China's tropical island of Hainan - The South

China's tropical island of Hainan - travel planning:

With an area of 33,920 square kilometers, Hainan is the smallest province and at the same time the southernmost point of China. The island is known for its tropical climate, as well as the sandy beaches in the south and the wooded, mountainous interior of the island. The north and west are less important for tourism.

Arriving by plane is possible from almost every major Chinese city. You can either fly to Haikou in the north or to Sanya in the south. The connections to Haikou are usually much cheaper, since Sanya is the most attractive city for tourists.

On the island you have the opportunity to travel around the island by express train, which is quite cheap. There are train stations in the main towns along the coast. Alternatively, you can rent a car at one of the airports, but therefore you need a Chinese driver's license.

Due to the tropical climate, it is advisable to avoid the summer months as well as the rainy and typhoon seasons. The most pleasant travel time is between the end of September and the beginning of May. The Chinese national holidays should be avoided due to the travel rush and the correspondingly high prices.

The southern city of Sanya with its famous bays and beaches:

The city of Sanya at the southern tip of Hainan is probably the most famous metropolis on the island. With about 800.000 inhabitants, Sanya is the second largest city and the most popular holiday destination on Hainan.

For the duration of our stay in the southern part of the island we booked the hotel Huayu Resort & Spa Yalong Bay at Yalong Bay. It is about a five minutes walk from the beach. Sufficient international restaurants are in the immediate vicinity.

Alternatively, there are numerous other accommodations along the well-known bays. Most hotels can booked via Booking.com or via Trip.com as well.

The hotel offers different room categories, which differ significantly from each other in terms of appearance and price. Real bargains are sometimes offered outside of the main season.

The included breakfast buffet is rich, fresh and international. 

Furthermore, the hotel offers a large pool area with pool bar, spa and everything you need to relax. Day trips and various water sports activities can be organized directly at the hotel reception.

The Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park:

From the hotel on Yalong Bay, you can easily reach the Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park.

in just a few minutes by taxi. You can easily spend half a day in the extensive, hilly terrain. From the top you have a magnificent view over the Yalong Bay and the surrounding mountains.

Sunset in Yalong Bay. The bay's long beach is ideal for long evening walks. Various water sports are also offered here to try out. The relatively shallow water invites you to cool down, bathe and swim all year round.

Dadong Bay, one of the most popular bays on the island. Because of the calm, clear water, the bay is particularly popular with swimmers and snorkelers.

Boat trip through the Dazhou Bay:

A welcome change from days on land is a boat trip. Behind the Phoenix Island you find several small marinas with numerous boat rental agencies. Here you can book trips of different durations.

There is a lot of shipping traffic in the bay of Sanya. In addition to the small excursion boats, some really large ships are also on the move here.

Also on the boat, different activities can be done. In addition to relaxing or eating small snacks and fruit on board, there is also time to cool off in the sea.

On the way back we could watch a wonderful sunset before we went back to the port behind Phoenix Island.

Wuzhizhou Island:

The island Wuzhizhou is located about 30 kilometers northeast of Sanya, in Haitang Bay. You can reach the island by boat from the port at the parking lot of Wuzhizhou Tourism Zone, in the south of Haitang Bay.

A trip should take about half a day.

The island is also a popular destination for photo shoots.

Lingshui Fishing Town and Nanwan Peninsula:

Another highlight in southern Hainan is the city of Lingshui, which easily can be visited with the peninsula Nanwan in combination. Lingshui can be reached from Sanya by either train or car.

The fish farms are particularly worth seeing and can also be visited by prior arrangement with the fishermen.

The Nanwan Peninsula is Hainan's so-called Monkey Island. Here you will be greeted by a horde of monkeys. You should definitely have your valuables stowed away safely in advance so as not to become a victim of theft. 

Further towards the beach you have to cross dense coconut forests. Hammocks stretched between the palm trees invite you to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet to the fullest.

During the midday nap, one should still have an occasional look at the weather. An approaching, tropical thunderstorm can bring you back to reality, which is otherwise relatively rough.

For dinner you can choose what you would like to taste directly at the fish market in Lingshui. In one of the surrounding restaurants, a delicious dish is prepared from the purchases.

Xidao Island:

Another small island worth seeing in the west of Sanya Bay is Xidao. Half a day is necessary to visit Xidao.

Ships to Xidao Island depart directly from Xidao Island Pier at the western end of Sanya Bay and operate approximately every 45 minutes.

The island itself can be explored either on foot or in a small, electric rental rickshaw. In addition to old fishermen's houses you will find beautiful beaches, a small fishing port and a few shops. 

The city of Wanning and surroundings:

North of Lingshui is the city of Wanning. Because of the area around Wanning, Hainan is often referred to as the Hawaii of the East, since international surfing spots can be found here in addition to beautiful bays and beaches.

It may be worth planning an overnight stay here. We booked the Hilton Doubletree Hotel Wanning for our stay.

The breakfast is rich and international.

A coffee plantation in Wanning:

Cocoa and coffee are also grown on the island of Hainan, mainly in the southern, tropical part. Some of the plantations and roasteries can also be visited and the coffee can be tasted on site. 

With pleasant temperatures, a wonderful place to enjoy a cup of fresh coffee outdoors. In terms of consistency and taste, Hainan coffee is very similar to Vietnamese coffee.

Mainly Arabica beans are grown in Hainan. The dark, strong coffee has a subtle chocolaty aroma.

If you like the coffee, you can buy the beans on site, packaged to take home.

Riyue Bay, Wanning's surf spot:

The Riyue Bay (Sun and Moon Bay) is an internationally known surfing spot because of the stronger surf.

Inspired by Hawaii, there are numerous cafés, bars and small restaurants along the promenade. Also typical are the numerous surf shops that have settled near the bay.

If the waves are too flat for surfing, Riyue Bay also invites you to swim. Here, too, you can try various other water sports such as jet skiing or stand-up paddling.

Boundary Island:

Also from Wanning, in the south of Riyue Bay, you can easily transfer to the Boundary Island by boat. For this island you should plan about half a day.

In addition to seal and dolphin shows, there is a small temple on the mountain top. A visit should not be missed, because the view from the top is just wonderful.

The path along the coast of Boundary Island also offers some great views towards Hainan.

Conclusion:

Especially because of the many bays, beaches and clear water, the south of Hainan, especially the city of Sanya, is the most attractive part for most tourists. 

Nevertheless, or perhaps because of this, you shouldn't just limit yourself to Sanya, because Hainan has a lot more to discover.

Especially if you are looking for some peace and quiet and want to relax, you should get out of the city. 

Hainan always has something to explore and is a great destination, especially in the fall and winter months, even if it's just for a slightly longer weekend from mainland China.