Walk the foreigner quarter at Dadonghai beach, where warm water and lively nights meet
Step onto Dadonghai and you will see why this stretch of sand has become the social centre of Sanya for international visitors. The water stays clean enough for swimming, the seabed is mostly sand with occasional schools of fish, and the beach itself is free—though the city has cordoned it into zones for swimming and boating. Come at sunrise to see the light build over the hills, return at sunset when the sky turns fierce and orange, and if you stay until after dark you will find the beach bar alive with music, fire torches, and dancing that picks up well after midnight. The town rising behind the beach is pricier than central Sanya, but it has foreign restaurants and the beach itself is lined with expensive ones, most of them mediocre. Get there by bus 8 from the airport, or routes 2, 4, 15, 18, 19, 25, 28, 34, 36, 41, 53, or 55.
Climb to the statue at Luhuitou Park and see Sanya glow below
Drive or bus up Luling Road into the green hills and you arrive at a statue of a deer looking back over its shoulder, flanked by a Li boy and a Li girl—a monument to a legend about a hunter who fell in love when his prey turned into a young woman. The real prize comes at night, when green lasers shoot out from near the statue, visible across the whole city. Climb around the cleared hilltop and you will find wild monkeys happy to take food from your hands, an abandoned roller coaster with rusting tracks, and a wall of love locks where couples write their names on padlocks. The mountain itself stands among the tallest in Sanya. Entry is free with your passport, and the park stays open until 22:30. An outdoor barbecue seating area sits beneath the statue and closes at 23:30. Reach it by bus 26, 54, or 55.
Island-hop to snorkel, dive, and see traditional fishing villages
Two islands anchor Sanya's water activities. Wuzhizhou Island draws snorkelers and scuba divers to its surrounding waters, which remain clearer and richer with fish than most spots in the bay—though visibility has declined over time, so timing your visit matters. The island has Sunrise Rock, a cliff outcrop on its southeast edge shaped like a turtle crawling toward the horizon, where you can stand above the whole island and South China Sea. Scuba diving runs between ¥400–500. Ferries run from 08:30, with the last return at 17:30; reach the terminal by bus 28 from the city. West Island, smaller and quieter, sits about 2 km east of Tianya Haijiao. It holds a traditional fishing village with old houses built from coral and small museums. Locals and the Sanya Xidao Xige Inn both offer rooms to foreigners. At night, fishing stalls sell fresh seafood barbecue. The ferry costs ¥95 including the round trip, departs from the West Island Wharf, and the last boat back leaves at 18:00. Reach the wharf by bus 16, 25, 26, 30, 32, 55, or 57.
Visit temples, statues, and rocky beaches steeped in Chinese legend
The Guanyin of Nanshan dominates Sanya's spiritual landscape—a towering Buddhist statue of the goddess Guanyin that stands among the world's tallest. It sits within the Nanshan Temple (Sanya). South and west of the city centre, Tianya Haijiao remains one of China's most famous beaches, named for an ancient phrase meaning "the end of the sky and ocean"—a place so remote in dynastic times that emperors sent disgraced officials here as exile. The beach draws couples seeking romantic backdrops, though crowds can overwhelm its natural appeal. Buses 16, 25, 26, 30, and 57 reach it in about 30 minutes from the city; the double-decker sightseeing bus also stops here. A few kilometres west, Dongtian Park in Yacheng Town showcases a rocky coastal landscape alongside historical calligraphy carved into stone. The beach prohibits swimming and climbing on rocks, but it has become favoured ground for wedding photography. Entry runs ¥90 during peak season (October–April) and ¥75 during slack season (May–September). Reach it by bus 25 or 30, or Yazhou 6 from Yazhou Railway Station.
Hike through forest canopy and film locations at Yalong Bay
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park sits on a steep hillside where you can walk among orchids, cross a glass bridge suspended above the bay, and trace scenes from the 2010 romantic film If You Are the One 2. The rope chain bridge featured in the film and an orchid garden are major draws. Exercise caution with cameras on the glass bridge—a military base sits below, and photographing it will draw attention from security. Entry costs ¥108 during peak season (October–April) and ¥90 during slack season (May–September); the sightseeing car adds ¥50. The park opens from 07:30 to 18:00; tickets stop selling at 17:30. Take bus 15, 24, 25, or 27 and get off at the Yalong Bay petrol station. Nearby, Yalong Bay International Rose Valley offers a smaller, calmer park experience with roses and sightseeing cars. Entry is ¥60 for the park alone or ¥90 including the car tour. Bus 27 goes directly there.
Explore rice paddies and dinosaurs in the quieter hills
North of the city, Paddy Field National Park arranges rows of living rice paddies alongside life-sized dinosaur models, creating an oddly vivid landscape. The sightseeing train winds through the fields and gives feet a rest. Entry is ¥75 for the park alone or ¥110 including the train. Open from 08:30 to 18:00, with no entry allowed after 17:30. Take bus 23 or 33. Phoenix Hill, the tallest land formation in central Sanya, offers a cable car to the summit for panoramic views across the city and into its surrounding terrain. The cable car is included in the ticket: ¥106 from October to April, ¥88 from May to September. Open from 08:00 to 21:00, with no new tickets sold after 19:30. Avoid photographing the military base visible from the summit. Bus 17, 22, 24, or 55 will get you there.
Sanya sits at the southern tip of Hainan Island where warm water surrounds you year-round and the landscape swings between beaches, forested hills, and rocky shores carved by centuries of legend. Whether you come for the social scene at Dadonghai, the quiet of an island village, or a hike through canopy to a glass bridge, you will find the rhythm of a place that has transformed from imperial exile site to modern resort while keeping its edges rough. Start planning for the season that suits you—October through April brings the coolest weather, while May through September is warmer and cheaper—and arrive ready to move between sea, mountain, and temple at your own pace.