the Cactus Pyramid, and the Local Culture Center.
Theme Parks, Performances, Entertainment
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Haichang Fantasy Town
Located in the Haitang District
Celebrating the cultures of the Maritime Silk Road, Haina, and the vast ocean, this marine-themed complex features the city’s most iconic landmark, an 88-meter-high Ferris wheel (Eye of Sanya) that offers panoramic 180-degree views of the beautiful Haitang Bay coastline. It also features a Tijuana-style underwater restaurant, the Adventure Island Family Entertainment Center, and more leisure & vacation experiences.
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Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark
Located in: Haitang district
Visit the Atlantis Complex for ultimate thrills. Ride the ‘Shark Safari’ raft and gaze at sharks through the transparent corridor. Challenge the ‘Eye of the Storm’ for a six-story rush and a feeling of weightlessness, and ‘Leap of Poseidon’ for the most thrilling excitement. Afterwards, explore the Lost Chambers Aquarium to see 86,000 marine animals and book a dive with sharks and rays.
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Sanya Romance Park (QianGuQing)
Sanya Romance Park (QianGuQing) is a living ancient city of the Li and Miao ethnic groups. With immersive cultural experience as the core, it takes tourists through the long scroll of ten thousand years of history. The scenic area has meticulously crafted theme zones such as Yazhou Ancient Street, Love Street, Ethnic Street, Li Village, and Miao Village, perfectly integrating Sanya's folk culture with modern technology. The large-scale song and dance performance "Sanya Everlasting Love" is based on the grand historical scroll of Sanya spanning 10,000 years. With its innovative stage design, the entire performance breaks through the boundaries of traditional space and sensation, presenting a dazzling aesthetic experience like a poem and a painting. In addition, interactive performances such as "The Great Earthquake", "The Battle of Hainan Island", "The Marriage Proposal in Li Village", and "Flash Mob" are performed in rotation throughout the day. Experience projects like the Horror Research Institute and the Fairy Valley add a touch of fantasy.
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Junda Stunt Cars Show
Junda Stunt Cars Show is established with the close collaboration of the world-renowned Bizzarro Car Stunt Team. The stunt show features an international cast that challenges what is possible with both cars and motorcycles. The Hollywood-level car stunts promises to leave you reeling in their wake.
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The Red Detachment of Women Memorial Park
Sanya Red Detachment of Women Memorial Park is a Red-China themed performance park that covers a total of 11.9 hectares. The Performance Center is dedicated towards Maoist plays, featuring an outdoor theatre with a natural beach backdrop used to perform Red Women’s Detachment-related pieces, as well as an in-door special-effects stage designed to play The Liberation of Hainan. Visitors will have a wide selection of regional cuisine, cultural experience, and dynamic cultural experience.
The center aims to bring the audience back in time and experience the years of China’s revolution through its shows, its red-culture, and the local traditions. Audience can expect a diverse range of nuanced performances.
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Sanya Bay Mangrove Tree Resort World
Located in Tianya District
An innovative complex for luxury hotels & resorts, exhibitions, leisure, entertainment, and shopping, featuring the Amazon Jungle Water Park, specialty shops, cinemas, art galleries and more for the perfect family-friendly vacation experience.
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Betel Nut Valley
Description goes here
Shopping, Foods, Walking Streets
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CDF Sanya International Duty Free City
Located in Haitang District
This is the largest single duty-free shop in the world, located right in the heart of the city. With over 850 international brands present, you can find anything you want, including perfumes and cosmetics, watches, bags and accessories, food and beverages, and more. All housed in a uniquely shaped building resembling a begonia flower, it’s a duty-free shopping paradise like no other.
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Sanya No.1 Harbor City (Big Pineapple)
Located in Haitang District
Right in the bustling golden section of the Dadonghai business district, the iconic building shaped like a Pineapple is the first multi-function mall in Sanya that combines shopping, dining, culture, entertainment, and leisure experiences under the same roof.
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Sanya Jinrun Sunshine Plaza
Located in the Jiyang District
This local shopping complex houses a variety of shops for gold & silver jewelry, makeup, knitting textiles, clothing and footwear, fresh food, and other goods. With department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, cinemas, and Hong Kong tea places right by the Sanya riverside, it’s a one-stop destination for all your shopping needs.
