Hainan-Sanya overview

The beaches of Hainan-Sanya are the best in China. Incomparable with other Southeast Asian resort destinations in terms of quality, Sanya more than makes up for it in popularity, drawing throngs of holidaymakers who tend to stay enclosed inside their overpriced hotels. December to February is chaotically busy, but outside of the peak season there is plenty on offer, especially for water sports enthusiasts. A huge number of ethnic groups also dot the city making Sanya a cosmopolitan, if oversold, location. Visiting here after being on the Chinese mainland for any length of time will give you a great appreciation for fresh air and fresh food, and the tourist trail has at least made getting there simple by plane, boat or train – the latter two offering superb up-close views of Hainan Island.