China’s Tropical Treasure

Sanya: An Alternative to Thailand-Bali-Fiji Circuit

by Adam Worcester

A fisherman's bamboo raft bobs in the waves at Sanya Bay at sunset..
Photo by Becco Zou.

Since China is not often associated with palm trees, warm blue seas, and wide sandy beaches, it’s a surprise to discover that the Middle Kingdom harbors a tropical jewel.

The city of Sanya, at the southern tip of China’s southernmost province, is known as the “Asian Hawaii.” Along with the rest of Hainan Island, Sanya provides a marvelous respite from the Thailand-Bali-Fiji tourist circuit.

And when more than half of China’s 661 mainland cities do not meet international air quality standards, it’s refreshing to know that Sanya’s air quality ranks second in the world, according to a 1995 assessment by the World Health Organization. The average annual temperature of 77 degrees is an enticing winter lure.

Beneath the city’s clear skies lie two main tourist beaches, a pair of rivers winding through town, miles of undeveloped coastline, and verdant hills carpeted with rainforest.

You won’t see yachts and sailboats here. Sanya is a blue-collar town; the sea is speckled with wooden fishing boats. In fact, unlike other tropical hot spots, Sanya is inexperienced at accommodating Western visitors. There are no McDonald’s. Seafood is fresh and plentiful. But the best thing is the region’s cultural diversity. The Li, Miao, and Hui minorities are the largest of 37 different recognized ethnic groups on Hainan Island. You don’t have to visit gimmicky tourist parks to experience genuine non-Han culture.

There are two hot springs within a half-hour’s drive, a tiger and crocodile restoration center, nearly deserted rainforest parks, scuba diving on reefs of red coral, and day boat trips to small nearby islands. One of our favorites is Monkey Island, where a colony of 1,800 macaques roam freely.

Though Sanya is expensive by Chinese standards, it’s still cheap to Westerners. Those wishing to avoid the impersonal hotels can find lots of $6- to $20-a-night basic accommodations (prices quadruple during Spring Festival, from January-February).

Check out these web sites to help you plan your trip:

www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/hainan/sanya/;
www.hainandiscovery.com;
www.sunnysanya.com/hainan-island.asp.

Adam Worcester is a freelance writer and English teacher living in Xi’an, China. He and his wife have vacationed in Sanya each of the past four winters.