三亚海滨

Why this place

Sanya is at the southern tip of Hainan, and it is the only place in China with a genuine tropical beach climate — warm water all year, coconut palms, coral and diving. Its bays have distinct characters: Yalong Bay for resort calm, Dadonghai for convenience, and Haitang Bay for the newest hotels.

What to see

• Yalong Bay and Dadonghai — the two classic beaches, with very different atmospheres
• Wuzhizhou Island, for diving and snorkelling on coral
• The Nanshan temple complex, with the 108-metre Guanyin standing in the sea
• The Yanoda rainforest and the Li villages in the interior
• Luhuitou Park, for the view over the whole bay at sunset

What to eat

• Seafood, bought at the market and cooked at the stalls behind it
• Coconut chicken hotpot and Wenchang chicken rice
• Tropical fruit: mango, dragon fruit, passionfruit and the local 'lianwu'

How to plan

Four or five days: one bay for swimming, one day for Wuzhizhou, one for Nanshan, one for the rainforest.

Best time

November–April; avoid the Spring Festival week and typhoon season

Practical tips

• Prices triple during Chinese New Year — book far ahead or choose different dates