Sanya is an important political, economic, cultural and foreign trade port in the southern part of Hainan, China, and also a famous coastal tourist city filled with tropical landscapes and local customs. Since Sanya is situated in the southernmost part of China, she has been called "theremotest cape of the earth" since ancient time.

The region of Sanya has a long history of human development. There were discoveries of cultural relics of the Old Stone Age. Ancient Persian tombs were found along the coast.

Sanya region was called Ahuya Prefecture in the western Han dynasty, later changed to Linzhen Prefecture in the Sui Dynasty, Zhen Zhou in the Tang dynasty, Ya Zhou in the Song Dynasty, Ya County in 1920 and Sanya City in 1984.

Dadonghai

This crescent-shape beach, about three kilometers from the city, is one of the popular beaches in Sanya. It features island camping, beach sports, motorboat and diving. Diving lessons are offered but are not too reliable. Hotel accommodations can be easily found. The annual average temperature of Sanya is around 25 centigrade and tourists throng to have vacations and holidays here.

Luhuitou Peninsula

Luhuitou Penisula lies 5 kilometers south of the city. It is also one of the beaches in Sanya. A walk along the beach leads to the cliff with a deer-shaped peak extending towards the sea. A beautiful legend once told of a young man who went after a deer on this hill for two days. When he became too exhausted, the deer suddenly stopped and looked back at him. The deer became a beautiful girl. They fell in love and married. Their descendants lived on the peninsula for several generations and become today's Li ethnic groups.

Today, a park has been built at the site and a twelve-meter-high stone statue is erected in a shape of a deer looking back. A climb up to the top offers a panoramic view of the Sanya city.

Monkey Island

Five kilometers south of Lingshui County, on a small isle inhabited by about 1800 monkeys, a monkey preserve has been built. In an increasingly cosmopolitan world, this is a unique site that provides a refuge for monkeys. Visitors are treated to sights of monkeys frolicking and playing with each other, making a trip to this island a wonderful experience.

Tainya Haijiao

Twenty kilometers from the city is a somber-looking beach with clear water, coconut palms and grotesque rocks.
It was rumored that during the Tang and Song dynasties, disgraced officials were exiled to this piece of land. Upon seeing the vastness of the sky and the sea, people sent to this place believed they had reached the edge of the sky and the rim of the sea.

In recent years, this place has become a popular tourist spot where tourists throng in waves each year. Other attractions such as Heavenly Pillar and Rock of the Sky are also well-known.

Heavenly Pillar (Nan Tian Yi Zhu)

A pillar-shaped rock rising seven meters high. A Qing official inscribed four huge characters saying "Nan Tian Yi Zhu" meaning "Pillar of the Southern Heavens". It was said in a myth that the pillar came from the Heavens to support the sky. To this day, locals look upon the rock with great reverence.

Asian Dragon Bay (Yalong Wan)

This is the best beach in Sanya and is found east of the city. It stretches for seven kilometers. The view of the beach is excellent and makes for wonderful promenading. It has become a hot tourist place both in summer and in winter.

Standard hotel service can be easily found in the resort area. The Center Square in the resort provides parking, restaurants, shops, exhibitions and a recreation area. A museum with a large collection of seashells is also worth visiting. Fancy shells souvenirs make the best gifts for family and friends.

Another place that should not be missed is Butterfly Valley where a variety of butterfly species are preserved.