Sanya Beaches 三亚Sānyà

Why go to Sanya Beaches

Sanya sits at the southern tip of Hainan Island, where palm-fringed bays meet warm, clear water. Yalong Bay has the softest sand and calmest swimming, Dadonghai is lively and close to town, and Haitang Bay is lined with big resorts and a vast duty-free mall.

The story

For much of history Hainan was a place of exile; the poet Su Dongpo was banished here in his sixties. A rocky shore west of the city is still called Tianya Haijiao, 'the edge of the sky and the corner of the sea'.

What to see at Sanya Beaches

• Yalong Bay 亚龙湾: The upscale bay, a 7.5 km curve of soft sand and clear water lined with many international resort hotels.
• Dadonghai 大东海: A lively, smaller bay close to downtown Sanya with water sports, guesthouses and easy access to town.
• Haitang Bay 海棠湾: The newest resort zone, roughly 28 km from downtown, quieter than the other bays.
• Sanya Bay 三亚湾: A long city beach right by the old centre, good for sunsets and with local food nearby.

How to visit Sanya Beaches

Pick one bay as a base and treat the others as day outings: Dadonghai for town and nightlife, Yalong Bay for swimming and resorts, Haitang Bay for quiet resort time. Swim and sunbathe in the morning, and keep the middle of the day for shade. Check the forecast in typhoon season.

How to get to Sanya Beaches

Sanya Phoenix International Airport has flights from across China and parts of Asia. Yalong Bay is about 40 minutes from the airport by taxi.

Where to stay

Choose Dadonghai for a lively base in town, Yalong Bay for resorts, or Haitang Bay for quieter big resorts.

What to eat

• Coconut chicken hotpot 椰子鸡: Wenchang chicken simmered in fresh coconut water at the table, a Sanya favourite.
• Wenchang chicken 文昌鸡: Hainan's famous poached chicken, served cold in slices with a dipping sauce, found across Sanya.
• Market seafood, cooked to order 第一市场海鲜加工: At Sanya's First Market you buy your catch and have a nearby restaurant cook it for a processing fee.

Tips for visiting Sanya Beaches

• Pack high-SPF sunscreen and a hat; the tropical sun is fierce even in winter.
• Chinese New Year is peak season, with crowds and premium rates, so book well ahead or avoid it.
• Typhoons can strike from summer into autumn; check forecasts before booking a beach week.

Nearby

Also within 30 km: Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park 亚龙湾热带天堂森林公园 (under 10 km), Luobi Cave 落笔洞遗址 (10 km), Luhuitou Park 鹿回头公园 (20 km), Wuzhizhou Island 蜈支洲岛 (20 km), Atlantis Sanya 三亚亚特兰蒂斯 (20 km), Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex 三亚国际免税城 (20 km).

On the map

Open Sanya Beaches on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)