The powder-white sands and emerald waters of Sanya is China’s version of Hawaii. Wealthy travelers from Asia and around the world travel to this coastal town of Hainan lined with top-class resorts and a wide assortment of shops, restaurants, and amusement centers. Though Hainan is the smallest province in southern China, it is highly popular for being the only tropical destination in the country. It has a series of bays, beaches, parks, islands, and attractions that draw in the affluent travelers seeking a different kind of experience when visiting China. Visit Sanya Bay, the longest sandy beach measuring 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) starting from the east in Sanya Harbour and ending in the west at Tianya Bay. Discover why Sanya is called Deer City. Below is our list of the best things to do in Sanya, Hainan, China. Read on and try them once there!
1. Enjoy the art in the Beauty Crown Grand Theater
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Beauty Crown Grand Theater is a crown-shaped theater that was built for the Miss World pageant in 2003. If you are in Sanya, Hainan Island, China, visit this biggest indoor arena with a wide range of art and entertainment. It has a high-tech audio and lighting system and 3,500 seats. This theater became one of the honorable theaters in China. Beauty Crown Grand Theater hosted six Miss World events in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2015.
There is also a Sanya Beauty Crown Cultural Exhibition Center within 650 m (2132.55 ft) from here.
Beauty Crown Grand Theater
Address: 299 Xinfeng St, Jiyang District, Sanya, Sanya, Hainan, China, 572002
2. Enhance your knowledge of the ecosystem in Paddy Field National Park
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Paddy Field National Park is the largest rice and dinosaur theme park in Wanpo village in Sanya. It encourages rural economy and promotes cultural industry by harvesting rice paddies in this park. Life-size dinosaur models were rated as a national 4A tourist attraction in 2019. You can bring your kids here to learn about food production and agricultural ecosystems.
Sanya Paddy Field National Park is preserving and innovating the traditional paddy culture to build a national cultural industry demonstration center. During winter, the park blooms with a sea of flowers that symbolizes the park’s natural ecosystems.
Paddy Field National Park
Address: No 1 Wanpo Road, Linwang Town, Haitang Bay, Sanya, Hainan
Website: Paddy Field National Park
Opening hours: 8:30am - 9:00pm (daily)
Price: 13.11 USD for adults; 6.7 USD for children and senior residents
3. Explore the lovely Luhuitou Park (from USD 274.0)
Luhuitou Park is popular as Sanya’s lone mountain-top park. An interesting legend explains the park origins and why Sanya is called “Deer City”. It’s about a young hunter who was ordered to hunt deer ended up chasing one through 99 hills for several days. The deer turned into a lovely lady when trapped at the Coral Cliff. A giant statue of the deer with the hunter and a lady on each side stands on the hill overlooking Luhuitou Peninsula, downtown Sanya, and the rolling mountains. Walk the park’s winding paths and visit areas like Halley’s Comet Observatory, Immortal Pond, and others.
Sanya 3 Days Private Highlight Tour for Nanshan Temple and Luhuitou Park
Duration: 3 days
4. Watch a stage play at the incredible Sanya Romance Park
Sanya Romance Park is a massive 225-acre (91.1 hectare) entertainment park that offers more than 30 amusement options and 10 theme zones for guests to explore. It represents a mix of Miao, Tianya, and Li heritage through the park’s architecture and cultural shows. A visit to this park should include watching one of their many cultural shows that are elaborate production numbers with singing, dancing, and acrobatics. Legend of Romance is their most famous stage show that tells viewers about Sanya’s legends and multicultural history. It’s performed on a professional stage which makes it highly entertaining with lots of visual effects.
Sanya Romance Park Ticket - Klook
5. Go cave hopping in Nanshan Daxiaodongtian
Nanshan Daxiaodongtian is a popular historic, cultural, and picturesque tourist resort at the base of the Nanshan Mountains. This collection of small and big caves witnessed a lot of historical events dating back to ancient times. These caves naturally carved into the mountains are surrounded by walking trails, rolling hills, lush foliage, blue seas, hidden grottoes, and a rich cultural heritage that formed the six tourist areas that draw in millions of visitors every year. The city’s oldest attraction is also dedicated to Taoism and serves as its National History Museum hence the display of dinosaur fossils.
Nanshan Daxiaodongtian
Address: Xiaotiandong Tourist Area, Yazhou District, Sanya City, Hainan Province
Website: Nanshan Daxiaodongtian
6. Check into “Oriental Dubai” (from USD 102)
Phoenix Island is a man-made archipelago made up of two landforms creating Sanya’s famous island resort. This high-class island resort is built on Sanya Bay’s southeastern side with the western island nearing completion and the eastern island fully complete. A 395 meter (1295.9 feet) bridge links Phoenix Island to the mainland. The western and eastern islands are linked together by a thin piece of land. Also called Oriental Dubai, the beachfront resort offers luxurious amenities to its guests like access to the beach, infinity pools, a fitness center, hot tub and hot tub, bicycle rentals for a fee, an onsite bar and restaurant, and elegant guest accommodations with splendid ocean views. You won’t miss its iconic hotel which stands tall and proud on the island.