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Yalongbay No.1 Outlets
Located in the Jiyang District
This is the premier fashion and lifestyle shopping destination in the Yalong Bay resort district. Shoppers are assured of genuine name brands at reduced outlet prices, making it a fashion shopping paradise within reach. Situated in the lush resort area, it’s a pleasant shopping experience beyond the hustle and bustle of downtown Sanya.
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Jiefang Road Pedestrian Street
Located in the Tianya District
Feel the pulse of downtown Sanya in one of the city’s first commercial pedestrian streets. The thoroughfare is a historical retail landmark where local trade flows with modern shopping convenience. Lined with modern shops and local businesses selling Hainan-style handicrafts, jewellery, and souvenirs, it’s a unique shopping experience in the heart of the city. At night, the street lights up with illuminated shops, nightlife, and dining spots.
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Yiheng Night Market
Located in Tianya district
Located between Jiefang Road and Huixin road, this night market sprawls with plenty of local stalls where visitors can enjoy authentic Chinese and regional Hainan cuisine, a variety of seafood, snacks, and fresh tropical fruits. You can also buy exquisite handicraft and souvenirs from a variety of vendors in this hustling and bustling place after the sun sets.
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Huochetou Seafood Square
Located in Sanya Bay
As a coastal city, Sanya is best known for its delectable seafood. The bustling Huochetou Seafood Square packs a wide selection of fish, shellfish, shrimps and crabs, freshly grabbed from the sea. With delicate flavours, the local shop owners masterfully prepare them for a feast, best enjoyed with a variety of dipping sauces, including minced garlic, peanut oil, tomato sauce, mixed sauce, and chopped peanuts. In the cool breeze of a night, this spot is perfect after a day out in Sanya’s coastal wonders.
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Tianya Town
Located in: Tianya District
Encounter “The Little Satornini of Sanya” in this charming coastal neighbourhood, which was once a small fishing village. With streets that open directly onto the sea, you’ll see bougainvillaea blooming in every corner, colourful wooden boats by the shore, and friendly locals who will charm you with their simple and authentic island life.
Sun, View, Water
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Wuzhizhou Island
Located in the Haitang District
Home to China’s largest preserved coral growth, this island is a snorkelling and diving hotspot with coral reefs, tropical fish, and clear waters, earning a reputation as “The Best Diving Resort in China.” With luxury suites and a wide range of ocean activities, it’s the place for a premier getaway.
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Tianya Haijiao Scenic Spot (The End of Earth)
Located in Tianya District
Sanya’s most iconic site, known for its beautiful tropical landscape, is named from the Chinese characters, “Tianya” (the edge of the sky) and “Haijiao” (the rim of the sea), carved on two giant rocks by the shore. With a rich heritage tied to its rocks, visitors can marvel at the wonders that the rocks of Tianya, Haijiao, Southern Heaven Rock, the Love Rock, and the Rock of Blessings bring. Beyond these natural formations, visitors can explore the Imperial Edict Museum, the Love Square, and take part in various activities such as fishing, sea-bathing, and yacht rides.
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West Island Ocean Culture Resort
The West Island Ocean Culture Resort consists of two major attractions: the West Island Ocean Amusement World and the Mount Niuwang Sightseeing Area. West Island, also known as the West Castanopsis Island, is located 7.02 nautical miles west of Sanya’s coast. It runs 2,350 meters from north to south, 900 meters from east to west, covering an area of 2.67 square kilometers, making it the second largest island around Hainan. Geographi- cally, the West and East Islands are shaped like two hawksbills floating on the Central Sanya Island, which is a sight to behold, even in ancient times.
The West Island’s elevation decreases from south to north, with a peak altitude of 123.3 meters. The island’s terrain is mainly mountainous, which accounts for about 60% of its total area. The water surrounding the island is between 10-20 meters in depths, clear with high visibility, suitable for watching marine life. The West Island Ocean Amusement World is dedicated to recreation, where visitors can engage in a variety of water sports, explore the sea floor, sunbathe on the natural beach, or take part in various beech and coconut palm forest activities. The Mount Niuwang Sight- seeing Area is a small island adjacent to West Island. The island is very well preserved, and visitors can come to enjoy its clear sea and blue sky, its fantastic underwater reef cluster, its magnificent sunrise and sunset, as well as scattered military remnants from distant pasts.
