Written by Natalia |
During the Sanya tour, if you want to find public beaches, Sanya BayĀ will offer you the most choices, because it is the most vibrant and public heart ofĀ beaches inside the city. Most beaches are free and be loved by the locals.
Besides, Sanya BayĀ is also featured byĀ the 20km+ coastline. Along the coastline is the famous Coconut Dream Corridor. It got the name because this seaside has coconut trees standing in rows along the way. It is the soul of Sanya Bay. Here, you can integrate into the local life in the seaside parks and enjoy the stunning sunsets on the beach. Besides, there are also famous attractions like Tianya Haijiao, Luhuitou Scenic Area and West Island, etc.
This guide will cover everything from location and attractions to hotels and practical tipsĀ to ensure you can enjoy a smooth tour.
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- Where is Sanya Bay? Location and Accessibility
- Why Visit Sanya Bay? Highlights & Key Features
- Top Attractions around the Sanya Bay
- What to Do at the Sanya Bay
- How Many Days Needed to Explore Sanya Bay?
- Sanya BayĀ vs. Yalong Bay vs. Dadonghai: Which is Best for You?
- Where to Stay in Sanya Bay: Hotels & Resorts
- Practical Travel Tips for Sanya Bay
- Visit Sanya with China Xian Tour
Where is Sanya Bay? Location and Accessibility
Sanya Location & How to Get to
Sanya BayĀ is located in the Tianya District, Sanya, Hainan Island. It is adjacent to the southwest of Sanya urban area, so several bus lines can take you to the bay easily, such as 6, 8, 21, 24, 25, 103, etc. Taking a taxi will cost about CNY 20. Besides, among all four bays in the city, it is the closest one toĀ Sanya Phoenix International Airport. Only a 15 minutesāĀ drive by car or taxi can take you from the airport to there. You can also take the bus lines 108 or 127 from the airport to the central area directly.
Getting Around:
To travel around Sanya Bay, the densely distributed bus lines can transport you to the coastal road and every corner of the downtown area. Tourists can also reach Tianya Haijiao and Nanshan Temple by bus directly. It is also popular to explore the bay on foot. It is highly recommended to start from Haiyue Square, walk along the coastal avenue all the way, and pass through the Coconut Dream Corridor. It is also suitable for cycling. Along the way, plenty of bikes are available for tourists to rent.
Why Visit Sanya Bay? Highlights & Key Features
- The Famous Coconut Dream Corridor (Coconut Palm Road): a tropical scroll unfolds before your eyes along the way. Dense coconut trees are planted on the seaside side of this 20+ km scenic road.
- Best Place for Walking and Cycling: along the Coconut Palm Road is a greenbelt with the same length, it is very suitable to explore by walking and cycling.
- Sanya Bay‘s World-Famous Sunset Views: at sunset time, the sky is usually dyed into dreamy pink or orange-red color. The scene of the sea meeting the sky is extremely breathtaking.
- Strong Life Atmosphere: compared with other bays, Sanya Bayis full of a vibrant atmosphere, because most local people live here. You can join in the locals to sing and dance in the parks and watch the fishermen collecting the nets.
- Diverse water sports:Sanya BayĀ is an ideal place for marine sports such as sailing and yachting.
Top Attractions around the Sanya Bay
Tianya Haijiao
- Best for:couples
- Tickets:free
- Opening hours:08:00-18:30/19:00
This scenic area is named after the two iconic cliff carvings – Tianjia Stone and Haijiao Stone, which are also the landmarks. It bears the meaning of “accompanying you to the ends of the earth”, so it is a hot destination among couples. For lovers to take memorable photos, the scenic area also sets a love square, a wedding hall, etc. At the sunset time, the scenery is extremely romantic. Besides the carvings, there is also typical tropical seaside scenery with a long coastal line, swaying coconut forests and reefs of all shapes and sizes.
