History & Culture: Sanya was known in ancient times as Yazhou and was a famous place of exile in Chinese history. The monk Jianzhen stopped here on his eastward voyage, and exile culture blended with maritime culture, leaving rich historical traces. Sanya is home to the Li and Miao peoples, and the Li March Third Festival is the grandest traditional celebration, when young men and women in festive dress sing to each other in courtship. Li brocade weaving is highly skilled, its patterns carrying ethnic history and belief. Yazhou Ancient City embodies the culture of exile, where many famous officials and scholars were banished. Because it stands at the edge of the sky and sea, Sanya has since ancient times symbolised the end of the world, and today it has become China's most popular tropical seaside resort. Annual events such as the Sanya International Film Festival and beach music festivals give this city on the South China Sea a modern vitality and romantic atmosphere.
Geography: Sanya lies at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, backed by the foothills of the Wuzhi Mountains and facing the South China Sea, with about 259 kilometres of coastline. It has a tropical maritime monsoon climate with a long summer, no winter and abundant sunshine. Sanya is in Hainan Province, where landforms, rivers and climate together shape the city's layout. Winter (November–March) is warm and pleasant, the best time to escape the cold and enjoy a beach holiday. Natural and cultural sights are fairly concentrated, so a one- or two-day itinerary by area works well. Light, vegetation and water levels change with the seasons; check the weather and official notices before setting out. Roads and railways are the main connections, and the main sights can be linked from the city or county town.
Highlights: Play in the water at Yalong Bay, visit Tianya Haijiao, pray for blessings at Nanshan and dive at Wuzhizhou Island — enjoy a tropical seaside holiday to the full. Core sights include Yalong Bay, Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park, Tianya Haijiao and Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone. They cover history, nature and city life and can be combined freely. Pair the main sights with nearby streets, museums or food streets for a half- or full-day route. If time allows, slow down and leave room for walking and rest. First-time visitors can start with the most representative sights, then add museums, old streets or natural areas as time allows.
Food Culture: Seafood and Hainan's four famous dishes dominate Sanya's tables: Wenchang chicken and Hele crab come from Wenchang and Wanning respectively and are available in Sanya's restaurants and seafood stalls, while coconut-chicken hotpot and seafood cooked to order from the tank are the local everyday fare. Qingbuliang is a refreshing coconut-scented dessert, and tropical fruit is abundant.