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清水灣
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Wuzhishan Red Canyon Cultural Tourism Scenic Area
Located in Nansheng Town, Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province, it is a boutique tourism project in Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province.The rafting river is steep and peculiar, with many rocky beaches and rapids, along with primitive tropical rain forests, karst cavesand strange rocks, and mountaintop springs and waterfalls often fall from the air. Therafting process is 3.8 kilometers, with a drop ofmorethan 80 meters,the highest drop is 13 meters, andthere are 26 passionate rapids.The rafting time is 1.5-2hours.
The scenic spot also provides free hot waterbaths, and can drift freely seven days a week.
Greens & Nature
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Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone
Located in Sandao Town
Located in the heart of Hainan Island's lush, mountainous wonders, this place is a tropical rainforest with local Li and Miao ethnic culture and thrilling outdoor adventure activities such as trekking, ziplines, and more. Rated as a diamond rainforest scenic spot in China.
Open hours: 08:30-18:00, Last Entry: 17:00
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Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is located in the Yalong Bay National Tourism Holiday Resort and covers an area of 1506 hectares. It is the first coastal forest park featuring eco-tourism built in the mountains in Hainan Province. Tropical evergreen plants and tropical semi-deciduous plants form the vegetation of the park. The park is endowed with a variety of resources in the respect of biology, geography, astronomy, hydrology and culture.
With the natural landscape in the park, you can enjoy multiple activities including hiking, field activities, sightseeing, wellness-related activities, popular science education, folk customs and culture experience, hot spring spas and sunbathing in the tropical forest.
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Shuiman River Tropical Rainforest Scenic Area
Wuzhishan RiverManhe Tropical Rainforest Scenic Area is a national 3A-level scenic spot, located in Shuiman Township, Wuzhishan City, 32 kilometers away from Wuzhishan City. The best mountain viewing spot in the scenic spot can be seen directly at the Wuzhi Mountain, the ridge of 1867.1 meters above sea level in Hainan It stands tall and the five peaks are juxtaposed like the five fingers that support the sky.
Walking along the rainforest plank road in the scenic area, you can watch the landscapes of Alsophila spinulosa, aerial flower baskets, thousand-year lychee trees, banyan trees, wild peach blossoms, and natural stone turtles.
Opening:8:30一16:30
五指山水滿河熱帶雨林風景區
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Jianfengling National Forest Park
Jianfengling was approved by the Ministry of Forestry to establish a national forest park in 1992, making it the only forest park characterized by tropical rainforests in China. It measures about 1,600 hectares, mainly for the protection of tropical virgin rainforests and rare animals such as gibbons and peacock-pheasants.
Jianfengling is China's first national tropical rainforest park, with the largest and best-preserved tropical virgin forest in the country. It has a wideand distinctive variety of tropical forest vegetation and abundant wildlife species. In addition to tree ferns (Cyatheales), a living fossil plant from the age of dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago, it is also home to more than 20 nationally protected species that are rare to find. The natural and ecological landscape is original, majestic and wonderful. There is a basin enveloped by mountains to the east of Heiling Ridge in Jianfengling. Shrouded in wreathing clouds all day long, the basin is called "Tianchi" (Heavenly Lake). From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the "spectacle of four seas", which are the sea of forest, sea of clouds, sea of fog and the real sea.
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Qixianling Hot Spring National Forest Park
Qixianling (literally “seven-deity ridge”) is located in Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County, about 7 kilometers from the county seat. It is one of the few well-preserved rainforests on Hainan Island.
The seven peaks of Qixianling are composed of seven steeply standing granite boulders in the peaks, which look upright and elegant from afar, and majestic and wonderful up close. In the rainforest, there are towering ancient trees, intertwined tree vines, and more than 5,000 proven rare plant species and more than 500 proven wild animal species.
Qixianling is also well-known for Qixianling Hot Spring with a magical combination of a wild hot spring and a tropical rainforest, the only hot spring of its kind in China, which makes Qixianling Hot Spring reputed as “forest hot spring”. It has the highest temperature of 95°C and contains a variety of trace elements. The hot spring water is rich in metasilicic acid and silicate bicarbonate, and therefore, is effective in skin cleansing and beautifying with health claims.
Opening:08:00-17:30, Last Entry: 16:30
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Baolong National Forest Park
Baolong National Forest Park is part of the Phoenix Township Baolong Forestry Complex. It is the southernmost protected tropical rainforest in China, as well as the largest of its kind in Sanya.