Coconut Dream Corridor
- Best for:all tourists
- Tickets:free
- Opening hours:all day
On the seaside side of the Coconut Dream Corridor, a continuous coconut forest stretches over 20 km. Together with the silver beach and blue sea, a tropical scroll is unfolded before you. The most famous landscape is the breathtaking sunset view, when the red glow covers the sky and spreads over the sea surface. It will be an enjoyment to take a walk or cycle along the corridor. Let the beautiful scenery relieve your bad moods. Besides, you can also take photos at the wedding photography base. Here, the seaside swings, artistic style cars, and transparent churches are all free for tourists to use.
West Island
- Best for:families,Ā touristsĀ who want to avoid crowds or are interested in culture
- Tickets:CNY 95
- Opening hours:08:00 – 17:30
During the Sanya travel,Ā West Island will be your highlight. Its charm lies in that it can meet your diverse imaginations of a vacation on a sea island. Here, you can experience various thrilling water sports, like parasailing, motorboat, banana boat. You can also dive into the national coral reef nature reserve to appreciate the colorful corals and tropical fish schools.
If you want to experience the local life, head to the fishing village, where you will see the hundred-year-old houses built with coral stones. The bookstore over the sea is also unique, it is transformed from a fishing boat. Just enjoy the slow-paced life in this village. Niuwang Island is the best place for reef landscapes and sunset view. It is connected to the main island through a plank road across the sea.
Luhuitou Park
- Best for:families,Ā couples, photographers
- Tickets:free
- Opening hours:08:00 – 22:30
The Luhuitou sculpture is the symbol of this park. It originated from a love legend of the Li ethnic group. It says that a young hunter chases a deer to the end of the mountains and the sea, the deer transforms into a young girl, and the two fall in love and live together. There are also many other scenic spots related to love in the park. With a height of 180 meters and surrounded by sea on three sides, it is also the highest point to overlook the sea and the whole city, and the classic position for sunrise and sunset.
Phoenix Island
- Best for:photographers, water sports enthusiasts
- Tickets:free
- Opening hours:all day
Phoenix IslandĀ has been a landmark of Sanya BayĀ because of the five sail-shaped skyscrapers, which together have been an international health and vacation center. It is the best position to appreciate the sea scenery and city landscapes as you wander along the seaside promenade. The island is also a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. Many clubs gather here and provide varieties of thrilling and interesting water sports, including wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, diving, etc. You can also go out to sea on a yacht to experience sea fishing and enjoy the scenery in the middle of the sea.
What to Do at the Sanya Bay
Enjoy Walking & Cycling
In Sanya, Sanya BayĀ is the most suitable to explore by walking and cycling, which allows you to feel the charm of the city deeply. When renting the bikes, choose a licensed car rental agency and check the brake, light and bell carefully. It is better to take a photo of the bike in case of disputes. The rental fee is usually calculated by the day, about CNY 50+.
The recommended walking routes include the seaside promenade in Sanya BayĀ and the Luhuitou Mountain trail. About the cycling routes, both the Coconut Dream Corridor and the West Island loop route are the best choices.
Experience Beach Activities & Water Sports
On the beaches in Sanya Bay, the sand quality is relatively fine and the environment is good after ecological restoration. So it is suitable for walking, playing with sand and sunbathing. The water quality is also excellent and moderately suitable for swimming. Besides, common water sports are also available.Ā Coastal Water Sports ParkĀ offers plenty of choices, such as jet-skiing, banana boat, dynamic airship, water bicycle, etc. Jet-skiingĀ is a hot choice. You can drive by yourself to experience the thrill of speeding across the sea. Another popular destination is the Phoenix Island, which is famous for wakeboarding and sailing.
See the top beautiful beaches in Sanya
Photography & Family Fun
No matter you want to capture beautiful moments or have fun with your family, Sanya BayĀ can satisfy your needs. In the Coconut Dream Corridor, you can take classic seaside photos with the coconut trees and sea as the background. In West Island, your photos will be endowed with an artistic and fresh style. If you want to have different pictures, go to the Peninsula Sailboat Harbor. The modern architectures and yachts will add a modern charm to your photos.
For families, the simplest and purest happiness is to play with sand and walk in the waves on the public beaches. In addition, you can spend the whole day in Mangrove Tree Resort World Sanya Bay, a one-stop integrated resort. Here, children can have fun in the large indoor children’s playground and enjoy their time with parents to try various water activities.
