Beach life: Exclusive sun and sea enjoyed on the hotel’s private beach.[Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

Sightseeing

Beaches

The last thing you need a map or a guide for in Sanya is the beach. The locals will tell you, "any place that has not been tarred is covered with sand, and places that have been tarred used to be sandy." Apart from the three public beaches (Yalong Bay, Sanya Bay and Dadonghai) that are always crowded with tourists, most of whom come to take photographs instead of swimming, almost every five-star hotel in the city boasts its own private beach. Activities such as snorkeling and surfing is possible, but scuba diving is not so popular.

Yanoda Rainforest Park

Apart from water sports and dining out, this is perhaps the only place we would recommend you venture out of your air-conditioned and comfortable room to see. The park resembles a real rainforest but with plenty of daylight. Because the park has been so successful, a number of similar ones have been built, making the original less crowded.

Shopping

Sanya duty-free shop

The best souvenirs to take home from Sanya are not coconut candies or dried mangos, which cost far less on taobao.com than in those cramped street side stores. The 120,000-square-meter duty-free complex, the world’s largest of its kind, is the best place to have a shopping spree and stuff your suitcase. Remember to bring your passport or ID card, otherwise you cannot purchase anything. Also, make sure to be there six hours before your flight leaves Sanya, because all the items purchased will be delivered to the airport for you to take home.