Situated 30 kilometers away from the Sanya Ring Expressway, and 35 kilometers away from Sanya Phoenix International Airport, this forest park covers a grand total of 2884.3 hectares, all of which are protected by China’s Natural Resources Protection Project.The landscape of the forest is generally low mountains and hilly terrain that decreases in elevation from northeast to the southwest, with a relative altitude of 200-300m. The contig uous lowland tropical rainforest region covers more than 2,200 hectares, and there are more than 30 hectares of rare plants including Ormosia, Chinese Quince, Agarwood, Oil Palm, Red Sandalwood and Ebony. There are more than 40 major sightseeing spots where visitors can enjoy the beauty of clouds, creeks, reliefs, and naturally eroded rock clusters. There is a total of 1704 species of plants and 230 species of wild animals for visitors to observe.
The park-run hotel is located in the waterfront area on the western Jianling Mountain slopes. It is a multi-functional resort hotel built by Sanya Baolu Investment and Construc tion Co., Ltd. The resort covers a wide range of functions, including vacation, relaxation, leisure sports, education and conference. The hotel provides luxury services to its guests, and promises an unforgettable experience.
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Wuzhi Mountain
Wuzhishan, located in central-southern Hainan Island, is a lush, mountainous city known as “China’s Natural Oxygen Bar.” Surrounded by dense forests and rich biodiversity, it has become a top destination for wellness and eco-tourism. Visitors can explore attractions like Wuzhishan Grand Canyon Rafting, Red Canyon Rafting, the National Nature Reserve, Yahu Terraces, Taiping Reservoir, and the Shuimang Xiangye Organic Tea Plantation.
Covering 1,144 square kilometres, Wuzhishan is also a cultural hub for Hainan’s ethnic minorities. Nicknamed the “Emerald Mountain City” after Hainan’s highest peak, it offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, including tropical rainforests, the Hainan Ethnic Museum, ancient-style Li villages, and the Li and Miao Song and Dance Gallery. With its stunning landscapes and rich traditions, Wuzhishan is a must-visit destination for travellers seeking both adventure and culture.
Culture
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Yazhou Ancient City
Yazhou Ancient City is the southernmost ancient city in China, and also the largest plantation and transportation base for out-of-season fruit and vegetables in Sanya.
It is 42 kilometers away from the city center. Under the protection plan, Sanya Yacheng Ancient City will become a mixture of various cultures, including mainly the “Tianya” culture, and also the “top of Tianya” culture represented by Yazhou Ancient City; the exile culture represented by Shuinan Village; the Confucius, Taoist and Buddhist Cultures represented by Yazhou Academy, Dayun Temple, Nanshan Mountain and Dong- tian Park; the maritime Silk Road trade culture represented by Dagang; the traditional handicraft culture represented by Huang Daopo; the landscape culture represented by the tropical views and “the eight scenic spots in Yazhou”; the ethnic culture represented by Li, Han and Hui customs; and the revolutionary culture represented by Yacheng, Baoping and Meishan. Yacheng Confucius Temple, the famous sightseeing spot within the ancient city, used to be the highest educational institution of ancient Yacheng.
As the southernmost Confucius Temple in China, it has fostered many talents in history.
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Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone
Located in the Yazhou District
Right in the southwest of Sanya, this ecological and cultural park is a premier destination for an experience of Buddhist pilgrimage and longevity culture. At the magnificent Nanshan Temple, the world's largest statue of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin of Nanshan at 108 meters high) stands in majesty, while the largest golden jade Buddha statue in the world (Bodhisattva Statue) captivates visitors with the spiritual solace that Buddhist culture brings.
Local Delicacies
The names might be simple, but the flavours are definitely not. To truly experience the tropical atmosphere of Hainan, try the dishes that the locals eat! Embark on a gastronomic adventure and discover the authentic delicacies of the island, which will give you unforgettable taste experiences. We’ve linked each recommended shop to its Baidu map location. 😉
Feast for Your Palate
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Traditional Lao Ba Cha Teahouse
Start your acquaintance with Sanya by visiting a traditional Lao Ba Cha (old dad) teahouse. It’s not just a place to enjoy a cup of fragrant tea, but a real centre for communication and news exchange for locals.
Most snacks are steamed in small bamboo baskets stacked on top of each other – this preserves the juiciness and aroma of the dishes. We suggest trying xiajiao (translucent dumplings made from rice flour with shrimp filling), steamed buns with various fillings, chicken feet in black bean sauce, sweet tartlets with delicate egg custard, and other desserts.