Admire the Sunset
The sunset is one of the most famous natural scenery in Sanya Bay. It is recommended to arrive one hour before sunset, so that you can enjoy the whole process of the sky changing from blue to golden, pink and pinkish purple gradually. After sunset, do not leave immediately. Because in the following half an hour, there is a high possibility to appreciate the most stunning evening glow. The recommended viewing spots along the Sanya BayĀ include Phoenix Island Bridgehead Park, Haiyue Square, Tianya Town, Luhuitou Scenic Area and the Meili Xinhaian bus stop.
Recommended tour
Experience Local Life
The charm of Sanya BayĀ lies not only in its sunny beaches, but also in the lively and vibrant local life of Sanya, Hainan Island. Do you want to experience the local lifestyle deeply? Follow the three steps. After waking up in the early morning, join the locals to do morning exercises, take a walk or jog along the Coconut Dream Corridor. Of course, it is also very cozy to enjoy the sunrise over the sea. In the late afternoon, watch the locals dancing with music or stroll along the beach to feel the gentle sea breeze like the locals.
In addition, tasting the local food is definitely unmissable. In Sanya Bay, from street snacks to the authentic feast, all can be found. The special main courses include coconut chicken, vinasse vinegar and Hainan cuisines, and the classic snacks include cool sweet soup, baoluo rice noodles, shrimp cake, etc.
Duty-free Shopping
For most people, shopping in the duty-free malls ranks top during their Hainan tour. Where can you purchase in Sanya Bay? Zhongfu Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Park is the closest mall, which mainly sells health care products, gold jewelries, etc. Hailv Duty-Free City is about 10km away from the Bay. Beauty and digital products usually have better discounts here. Sanya International Duty Free City is the largest mall with the most complete range of brands. Though it is far from Sanya Bay, the free shuttle service is offered and can transfer you to the mall in about 1.5 hours.
Related reading: Top Things to Do in Hainan
How Many Days Needed to Explore Sanya Bay?
3 days are already enough for a Sanya BayĀ tour. During the 3-day tour, core attractions are all included at a moderate pace. The itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1: Sanya Arrival – Coconut Dream Corridor – The First Night Markets
- Day 2: West Island – Tianya Haijiao
- Day 3: Luhuitou Park – Return
If you have more time, just extend your trip to other coastal regions in Sanya, such as Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay.
Sanya BayĀ vs. Yalong Bay vs. Dadonghai: Which is Best for You?
Ā |
Sanya Bay |
Yalong Bay |
Dadonghai |
Vibe |
Public seaside park, strong life atmosphere, best sunset, quiet and leisure |
Luxury resort, high privacy, quiet and strong vacation atmosphere |
Bustling and prosperous, abundant nightlife, full of vigor |
Beach Quality |
Wide beach, relatively soft and fine sand, average water visibility |
Best sand and water quality, white and fine sand, clear and blue water |
relatively coarseĀ sand, clear water, suitable for swimming |
Water Sports |
Motorboats, banana boats, wakeboarding and sailing |
Diving, motorboats and sailboats |
More choices, like diving, jet skiing, parasailing |
Best for |
Budget travelers |
Tourists seeking for high-quality experience, families, couples |
Young tourists |
Sanya Bay: The Lively Local Hub
Among the three bays, Sanya BayĀ is more like a public center. The beaches are free for all tourists, you can enjoy the time as you like and feel the local life deeply. Common water sports can also be experienced. Besides, there are abundant options of seafood restaurants and Hainan cuisine restaurants. The night markets are also good choices to taste the local snacks and various fruits, such as the First Night Market.
Yalong Bay: The Luxury Resort Zone
Yalong Bay is the absolute synonymous with luxurious vacation experiences in Sanya and even across China. It is a national tourism resort with quantities of luxury hotels. The coastal line is 7.5 km long. Here, the beach is white and soft and the water is crystal clear. In Yalong Bay Underwater World, tourists can try diving or snorkeling to watch the colorful coral reefs and tropical fish schools closely. Or take a glass-bottom boat to observe above water. Of course, various water sports are available. Another highlight in Yalong Bay is the Tropical Paradise Forest Park, where you can walk on the suspension bridge or glass plank road to explore the rainforest and overlook the entire Yalong Bay.
