Dadonghai is small enough to cover on foot in an hour. The beach is the reason to come — a curving 2.8-kilometre stretch of white sand that holds up well against any in southern China, with calmer water than Sanya Bay and easier access than Yalong Bay. Outside of the beach, the surrounding district has a couple of monuments and lookouts that are quick stops by taxi or scooter.
Most travellers spend mornings in the water — snorkelling near the reef, paddling out on rented kayaks, or taking introductory dive trips — and afternoons under one of the rented umbrellas. The streets back from the beach hold the bars, dive shops, massage parlours, and the seafood restaurants that come alive after sunset.