📍阿芳老爸茶 (A Fang Laobacha)
📍高登福茶楼三亚店(Gao Deng Fu Teahouse)
📍聚福源茶楼 (Jufuyuan Teahouse)
📍味琼·传统老爸茶 (Wei Qiong Traditional Laobacha) -
Hainanese Coconut Chicken Soup
Coconut Chicken Soup is a tropical classic made with fresh coconut water and tender chicken, slow-cooked to perfection for a rich, aromatic broth. Clear, sweet, and full of natural flavour, every spoonful blends the freshness of coconut with the savoury taste of chicken. Packed with electrolytes and vitamins, it’s refreshing and nourishing—perfect for warm, sunny days. Whether for family gatherings or friendly get-togethers, this dish captures the true taste of the tropics.
📍椰小鸡·椰子鸡 (Chicken Inside Coconut)
📍嗲嗲的椰子鸡 (Grandpa’s Coconut Chicken)
📍龙泉人椰子鸡 (Longquanren Coconut Chicken) -
Zaopocu / Dregs Vinegar Hotpot
For lovers of thrills for the tongue, try the sour and spicy hot pot Zaopocu. This soup is prepared on the basis of fermented rice vinegar (zaopocu) with the addition of seafood, meat, seaweed, tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms. Order a small portion to appreciate the unusual and rich taste of the dish.
📍文昌小老弟海鲜糟粕醋火锅 (Xiao Lao Di)
📍琼州糟粕醋 (Qiong Zhou Zao Po Cu)
📍尝飨徕正宗铺前糟粕醋火锅 -
Hainan Five-herb Duck
Hainan Five-Herb Duck is a signature local delicacy. Made with free-range sea ducks from Hainan’s mangrove forests, the dish is slow-cooked for 40 minutes with five fragrant herbs, allowing the rich flavours to infuse every tender bite. Juicy, aromatic, and full of the island’s sunshine and sea breeze, it’s a taste you won’t forget. Pair it with local favourites like Grandma’s Oyster Pancake or Handmade Noodles in Herbal Duck Soup for an even more mouth-watering experience.
📍虎婆香草鸭 (GrandmaHu Herb Duck)
📍唠婆香草鸭 (Laopo Vanilla Duck)
📍屯昌香草鸭旗舰店 (Tuanchang Herb Duck) -
Tengqiao Pork Ribs
Tengqiao Pork Ribs, one of Sanya’s top ten signature dishes, are made with locally raised farm pork ribs marinated in honey, ginger, and garlic, then slow-fried to a golden crisp. The result is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, with a perfectly balanced sweet and savoury flavour. Loved by both locals and visitors, this time-honoured dish showcases Sanya’s rich culinary tradition and irresistible taste.
📍朱家酒店 (Chu’s)
📍创味饭店 (Chuan Wei Restaurant)
📍三亚沿江海南菜·文昌鸡祖师爷 (Yanjiang Hainancai) -
Tengqiao Intestine Rice Dumpling
Tengqiao Intestine Rice Dumpling is a must-try local delicacy in Tengqiao! It’s not something you can easily find in the market, as making it takes time and effort—so even locals usually get to enjoy it only during the New Year.
Unlike the regular rice dumplings you may know, this special version is wrapped in cleaned pork intestine instead of bamboo leaves. Seasoned sticky rice is stuffed inside, both ends are tied, and the dumplings are simmered on a bed of sugarcane with chunks of pork belly. The rich aroma of the meat seeps into the glutinous rice, creating a soft, savoury, and deeply satisfying flavour.
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Stir-Fried Crab with Scallions and Ginger
Stir-Fried Crab with Scallions and Ginger is a seafood delight that excels in flavour, aroma, and presentation. Plump crabs are quickly stir-fried with fresh scallions and ginger over high heat, resulting in tender, juicy meat infused with the fragrant aroma of aromatics. This dish preserves the natural sweetness of the crab while adding the distinctive flavour of scallions and ginger, leaving a lasting impression. Rich in protein and trace minerals, it’s both delicious and nutritious—an ideal choice for seafood lovers.
📍三亚肥婆海鲜 (Fat Lady Seafood)
📍东海龙宫海景大酒楼 (Dragon Restaurant)
📍琼菜王·海南菜 (Qiong Cai Wang) -
Hainan Rice Noodles
Handmade rice noodles are mixed with dark soy sauce, garlic paste, peanut or sesame oil, and a variety of toppings including black bean sprouts, shredded beef, fried squid, crispy peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, crunchy fried noodle pieces, chopped coriander, and bamboo shoot chicken pickles.