Phoenix Island Resort Sanya
Address: Phoenix Island Block A (Ocean Month), Sanya Bay, Sanya, China, 572000
3.71 km (2.4 mi) from 大东海广场
7. Pay your respects to Buddha at Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Park (from USD 196.45)
Buddhism Cultural Park is among the three theme parks that comprise the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone. This park was created for people to have a better understanding of Buddhist philosophy and culture. Expect to see awesome ancient temples like Nanshan Temple or South Mountain Temple surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery conducive for prayers and meditation. There are two statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Goddess of Mercy. One is a towering 353-feet (108 meters) high statue standing by the seaside and a smaller one nearby is made of 100 kgs (220.5 lbs) of gold and precious jewels 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) tall. Explore the other facets of the park such as Guanyin Park and China Buddhism Culture Institute.
Sanya Private Nanshan Buddhism Culture Park Half-Day Tour
Duration: 5.0 hour
8. Dip into the hot pools of Zhujiang Nantian Spa (from USD 53)
Sanya Zhujiang Nantian Spa is a resort complex set in lush woodland with several hot spring pools in a variety of temperatures, sizes, and colors. People flock to this popular tourist destination to dip in the hot pools that bring relief and therapeutic benefits to both mind and body. The wide variety of pools set in tropical surroundings add an exotic flavor to this spa adventure. Imagine soaking in a warm pool with a coconut beverage in your hand as your tense muscles relax and feel your skin pores open while releasing all your body’s toxins. Try pools with tiny fish that chew away the dead skin at your feet making it soft and supple.
Zhujiang Nantian Resort
Address: Nantian Cultural Tourism Zone
29.79 km (18.6 mi) from 大东海广场
9. Visit the biggest Buddhist Temple in Sanya (from USD 121.0)
Nanshan Temple (South Mountain Temple) is Sanya’s largest Buddhist temple and the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone’s number one tourist attraction at the base of Nanshan Mountain. It is a model of Tang Dynasty architecture and composed of two main halls. Doushuai Adytum is a giant hall containing the shrines of seven Buddhist notables with Maitreya Buddha (or Sanskrit) flanked by Bodhisattvas and surrounded by Four Heavenly Kings. The temple also has a towering figure of the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) overlooking the splendid ocean and mountain scenery.
Sanyan to Nanshan Temple Full-Day Private Tour with Lunch
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
10. Discover the awesome Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park (from USD 107.0)
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is Hainan’s first national park stretching for 15 square kilometers (5.8 square miles) on the hills overlooking Yalong Bay Resort District. It features elevated walkways and trails twisting through the dense forest filled with tropical trees and lush foliage. The lookouts along the path offer splendid vistas of Haitang and Yalong Bay and its neighboring gorges. Within the park premises, is the Earthly Paradise Bird’s Nest Resort, a luxury hotel where you indulge in dining at one or many restaurants under one roof. Enjoy street shopping for mementos, riding a sightseeing tour bus, rock climbing, and many more.
Yalong Bay Tropical Forest Ticket with Chauffeur Service
Duration: Flexible
11. Dare to see the End of the World (from USD 60.0)
End of the World (Tian Yai Hai Jiao in Chinese) is actually Sanya’s world-class coastal area famous for its picturesque landscape. At the base of Maling Mountain in Tianya town, 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) west of Sanya Downtown, this wide stretch of sandy beach flanked by aquamarine waters has a cluster of 10-meter (32.8 feet) high rocks etched with Chinese characters of the names of two ill-fated lovers. The other carvings were made by the scholars and significant historical personalities that were exiled on this island. This lovely coast is perfect for riding a motorboat or swimming in its immaculate blue waters or visiting the nearby Tropical Ocean Zoo.
Self-Guided Private Day Tour: Ticket For Tianya Haijiao With Chauffeur Service
Duration: 3 hours
12. Go diving in the blue waters of Wuzhizhou Island (from USD 107.0)
Visit this paradise-like island in Haitang Bay 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) to Sanya’s northeast sandwiched by Yalong Bay and Nanwan Monkey Island. This island is just 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles) in size but is blessed with stunning landscape and crystal blue waters abundant with sea life. This popular dive spot with its well-developed shoreline lined with resort villas, seafood diners, and bars, attracts visitors from all over the world who stay for at least a night. Aside from diving, they engage in all sorts of water-borne leisurely activities like parasailing, riding jet skis, going on a banana-boat cruise, and others.
Self-Guided Private Day Tour of Wuzhizhou Coral Island With Chauffeur Service
Duration: 1 day
The remarkable beauty of Sanya
Who would have thought that there is an extraordinary tropical place in China that is comparable to Hawaii? It is simply amazing because of its beautiful lush scenery, pure sandy beaches, exotic islands, and spas, not to forget its unique parks and attractions with intriguing names like “End of the World”. It’s a must that you should include the list of the best things to do in Sanya on your next trip to Hainan, China. It will be one unforgettable experience!
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