Recommended tour
Dadonghai: The Compact Tourist Center
The charm of Dadonghai is its perfect combination of tropical seaside scenery with convenient life. It is an all-round resort that is full of vigor and can be reached easily. Warm water, white sand and flat beach are the main features. With a water temperature of 18 – 22ā in winter, it has been a famous winter swimming destination. Besides, the options of water sports here also rank top in Sanya.
It is very close to the city center and numerous bus lines are opened, offering great convenience for tourists. Compared with other bays, Dadonghai is also equipped with mature supporting facilities, such as abundant hotel types and restaurants. Your living needs can be met easily. With unparalleled convenience, varieties of activities and high cost-performance, it becomes a reassuring choice for most first-timers.
Where to Stay in Sanya Bay: Hotels & Resorts
Which Part of Sanya BayĀ is Best to Stay?
A total of 3 areas is recommended for tourists with different demands. The first choice is Haiyue Square. This area balances the experience of local life and convenience. The second choice is near Phoenix Island. More high-end hotels gather here and most offer unobstructed sea view rooms. It is more suitable for tourists who have higher requirements for accommodation. The last choice is Tianya Town.Ā Though far from the downtown area, the environment is artistic and serene. A cluster of homestays in blue and white tones is built by the sea, so you can enjoy an immersive experience.
Luxury Sanya BayĀ Resorts & Sea View Hotels
Sanya BayĀ can be divided into downtown area and haipo area. The luxury resorts in downtown area have no difference in the aspect of convenience, but these resorts are usually closer to the sea and offer sea-view rooms. Haipo area is the core gathering place of luxury resorts and hotels. It is actually a suburban area, so the environment is quieter and offers a pure vacation atmosphere.
- Resorts or hotels in downtown area: Phoenix Island Resort Hotel, Tianze Haiyun Resort Hotel, Shengyi Seaview Grand Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Summer Coast Resort, Longxing Leiman Seaview Resort
- Resorts or hotels in haipo area: Howard Johnson Resort Hotel, Pullman Haiju Resort Hotel, Wanjia Resort Hotel, Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel, Sheraton Resort Hotel, David Legend Love Resort Hotel
Best Value & Budget Hotels near Sanya Bay
Budget Hotels can be found easily in downtown area near Sanya Bay. To ensure the living quality, it is recommended to choose the chain hotels, such as Home Inn and All Seasons Hotel. For families, search for the guesthouses, which usually have larger spaces and provide family suites. If you want to live near the sea, choose those located next to Coconut Dream Corridor. When booking the hotels, it is necessary to check the hotel facilities and environment through the comments of former guests.
Related Reading: How to Plan a Trip to Sanya
Practical Travel Tips for Sanya Bay
Best Time to Visit & Weather
From October to April every year is the golden travel time. During this time, the weather is basically cool and dry, the sunshine is efficient but not scorching, so you can experience all beach activities and water sports, and enjoy sightseeing. >> Read more on Sanya Weather and Best Time to Visit.
What to Pack
High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat and sun-proof clothing are a must and can protect you from sunburn. Besides, bring a thin coat, because the wind near the sea may be strong and the temperature at night will be lower. Other necessary items are swimsuits, mosquito repellent, common drugs and some cash.
Beach Tips
- 17:00 – 19:00 is the best time to appreciate the sunset at Coconut Dream Corridor.
- When experiencing the water sports, choose a qualified operator, listen to the guide of the coach and wear the safety equipment well.
- Do not throw trash on the beaches.
Visit Sanya with China Xian Tour
Besides Sanya Bay, Sanya also consists of three other bays: Dadonghai, Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay. Each bay boasts must-visit attractions, but they are quite far from each other. So, to ensure a seamless tour, how about joining our tour group? Besides the driver, China Xian TourĀ can also customize a trip to include all the scenic spots you prefer in the four bays. We will also assign a guide and book the tickets for you in advance to ensure a smooth tour. Do not hesitate to contact us.