Bursting with layers of flavour and a silky, smooth texture, this dish is even more delightful when the last few noodles are enjoyed with a small bowl of steaming hot sea clam soup, leaving a lingering, unforgettable taste.
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Sanya Fresh Fish Soup
Sanya Fresh Fish Soup is a beloved local dish from Hainan’s coastal city of Sanya, famous for its pure and delicate flavour. Made with freshly caught local sea fish and seasonal vegetables, it is gently simmered to create a clear yet richly flavoured broth. The tender fish retains its natural sweetness, offering both nourishment and comfort. Packed with high-quality protein and minerals, this wholesome soup boosts appetite and aids digestion. Enjoying a bowl of steaming fresh fish soup in Sanya is one of the best ways to savour the island’s ocean breeze and culinary charm.
Anytime-Snacks
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Qingbuliang
Qingbuliang is a signature Hainan dessert made with a mix of fresh fruits, dried fruits, and grains, topped with coconut milk. Refreshing and naturally sweet, it’s the perfect treat to cool off on a hot day.
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Pandan Desserts
It goes without saying that pandan desserts are a must-eat in Sanya. You’ll find all kind of pandan-made sweets- pancakes, egg tarts, cakes, buns, and more; pick whichever is to your liking because it could never go wrong!
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Fried Fruit Ice Cream
Stir-Fried Ice is made by pouring fresh milk and fruit juice onto a cold pan and continuously stirring with a wooden spatula. The mixture gradually thickens and transforms into a smooth icy paste. Served in a clear cup, it’s colourful, vibrant, and visually delightful. Refreshing, sweet, and silky, this treat is perfect for cooling off while enjoying a burst of flavour.
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Street Barbecue
Sanya Street Barbecue is everywhere, offering a vibrant and bustling food scene. The variety of ingredients is endless—beef, lamb, and chicken are staples, along with local seafood such as shrimp, oysters, mackerel, mullet, and conch. Vegetables like grilled chives, water spinach, green peppers, and eggplant are also popular. Some vendors serve unique dishes wrapped in foil, such as grilled soybean sprouts, shrimp cabbage, or vermicelli parcels, adding a special local twist to the barbecue experience.
📍八哥蜂蜜烧烤 (Eight Brother Honey Barbecue)
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Bua
Bua is a unique yet everyday snack in Hainan. it’s traditionally made for celebrations, with different fillings across the island—commonly crushed peanuts, grated coconut, or winter melon sugar. The dough is made from starch, crushed peanuts, sugar, a touch of ginger, and coconut. The filling is wrapped like a dumpling, placed on boiled jackfruit leaves, and steamed for 15–20 minutes. Each bite bursts with the fragrant aroma of coconut and sesame, offering a soft, chewy, and satisfyingly flavourful experience that instantly whets the appetite.
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Shrimp Cakes
Crispy Shrimp Cakes are a must-try when visiting Sanya! A favourite snack among locals, the shrimp cakes are crispy on the outside and tender inside. Fried to a perfect golden brown and brushed with a special sweet, sour, and spicy sauce, they’re irresistible. Freshly cooked, each bite delivers a delightful trio of aromas—the crispiness of the batter, the rich scent of the oil, and the natural sweetness of the shrimp—making it impossible to stop at just one!
Of course you should not leave Sanya without a seafood fest. Sanya is blessed with pristine seawater, which nurtures an impressive variety of fresh and delicious seafood. The seafood here is lively, fresh, and reasonably priced, with a wide range of cooking methods available. Even a simple sea fish can be prepared in different ways depending on the texture and quality of its flesh, bringing out its optimal flavour.
Tips for enjoying seafood in Sanya:
Prices may vary by season, so always check the day’s price tag before purchasing.
Ensure that prices are clearly marked when dining.
Seafood can be re-weighed on a fair scale, and you may ask the vendor to poke holes in the bag to drain water.
Seafood is best prepared by blanching or steaming, but you can also consult restaurant staff for recommended cooking methods.
Places to enjoy seafood in Sanya:
Yalong Bay Outlets Shopping Plaza
Locomotive Seafood Plaza
Friendship Road Seafood Square
Chunyuan Seafood Square
First Market
益龙海鲜 (Yilong Seafood)
邢增纠玉香居海鲜加工C栋5号 (Xingzengjiu Yuxiangju Building C, No. 5.)