China’s Hainan Island now provides 30 days of visa-free travel to citizens of 59 countries including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Plus, there are now direct flights from London.
Clearly, there’s never been a better time to discover the delights of the exotic Chinese paradise once known as ‘Tianya Haijiao’, or the “end of the sky and the sea”.
Morning – Choose your Beach
Let the sand tickle your toes with a stroll along the beach at Sanya Bay, a glorious arc of palm-lined shore far from the commercial hubbub. Here, you’re sure to find your own quiet slice of paradise.
If not here, then head to nearby Dadonghai Bay. This is a crescent of perfect sand strewn with sun-loungers and bordered by a lively boardwalk of seafood restaurants, shops and bars. Designated swimming areas are patrolled by lifeguards, and you can rent snorkels, jet skis, or even take the whole family on a banana boat thrill ride.
Lunchtime – Catch of the Day
Feeling hungry? Tucked between Sanya Bay and Dadonghai Bay is the No. 1 Farmers Market, a riot of noise, colour and deliciousness. This place is a must for adventurous foodies. Browse bubbling tanks of live lobster, king crab, fresh oysters and spiny sea urchin, and haggle for the catch of the day. Then you can decamp to one of the many surrounding restaurants where local chefs will take your shopping bags and rustle up the seafood feast of a lifetime. Typical preparations include stir-frying with chilli, garlic and ginger (good for clams and other shellfish), and gently steaming with minced ginger, spring onions and soy sauce (perfect for whole fish).
Afternoon – Feeling Fruity
It’s not just sumptuous seafood on the menu at Sanya’s No.1 Farmers Market. Hainan is China’s leading producer of tropical fruits, from mangoes, pineapples and bananas to more exotic offerings such as sour-sweet carambola, light-tasting rambutan, soft mangosteen prized for its medicinal properties, and enormous, syrupy jackfruit. All the market stalls will prepare fruit for you so that it’s ready to eat, or package it to transport to your hotel or onward destination. And don’t forget Hainan’s most popular drink, the coconut. Locals say coconuts taste the sweetest around noon, so check your watches, and don’t forget to also scoop out the sweet flesh to eat.
Evening – Sundowners, Sports Bars and KTV
When the sun dips toward the ocean, Sanya takes on a new avatar. Sunset Bar, on the terrace of Mandarin Oriental, is the perfect perch to wind down, especially with its two-for-one happy hour between 5pm and 7pm. For something livelier, the Dolphin Sports Bar and Grill is a Sanya institution, adored for its juicy hamburgers, sociable pub vibe and rocking house band. The Banyan House Beer Supermarket, on the riverside between Dadonghai and Sanya, has a wide range of global beers and juicy grilled meat. Times Coast Bar Street is the place to go for late-night fun if you want to dance the night away at glitzy clubs such as M2, or sing your favourite tunes in your own KTV (karaoke) room.
Morning – Make a Splash at Aquaventure
Part of Atlantis Sanya, an 11 billion yuan (US$1.65 billion) leisure resort, hotel and aquarium complex, the Aquaventure Waterpark is the work of industry leaders ProSlide, the company behind thrill rides at Disney, Universal and Six Flags. Innovative attractions such as ‘RocketBLAST’ employ water jet propulsion to power riders uphill, effectively turning a waterslide into a rollercoaster. For the fearless, ‘Leap of Faith’ is a shockingly steep, free-fall flume that plunges riders through an underwater shark tank at high speed. For youngsters, there’s the fun-filled ‘WaterKINGDOM’ zone, and if you want to take it slow, sit back on a rubber ring and float lazily through ‘Aquaduct’, admiring the marine life in the underwater aquarium tunnel. Just don’t forget the must-have accessory: a waterproof phone case to take plenty of selfies.
Lunchtime – Deep Sea Dining
The flagship restaurant of Atlantis Sanya, Ossiano Underwater Restaurant & Bar has taken dining with a view to thrilling new extremes. Tables face a window framing the Ambassador Lagoon, one of the world’s largest purpose-built marine habitats which is home to tens of thousands of marine animals. Stingrays, tropical fish and even sharks glide past as diners feast on creative global cuisine, imported oysters, a central ‘raw bar’ at the heart of the restaurant and one of the island’s best wine lists. Other dining options at Atlantis include celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen & Bar serving British and European classics – everything from traditional fish and chips to lobster spaghetti – and Netsu, a chic spot for Japanese sushi, teppanyaki and robatayaki barbecue.
Afternoon – More Beach Life
Many say Yalong Bay is the most beautiful of Sanya’s four major bays. Visibility in the clear waters here is unsurpassed, which is why it’s considered the best spot to strap on a snorkel and mask, scuba tank, or ride a semi-submersible submarine through 9km of protected coral reef habitat. If you prefer to escape the crowds, tiny Houhai Bay is the least developed in Sanya. Home to the island’s burgeoning surf scene, it’s a great place to kick back and relax, or grab a board and hit the reef breaks. A little way east at Haitang Bay, you can take a cruise out to butterfly-shaped Wuzhizhou Island, 2.5km offshore. It’s small, walkable and carpeted with lush tropical vegetation – the perfect spot for sunset.
Evening – The Haitang Bay High Life
Haitang Bay, a 42km sweep of forested beach, was one of the last of Sanya’s major bays to be developed, and even today there are long stretches of wild, rambling sand between resorts. The grand hotels here offer some of the finest dining and entertainment in Sanya. You can also take your pick of one of the many eateries at CDF Mall, which also happens to be the world’s largest duty-free shopping centre. Designed by WSP Architects, the soaring atrium space evokes the Haitang flower, the symbol of Sanya. Luxe global fashion labels open late for shopaholics, and all purchases can be left at CDF and collected at Sanya Phoenix International Airport on departure day. Which means more time for shopping, dining and fun.
Best for… families:
Shangri-La’s Sanya Resort & Spa, Hainan
Kids will love the lush gardens, lagoon pool complex and supervised water park – they’ll also be on the lookout for Loohoo, the hotel’s furry mascot – a rare type of gibbon native to Hainan Island. Grown-ups, meanwhile, can relax at CHI spa, order cocktails by the pool or join a group yoga class on the sundeck.
Best for… style-seekers:
The Sanya Edition
The brainchild of US hotel impresario Ian Shrager, this is the fourth EDITION hotel worldwide after London, Miami and New York. The strikingly urbane, futuristic resort wraps around a ‘private ocean’ of 10 million gallons of seawater, recycled every 32 hours. At Xian Hai By The Sea, guests can dine atop floating platforms under the stars.
Best for… fun:
Atlantis Sanya
Guests staying at Atlantis’s 1314 rooms and suites get free, unlimited entry to the attached Aquaventure Waterpark, Lost Chambers Aquarium, and other state-of-the-art family entertainment facilities. For an unforgettable experience, the hotel has five ‘Underwater Suites’ where you can drift off to sleep in your own Finding Nemo fantasy.