Sanya & Hainan: China\'s Tropical Island
White-sand beaches, rainforest hot springs, fresh seafood on the sand, and a 51km coastal road — Hainan is China\'s Hawaii, with better food and lower prices.
Route Overview
Hainan is China\'s southernmost province — a tropical island the size of Belgium in the South China Sea. It is China\'s most popular beach destination (domestic tourists flock here in winter to escape the cold) and has a genuinely tropical vibe: coconut palms, white-sand beaches, fresh seafood, and a laid-back pace. Sanya (三亚) is the main resort city with the best beaches. The island also has volcanic hot springs, Li and Miao minority villages, and the Wuzhishan tropical rainforest. Hainan has visa-free access for 59 countries (up to 30 days) — one of the easiest ways to visit China.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Sanya
Fly into Sanya Phoenix Airport (SYX). Transfer to your hotel. Sanya has several bay areas: Yalong Bay (亚龙湾, most upscale, best beach), Sanya Bay (三亚湾, city centre, longest beach), Haitang Bay (海棠湾, newest development, luxury resorts), and Dadonghai (大东海, most popular with Russian tourists). Check in and hit the beach. Sanya Bay has a 22km beachfront promenade perfect for cycling. Evening: seafood dinner at a beachfront restaurant — Hainan's specialities are Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡), Hele crab (和乐蟹), and fresh tropical fruit.
Day 2: Sanya — Beach Day
Full beach day. Yalong Bay has the classic white-sand crescent beach — 7.5 km of sand with clear water. The beach is lined with resorts but the sand is public (Chinese law requires all beaches to be publicly accessible). Rent a sunbed (¥50-100), swim, and eat fresh coconut (¥10). Afternoon: Nanshan Temple (南山寺, ¥129) — a massive Buddhist complex on the coast with a 108m statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy) rising from the sea on an artificial island. The statue is visible from the plane as you land. Evening: Sanya Duty-Free Shopping Complex (the world's largest duty-free mall) if you want luxury shopping.
Day 3: Wuzhishan Rainforest
Day trip to Wuzhishan (五指山, 'Five Finger Mountain'), 2 hours from Sanya. Wuzhishan is Hainan's highest mountain (1,867m) and the heart of the island's tropical rainforest. Hike the rainforest trail (2-4 hours, moderate) through a landscape of giant ferns, banyan trees, butterflies, and waterfalls. The air is cool and fresh compared to the coast. The Li and Miao minority villages in the area have cultural performances (¥100-150). Alternatively, visit Yanoda Rainforest (呀诺达雨林, ¥168) — a more developed rainforest park with zip lines, waterfalls, and a glass bridge, closer to Sanya (45 min).
Day 4: Sanya — Water Sports & Hot Springs
Morning: water sports at Wuzhizhou Island (蜈支洲岛, ¥144 including ferry) — a small island 30 minutes off the coast with the clearest water in Sanya. Snorkelling (¥200-400), diving (¥600-1,000), jet skiing, and parasailing. The coral is not world-class (Hainan's reefs have suffered from bleaching) but the water is clear and the fish are plentiful. Afternoon: Nantian Hot Springs (南田温泉, ¥198) — volcanic hot springs with 30+ pools of varying temperatures, surrounded by tropical gardens. Evening: Sanya Romance Park (三亚千古情, ¥280) — a theatrical show about Sanya's history, directed by the same company that does the Hangzhou Impression shows.
Day 5: Sanya → Haikou (Optional)
Option A: stay in Sanya for more beach time. Option B: take the 1.5-hour high-speed train from Sanya to Haikou (¥100). Haikou is Hainan's capital and has a more local, less resort feel. Visit Qilou Old Street (骑楼老街) — a neighbourhood of colonial-era arcade buildings built by returning overseas Chinese in the 1920s. Visit the Hainan Museum (free) for the island's history. Lunch: Haikou's version of Wenchang chicken and Hainan rice noodles (海南粉). Afternoon: volcanic cluster geopark (海口火山群, ¥60) — a dormant volcano 15 km from Haikou with a crater you can walk into. Evening: train back to Sanya (1.5 hrs, ¥100) or stay in Haikou and fly out from Haikou Meilan Airport (HAK).
Day 6-7: Departure or Extension
Fly out from Sanya (SYX) or Haikou (HAK). Both airports have flights to major Chinese cities and international connections to Southeast Asia. If extending: Hainan has a 51km coastal road from Sanya to Lingshui — rent a car (¥300-500/day) and drive it. The road passes through fishing villages, coconut groves, and viewpoints over the South China Sea. Or visit the Bo'ao Forum site (博鳌, 1.5 hrs from Haikou) — the 'Davos of Asia', a conference centre on a river estuary.
Planning This Route
Getting There & Visa
Fly into Sanya (SYX) or Haikou (HAK). Hainan has visa-free access for 59 countries (up to 30 days) if you fly directly to Hainan and stay on the island. If you also want to visit mainland China, you need a full Chinese visa. High-speed train Sanya-Haikou: 1.5 hrs (¥100).
Where to Stay
Yalong Bay: luxury resorts ($150-400/night). Sanya Bay: mid-range ($50-150/night). Dadonghai: budget-mid ($40-100/night). Haitang Bay: luxury ($200-500/night). Haikou: city hotels ($30-80/night). Book ahead for Chinese New Year — Sanya hotels sell out and prices triple.
When to Go
November-April is the best season — warm (22-28°C), dry, and sunny. This is Hainan's high season (Chinese tourists escaping northern winter). May-October is hot (30-35°C), humid, and the rainy/typhoon season (especially August-October). Prices drop 30-50% in summer.
What to Eat
Wenchang chicken (文昌鸡, poached chicken with ginger-scallion oil), Hele crab (和乐蟹, steamed with ginger), Dongshan lamb (东山羊肉, braised goat), and Jiaji duck (加积鸭). Plus tropical fruit: coconut (¥10), mango, papaya, dragon fruit, and Hainan's unique 'stinky fruit' (榴莲, durian). The seafood is fresh and cheap at local restaurants (not resort restaurants).
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