Nanshan Temple Sanya — The 108m Sea Guanyin, Taller Than Rio's Christ 2026

Q: How tall is the Nanshan Guanyin, and is it really taller than Rio's Christ the Redeemer?

The Guanyin of the South Sea stands 108 metres tall and is the tallest outdoor Guanyin statue in the world, completed in 2005. It has three faces looking out to sea and inland, and stands on a platform in the sea connected to the shore by a causeway. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro is only 30 metres tall (excluding its pedestal), so the Nanshan Guanyin is several times taller.

Q: What are the opening hours and how long should I spend there?

Open daily 8.00am–5.30pm (hours may be adjusted during major Chinese holidays). The park is very large and it is a long way from the gate to the Guanyin statue, so allow at least half a day (3–4 hours) to see the temple, the gold-and-jade hall and walk out to the seaside statue. Use the internal shuttle — walking the whole zone on foot is tiring and hot.

Q: How do I get to Nanshan Temple from central Sanya?

Nanshan Temple is about 40 km west of central Sanya, roughly 1 hour away. The easiest option is a taxi or DiDi — around ¥100 from Sanya Bay or Dadonghai (~40 minutes) and around ¥150 from Yalong Bay (~1 hour). On a budget, buses 16, 25 or 57 run to the Nanshan stop for about ¥8 but take ~1.5 hours. A half-day tour with hotel pick-up via Klook is the most convenient option.

Q: What is the best time of day to visit?

Early morning (it opens at 8am) or late afternoon are best — softer light for photographing the seaside Guanyin, cooler temperatures than midday, and smaller crowds. Mornings also mean shorter queues to climb to the statue base. If you visit during a major Chinese holiday (Lunar New Year, or National Day Golden Week 1–7 Oct), expect heavy crowds and book tickets in advance.

What it is

Why Nanshan is the one Sanya sight you shouldn't skip

There is a moment on the coast road west of Sanya when an enormous white figure suddenly rises out of the blue sea ahead of you. That is the Guanyin of the South Sea (南山海上观音) — 108 metres tall, standing on a platform out in the water linked to the shore by a causeway. For scale: Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer is 30 metres. This is the tallest outdoor Guanyin statue in the world, and the comparison genuinely lands when you are standing beneath it.

The statue is only one part of the Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Tourism Zone (南山文化旅游区) — a sprawling seaside park that brings together the Tang-dynasty-style Nanshan Temple, the gold-and-jade Avalokitesvara hall, the Gate of Nonduality, a longevity valley and tropical seaside gardens. It is one of the most significant Buddhist centres in southern China, and a place mainland visitors come specifically to pray and make offerings.

What sets Nanshan apart from temples elsewhere in China is simple: it sits right on the sea. You walk between shrines in the sea breeze, under warm sun and coconut palms, rather than in a crowded city. The atmosphere is calm and open in a way ordinary temples rarely are. Set aside half a day and you will understand why this is the image most people carry away from Sanya.

Nanshan, Sanya — white sculpture of a Buddha hand holding a lotus, with the Guanyin statue and golden temple pavilions behind — The entrance plaza at Nanshan — the lotus-holding hand sculpture, with the Guanyin statue and golden pavilions behind

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Entry

~¥129 (~฿645)

Includes Nanshan Temple · statue base +¥25

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Opening hours

8.00am–5.30pm

Daily (may shift on major holidays)

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The Guanyin

108 metres tall

Three faces · world's tallest

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Distance

~40 km from town

~1 hour, west of Sanya

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Time needed

Half a day (3–4 hr)

Large park — use the internal shuttle

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Best time

Morning / late afternoon

Softer light, smaller crowds, cooler

What to see inside

5 sights that make Nanshan more than just a temple

The park is large — walk it slowly, or take the shuttle between the main sites.

1

Guanyin of the South Sea (南山海上观音)

108 metres · three faces · completed 2005

The headline act. The white Guanyin rises 108 metres from a platform out in the sea, with three faces looking in different directions — one holding prayer beads, one a lotus, one a sutra. A causeway leads out to the statue base, and a separate ticket (~¥25) lets you into the hall beneath it, where a smaller golden Guanyin is enshrined. It is both spectacular and genuinely revered.
2

Nanshan Temple (南山寺)

Tang-dynasty style · opened 1998

The park's main temple, built in Tang-dynasty style on a rise facing the sea, with a large main hall, broad courtyards and stone steps that look down over the blue water. Chinese visitors come here to light incense and pray for long life and good fortune — fitting, since "Nanshan" means "Southern Mountain," a classical symbol of longevity.
3

Gold-and-Jade Avalokitesvara Hall (金玉观音阁)

Gold and jewel-set Guanyin · +~¥20 ticket

Inside is a Guanyin figure made from gold, jade, diamonds and thousands of precious stones, standing roughly 3.8 metres tall — once recorded by Guinness as the most valuable gold-and-jade statue in the world. It requires a separate ticket, but if you appreciate fine craftsmanship it is worth the extra.
4

Gate of Nonduality (不二法门)

Symbol of "non-duality" · popular photo spot

A large stone gate representing the Buddhist principle of "non-duality," set in the middle of the park as a striking backdrop for photos. Around it are lotus ponds, rock gardens and shaded paths that make for an easy stroll between the bigger sights.
5

Seaside gardens & Longevity Valley

Coastal walkways · auspicious trees

Beyond the temple and the statue, the whole zone is laced with seaside walkways, tropical flower gardens, coconut palms and the "Longevity Valley," where the Chinese character for "shou" (long life) is carved in hundreds of different styles. It is a favourite spot to wander, take in the view and breathe the sea air. There is also a well-regarded vegetarian restaurant inside the park.

