Sanya

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SANYA, CHINA - August 15: Deck chairs and parasols await holidaymakers in the Mandarin Oriental hotel resort on the Dadonghai bay, coast of Sanya on August 15, 2010 in Hainan province, China. Sanya is the southernmost city of Hainan island, located in the Southern Chinese Sea. Sometimes referred to as the Hawaii of China because of its tropical climate, palm trees and white-sand beaches, Sanya is a booming tourism destination. (Photo by Lucas Schifres/Getty Images)

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Overview

While the full 40km or so of coastline dedicated to tourism is usually referred to as Sanya, the region is actually made up of three distinct zones. Sanya Bay is home to the bustling city center and a long stretch of beach and hotels aimed at locals and mainland holidaymakers. Busy, cheerful Dadonghai Bay, about 3km southeast, beyond the Luhuitou Peninsula (鹿回头岭, Lùhuítóu Lǐng), is where most foreign travelers stay. A further 15km east, at exclusive Yalong Bay, the beach is first-rate, as is the line of plush international resorts.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Houhai Beach

Sanya

A crescent-shaped sandy beach about 30km northeast of Dadonghai, Houhai Bay, which is in Tenghai village (滕海村, Ténghǎi Cūn), is the place for those…

Yalong Bay

Sanya

Yalong Bay is the most picture-perfect of Sanya’s beaches, though jet skis and banana boats do buzz through (there are roped-off swimming areas in the…

Sanya Bay

Sanya

The long sandy strip off the city centre at Sanya Bay is where you’ll find crowds of mostly mainland Chinese tourists kicking back. In little covered…

Dadonghai Bay

Sanya

Dadonghai Bay sports a wider beach than Sanya and has a shaded boardwalk running along most of its length. The setting, in a deep blue bay with rocky…

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