City Guide -- Sanya

Sanya, situated on the southernmost tip of Hainan Province in south China, lying between 1809′and 1837′latitude, is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination.

Sanya was called Yazhou (literally means cliff state) in ancient time. Its history can date back to Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC, more than 2,200 years ago). Since then, it is always within the territory of the following dynasties of China. Being the tropical Ultima Thule of China, it is so remote from the capital of China. Therefore it is always called Tianyahaijiao, which means the end of the sky and ocean in Chinese. Some prime ministers in various dynasties were here in exile and an enlightened monk named Jiangzhen accidentally sailed here and used this place as one of his harbors for his long Buddhism-missionary journey to Japan.

Since Sanya covers an area of 1919.58 square kilometers with 209.1 kilometers long coastline, it is a noted tourist resort with sea, mountains and rivers. The favorable climate is warm in the three other seasons except hot summer so attracting large numbers of followers from both home and abroad every year.

The whole of Sanya is related to the sea. Here you can enjoy a unique tropical oceanic landscape that is totally different from the other provinces of China. Sanya Bay, Yalong Bay and Dadonghai, all golden seaboards of Sanya, are some of the first choices for visitors to spend their holidays. Instead of a busy and exhausting journey, you can relax totally here by strolling along the beaches and breathing the fresh air. If you are an enthusiast of exciting water activities, Wuzhizhou Island is your place to challenge the mysterious and changing sea. Additionally more than 20 ethnic groups including Han, Li, Miao, Hui inhabit Sanya becoming a wonderful place to appreciate the various cultures of China.

Presently, international hotel chains have established in what is becoming a world-known destination, especially following the Miss World beauty pageant in Crowne Plaza, a hotel along Yalong Bay. The resort in Sanya Bay, the Palm Beach Resort and Spa welcomed the first Miss China beauty pageant in modern times. Sanya attracts many international travelers as can be seen by the many Russian and English signs throughout the city.

Tasting the local dishes is a must on your journey. Sanya makes its efforts to entertain its guests with a variety of seafood and delicious tropical fruits all the year round. Both of the star-rated hotels and a number of roadside booths serve the freshest seafood. Shopping is also a must on your journey, you can choose some sea products and beautiful decorations for you or your friends and relatives back home.

Because of geographical and holiday circumstances unique to Sanya, many niche markets have been cultivated in Real Estate, Food and Beverage management, Chinese Language and Cultural exchange, Agro-tourism, and Wilderness Adventures.

There is a butterfly museum and a shell aquarium. A 108-meter Buddhist statue of Guanyin in Sanya, completed in May 2005, is one of the tallest statues in the world.