Stand on the sand at Dadonghai just before sunset and the hills behind the bay turn gold while the water stays warm enough to wade in. Signs in Russian outnumber those in English, and the beach crowd is a mix of resort guests, swimmers and people who simply came down from the city for the evening.
Sanya suits travellers who want a tropical coast with easy transport, resort comforts and a handful of genuinely distinct sights, from a forested headland to a coral island. It also suits couples, given how many of its landmarks are built around a love story.
This guide covers the beaches, parks and islands named in the source material, with practical notes on timing, transport and what to combine with what.
Top things to do in Sanya
1. DaDongHai
DaDongHai, also written Dadonghai, is the city's main beach and its most accessible one, a curved bay of sand with clean-enough water and a sandy seabed. It is the area where foreign visitors concentrate, and the town behind it has foreign restaurants. The beach is free, cordoned into zones for swimming and boating, and closed at night, though a section to the far east beyond a fence stays open.
See it at three different times if you can: in the morning, at sunset when the light sets over the hills, and late at night when the crowd thins. On weekends there are beach parties that pick up after midnight near the Beach Bar in the middle of the beachhead. From the airport, take bus no. 8, Airport Bus 1 or Airport Bus 3 and get off at Dadonghai Square.
2. Luhuitou Park
Luhuitou Park sits on top of one of Sanya's tallest mountains, marked by a statue of a deer looking back, flanked by a Li boy and a Li girl. The legend is that a hunter chased the deer to a cliff, where it turned into a beautiful girl and they fell in love, which is why the place is associated with young couples. At night, green lasers shoot out from near the statue and are visible across the city.
Entry is free with a passport. The park is open 09:00-22:30, and beneath the statue there is an outdoor barbecue area that closes at 23:30. Watch for wild monkeys that take food from people. Buses 26, 54 and 55 stop here.
3. Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park
This forest park above Yalong Bay was the main setting for the 2010 film If You Are the One 2, and you can visit specific scenes from it, including the rope chain bridge. Other draws include an orchid garden and a glass bridge. It is open 07:30-18:00, with no tickets sold after 17:30 and online tickets not collectable after 17:00.
On the glass bridge, keep your view to the right so you do not inadvertently photograph the military base below, which will get you into trouble with security staff. Take bus nos. 15, 24, 25 or 27 and get off at the Yalong Bay Petrol Station. Accommodation is available at the Yalong Bay Earthly Paradise Bird's Nest Resort.
4. Wuzhizhou Island
The waters around Wuzhizhou Island are the most beautiful in Sanya, which makes it a popular base for snorkelling and scuba diving. It has suffered from that popularity, so water clarity and fish numbers are lower than they once were; choose your dates and times to maximise visibility. Also on the island is Sunrise Rock, a cliff spot in the southeast with a bird's-eye view of the island and the South China Sea, and an ideal place to watch the sunrise.
The island is open 08:00-19:00 with no entry after 16:00, ferries start as early as 08:30 and the last ferry back leaves at 17:30. Hotel rates on the island are very high, so staying the night is not recommended unless cost is no object. Reach the ferry terminal by bus no. 28 from the city, or from Haitang Bay by Haitang Bus 3 or Haiyang Bay Bus 1.
5. West Island
West Island is a small island near Sanya Bay with snorkelling, scuba diving, jet skiing and other water sports, plus a few attractions on the island itself. These include a traditional fishing village with old houses made from coral and a couple of small museums. At night the fishing village has various seafood barbecue stalls.
The ferry departs from West Island Wharf, about 2 km east of Tianya Haijiao and reachable by bus nos. 16, 25, 26, 30, 32, 55 and 57. The last ferry back to the mainland departs at 18:00, and the island is open 08:30-17:30. Note that most hotels on the island do not accept foreign guests; the Sanya Xidao Xige Inn reportedly does, and locals also offer double rooms to foreigners. Scooter hire is available for getting around.
6. Tianya Haijiao
Tianya Haijiao, meaning "Edges of the heaven, corners of the sea", is one of the most famous beaches in China and a traditionally popular spot for romantic couples. It has been alluded to by various ancient Chinese writers and in modern Chinese pop culture. Be aware that it is often overrun by tourists, which makes the natural setting harder to enjoy.
It is open 07:30-18:00 and entry is free. It is about 30 minutes from Sanya by bus nos. 16, 25, 26, 30 and 57, or by the double-decker sightseeing bus. Because West Island Wharf is close by, the two are easy to pair in a single outing.
