Sanya is China's answer to a tropical beach resort — a city on the southern tip of Hainan Island where the air is warm year-round, coconut palms line the shore, and the pace of life is noticeably slower than on the mainland. It has been heavily developed into a domestic tourism destination, but there is genuine appeal here: white sand beaches, warm clear water, fresh seafood, and a cultural diversity that includes the Hui Muslim minority community on the western edge of town.
The beaches are the main attraction and they are properly good. Yalong Bay, 25 km from the city centre, is the upmarket resort strip — manicured and quiet, with turquoise water. Dadonghai, closer to downtown, has more local life and better eating options nearby. Sanya Bay is the longest stretch and the most accessible, while Haitang Bay to the east is the newest resort area and home to the world-class Atlantis resort and the largest duty-free mall on earth. All four bays offer different experiences, and it is worth visiting more than one.
Beyond the beaches, the coastal road west of the city leads to the Nanshan Temple complex with its 108-metre statue of Guanyin, and Tianya Haijiao — the "Edge of the Sky" boulders that for centuries marked the southern limit of the Chinese world. Closer in, Luhuitou Park gives the best panoramic view of the city, and the boat from Haitang Bay out to Wuzhizhou Island is the local diving and snorkelling trip.
The First Market in central Sanya sells tropical produce — mangoes, dragonfruit, jackfruit — that can go straight into a bag, and lets you pick your own seafood for the surrounding restaurants to cook. Prices are generally lower than on the mainland for comparable quality. Sanya has an international airport with flights from many Chinese cities and growing international service, plus a high-speed rail link to Haikou and the rest of the island.