Before you go

Tickets, timing and how to make the most of it

🎫 Tickets and the extras

The Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Tourism Zone ticket (which includes Nanshan Temple) is ~¥129 per person (~฿645) — roughly ¥124 in peak season (1 Nov – 30 Apr) and ¥103 in low season (1 May – 31 Oct). From there, two extras are charged if you want the special sites: the base of the 108-metre Guanyin +¥25 and the gold-and-jade Avalokitesvara hall +¥20.

The park is far too big to cross comfortably on foot, so it is worth buying the internal shuttle (electric carts / minibuses) at ~¥15–25, which loops between the gate, the temple, the statue and the hall — especially helpful with children or older travellers. All prices can shift with the season, so check the latest on Trip.com or Klook before you go.

Tip: Booking ahead through Klook is usually cheaper than the gate and lets you skip the ticket queue. Check Nanshan tickets on Klook →

The 108-metre Guanyin of the South Sea standing on a sea platform at Nanshan, Sanya, seen from the beach — The 108-metre Guanyin on its sea platform — clearly visible from the beach within the park

⏳ How long it takes, and how to see it all

Allow at least half a day (3–4 hours) if you want to cover the temple, the gold-and-jade hall and walk all the way out to the seaside Guanyin. A good route: enter the gate → take the shuttle to Nanshan Temple first → stop at the gold-and-jade hall → finish at the 108-metre Guanyin on the sea (save the highlight for last).

There are vegetarian restaurants and cafés inside, though prices run high as you would expect at a major attraction — carry water and a snack. Wear comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunscreen, since most of the route is open-air and right on the coast where the sun is strong.

📷 When to come

Early morning (it opens at 8am) or late afternoon is best — the light is softer and kinder for photographing the seaside Guanyin, the heat is less brutal than midday, and crowds are thinner. Mornings also mean a shorter queue to climb to the statue base.

One thing to plan around: during major Chinese holidays — Lunar New Year (late Jan–Feb) or National Day Golden Week (1–7 Oct) — it gets extremely busy, because so many domestic visitors come to pray. Building in extra time for queues and buying tickets in advance both help a lot.

Getting there

How to reach Nanshan from central Sanya

Nanshan is about 40 km west of central Sanya, roughly an hour away. There is no metro — the easiest option is a taxi or DiDi.

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Taxi / DiDi

~¥100–150

~¥100 from Sanya Bay/Dadonghai (40 min) · ~¥150 from Yalong Bay (1 hr) — easiest, and you can hail a DiDi back

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Public bus

Routes 16 / 25 / 57

To the Nanshan stop, fare ~¥8, but ~1.5 hours — cheap but slow

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Half-day tour

Book on Klook

Hotel pick-up plus entry ticket — the most hassle-free if you'd rather not arrange transport

Planning your day: Nanshan is west of Sanya, in the same direction as Tianya Haijiao ("Edge of the World"), only ~16 km away — easy to pair in a single day. Start at Nanshan in the morning, then stop at Tianya Haijiao in the afternoon on your way back to town.

Where to stay

Hotels worth booking in Sanya

Visit Nanshan in the morning, then come back to a beachfront base in town or one of the luxury bays.

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Hotels, attractions, food and everything practical before you go

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Frequently asked

FAQ · Nanshan Temple practical

How much does Nanshan Temple cost to enter?

The Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Tourism Zone ticket (which includes Nanshan Temple) is around ¥129 per person (~฿645). Peak season (1 Nov – 30 Apr) is ~¥124 and low season (1 May – 31 Oct) ~¥103. Access to the base of the 108-metre Guanyin costs an extra ~¥25, and the gold-and-jade hall an extra ~¥20. The internal shuttle is a separate ~¥15–25. Prices can change, so check the latest on Trip.com or Klook before you go.

How tall is the Nanshan Guanyin, and is it really taller than Rio's Christ the Redeemer?

The Guanyin of the South Sea stands 108 metres tall — the tallest outdoor Guanyin statue in the world, completed in 2005. It has three faces looking out to sea and inland, and stands on a platform in the sea connected to the shore by a causeway. Christ the Redeemer in Rio is only 30 metres (excluding its pedestal), so the Nanshan Guanyin is several times taller.

What are the opening hours and how long should I spend there?

Open daily 8.00am–5.30pm (hours may be adjusted during major Chinese holidays). The park is very large and it is a long way from the gate to the statue, so allow at least half a day (3–4 hours) to see the temple, the gold-and-jade hall and walk out to the seaside Guanyin. Use the internal shuttle — walking the whole zone on foot is tiring and hot.

How do I get to Nanshan Temple from central Sanya?

Nanshan is about 40 km west of central Sanya, roughly 1 hour away. The easiest option is a taxi or DiDi — around ¥100 from Sanya Bay or Dadonghai (~40 min) and around ¥150 from Yalong Bay (~1 hr). On a budget, buses 16/25/57 run to the Nanshan stop for ~¥8 but take ~1.5 hours, or book a half-day tour with pick-up via Klook.

What is the best time of day to visit?

Early morning (it opens at 8am) or late afternoon are best — softer light for photographing the seaside Guanyin, cooler temperatures than midday, and smaller crowds. Mornings also mean shorter queues to climb to the statue base. If you visit during a major Chinese holiday (Lunar New Year, or National Day Golden Week 1–7 Oct), expect heavy crowds and book tickets in advance.

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