Sanya City - Thriving Tourist City on Hainan Island, China

Sanya City

More and more overseas tourists are discovering the delights of Sanya as a holiday destination. Sanya was one of the delightful places I visited last year when I went to China as a guest of the China National Tourist Office.

Sanya, also known  as the “City of Deer”, is at the Southern end of  Hainan Island below the mainland of China. It has an area of 1,920 sq km and its coastal lines extend 209 km. The population of Sanya is more than 550,000 people and is rapidly growing. Sanya is mainly populated by the Han, Miao and Hui people.

As the only tropical coastal city in China, Sanya is proud of its major tourism resources, including abundant sunshine, clear sweater, wonderful beaches, a favourite climate, forests, various animals, hot springs, grottoes, beautiful gardens, unique folk customs, and abundant cultural resources. Sanya has picturesque scenery, splendid history and culture, and strong ethnic flavour.

Tourist can see in and around Sanya green mountains, blue waves, and lush coconut forests. Various tourism activities, such as going underwater, having fun on the sea and playing golf, make holidays in Sanya enjoyable.  Its main scenic spots are Yalong Bay, Tianyahaijiano (the Remotest Ends of the Earth), Luhuitou (Deer Turning his Head), Greater Eastern Sea, Southern Mountain, Wuzhi Islet, and Weist Island.   Visitors to Sanya can have learn about the ethnic cultures of the Li, Miao and Hui people, and hear the wonderful story about the “Deer Turning its Head”.

YALONG BAY NATIONAL TOURISM AND HOLIDAY RESORT

Located 28 km south-west of Sanya City, Yalong Bay is in the shape of a half moon, about 7.5 km long. Ot boasts blue seas,soft beaches, bright sunshine, green vegetation and fresh air. . It displays the characteristics of a tropical maritime climate. Yalong Bay covers an area of 66 sq km, so it able to cope with the thousands of tourists who swim in the sea and sail on boats. There is an old saying "One who has once visited Sanya will show no interest in other seas, because Yalong Bay is "No. 1 Bay on earth'."

Yalong Bay includes the Central Square, Shell Hall, Butterfly Valley, and many other scenic spots. It offers many exciting and stimulatinmg activities., such as diving and taking a sea tour by submarine and motorboat.

SOUTHERN HILL CULTURAL TOURISM ZONE
This tourism zone is 40 km south-west from Sanya City and has an area of 48 sq km, including 11 km of marine space. It is a large cultural and ecological tourism garden area that is rare in China.

Southern Hill faces the South China Sea, with blue waves, rays of sunlight shining on the breakers swishing against the rocks, dense and deep forests, and delicate scenery. Buddhist legends have added mysterious colours to Southern Hill. The major attractions include the Buddhist Cultural Garden, the Greater and Lesser Caves, Fortune and Longevity Land, the scenic South China Sea and sculptures based on fairy tales. .

TIANYAHAIJIAO TOURISM AREA
Lying at the foot of Maling Mountain, Tianyahhijiao (the Rainforest Ends of the Earth) is perhaps the main tourist attraction of Hainan Island. Tourists staying at this tourist area will feel as if  they were at the ends of the earth. There are wide expanses of misty green  seas, blue skys and huge rocks inscribed with Chinese characters meaning  "End of the World", "Cape", and No.1 Pillar of the South Heaven". This picturesque tourism area features bathing beaches, fishing terraces, Tainya Art Gallery, Tianya Ethnic Customs Garden and sculptures of historical figures.

LUOBI PEAK

LUOBI PEAK
Located on Litchi Valley Town to the north-east of Sanya City, this is the archeological; site of the Old Stone Age culture. The mountain is in the shape of a square pillar, with towering weirdly shaped rocks, and high and steep cliffs. On the southern slope is a karst cave,  called Conghai Cave, which has 2 large stalactites which look like two huge brushes hanging upside down. On the wall of the cave there are three Chinese characters meaning "Luobi Cave" by Yun Conglong, a famous scholar of the Yuan Dynasty.