7. Phoenix Hill
Phoenix Hill, also known as Fenghuangling or the Fenghuangling Haishishanmeng Scenic Area, is the tallest land formation in the central part of Sanya. A cable car takes you to the top for a panoramic view of the city. It is open 08:00-21:00, with no tickets sold after 19:30 and no entry after 19:40.
Be careful not to take pictures of the military base from the top. Buses 17, 22, 24 and 55 serve the site, at 300 Longling Road in Jiyang District.
8. Dongtian Park
Dongtian Park is a coastal park in Sanya's far west, known for its rocky beach and historical calligraphy. It is popular with couples who come to take wedding photographs. Swimming is prohibited and climbing on the rocks is not permitted.
It is open 08:30-17:30. Take bus no. 25 or 30 from the city, or Yazhou 6 from the Yazhou Railway Station. It sits in Yacheng Town in Yazhou District, so plan it as a half-day trip rather than a quick stop.
9. Paddy Field National Park
Paddy Field National Park is made up of picturesque rice paddies and filled with life-sized dinosaur models, an unusual combination that works well for families. It is open 08:30-18:00, with no entry after 17:30.
It is on Wanpo Road in Haitang District, reachable by bus nos. 23 and 33. Because it is in Haitang District, it pairs naturally with a day built around Haitang Bay and Wuzhizhou Island.
10. Yalong Bay International Rose Valley
Yalong Bay International Rose Valley is a garden of roses in Jiyang Town, open 08:30-18:00 with no entry after 17:30. It is a gentler, slower stop than the forest park and the beaches.
Take bus no. 27 to reach it at 9 Bohou North Road. Since it sits in the same part of the city as Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, the two can be combined in one day.
11. Guanyin of Nanshan
The Guanyin of Nanshan is a Buddhist statue of Guanyin located within the Nanshan Temple in Sanya. It is one of the tallest statues in the world, and the temple setting gives the visit a different character from the beaches and forest parks.
Treat it as a calm, unhurried stop rather than something to squeeze between beach time. It is one of the city's defining landmarks and worth giving proper time to.
12. Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve
The Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve is a protected marine area located near Yalong Bay. It is a national protected nature reserve, and it is the reason the waters in this part of the coast are worth paying attention to.
Combine it with a Yalong Bay day, since the reserve sits nearby the bay and the Yalong Bay National Tourism Holiday Resort. Note that dolphins, including endangered Chinese white dolphins, appear along the coasts from time to time, though they are not a targeted tourism attraction.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at DaDongHai, arriving early while the beach is quiet and the water is at its clearest. Swim in the cordoned zone, then walk the beachfront before the day heats up.
Afternoon: Head to Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, taking bus nos. 15, 24, 25 or 27 to the Yalong Bay Petrol Station. Walk the rope chain bridge and the orchid garden, and keep your camera pointed to the right on the glass bridge. If time allows, add the nearby Sanya Coral Reef National Nature Reserve or Yalong Bay International Rose Valley.
Evening: Return to Luhuitou Park for the view and the statue, arriving well before the 19:30 ticket cut-off. Stay for the green lasers after dark, then eat at the outdoor barbecue area beneath the statue, which closes at 23:30. If you still have energy, end at DaDongHai, where the beach is quieter at night and weekend parties run late.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Sanya?
The area has a tropical wet and dry climate with hot weather all year round, and water temperatures stay above 22 °C year-round. January is the coolest month and June the hottest, so if you want to avoid the peak heat, plan around the cooler months.
How do I get around Sanya without a car?
Taxis are available throughout the city, and buses connect the main visitor areas. Bus no. 8 links the airport to Dadonghai Beach, and from there buses 24 and 25 run to Yalong Bay while bus 28 goes to Haitang Bay. A free bus runs from Luhuitou Square to the Duty-Free Shopping Center at Haitang Bay.
Can I visit West Island or Wuzhizhou Island as a day trip?
Yes. West Island's last ferry back to the mainland departs at 18:00, and Wuzhizhou Island's last ferry back leaves at 17:30, so both work as day trips if you start early. On West Island, keep in mind that most hotels do not accept foreign guests if you decide to stay over.
Is Dadonghai Beach free, and can I swim at night?
Entry to the Dadonghai area is free, and the beach is cordoned into zones for swimming and boating. The beach is closed at night, though a section to the far east beyond a fence stays open and is not policed.
Pick your dates around the cooler months, decide whether you want a beach base at Dadonghai or a resort further out, and start mapping the buses that will carry you between them.