What to see in Sanya
China's Hawaii — clear seas, a giant temple, duty-free shopping

Picture this: a seven-kilometre crescent of fine white sand, the water shading from turquoise to deep blue. The Chinese call Yalong Bay the "number-one bay of the Orient," and it is where the luxury names — Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Hilton — line up shoulder to shoulder. This is a beach you can actually swim at: soft sand underfoot, shallow clear water, ideal for families and couples who just want to lie in the sun in peace. Even if you aren't staying here, there is public beach access at the end of the bay.

The image that stops you in your tracks: a white, three-sided Guanyin 108 metres tall, standing on an islet in the sea in front of the temple — taller than the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Its three faces hold a pearl, a sutra box and a lotus, for compassion, wisdom and peace. This is the vast Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Zone, with the temple itself, the gold-and-jade Guanyin hall, the Gate of Nonduality and the Valley of Longevity. A causeway leads out to the lotus base, and a lift takes you up to pray close to the statue. It is genuinely huge — allow a full half day.

Honestly, ask Chinese divers where the clearest water in the country is and many will say Wuzhizhou — a small island off Haitang Bay ringed by coral reefs, with water so clear you can see the sandy bottom and fine white sand on shore. There are famous photo spots like the seaside swing and the "eternal love" boardwalk, and the full menu of water sports: scuba, snorkelling, jet-ski, parasailing, sea-walking. You reach it by ferry from the pier. Go early — the water is clearer and the crowds are thinner.

The name "Tianya Haijiao" means "edge of the sky, corner of the sea" — in the old dynasties this was the farthest edge of Chinese land, a place officials were exiled to. Today it is a seaside park built around giant boulders carved with the characters 天涯 (edge of the sky) and 海角 (corner of the sea), a backdrop couples treat as almost sacred: a vow to stay together to the end of the earth. I'll be honest, it is more about walking among the famous rocks and taking photos than about swimming — but the sea-and-stone views genuinely are lovely. Allow two to three hours.

If you're travelling with kids or love a water ride, this is the highlight — Atlantis Sanya, the giant resort at Haitang Bay, opens its attractions to non-guests. The Aquaventure Waterpark has more than 30 slides, a lazy river and a dedicated little-kids' zone, while The Lost Chambers / Ambassador Lagoon aquarium is a walk-through underwater tunnel with sharks, rays and tens of thousands of sea creatures, plus dolphin and sea-lion programmes. The waterpark and aquarium are ticketed separately (combos exist). It gets very busy in peak season, so a weekday or an early start pays off.

Up in the hills behind Yalong Bay sits a tropical forest park with one of the best views of the bay — a glass-floor skywalk and swaying rope bridges (过江龙索桥) you cross above the valley, looking straight down over white sand and open sea. The bird's-eye viewpoint of Yalong Bay is here, and so is the villa from the film "If You Are the One" (非诚勿扰), which Chinese visitors know well. You ride up the hill on the park's shuttle or buggy; allow a half day. Great for anyone who likes nature with a view.

Here's the honest truth: a lot of Chinese visitors fly to Sanya specifically to shop tax-free — because Hainan runs an offshore duty-free scheme that lets you buy brands, cosmetics and watches duty-free before you leave the island. The hub is CDF Haitang Bay, a vast duty-free mall (one of the largest in the world). Haitang Bay itself is a newer resort district — Atlantis, Marriott and St. Regis all opened here. The beach is broad and quieter than Yalong Bay, but it can get seasonal seaweed, so check in front of your hotel before swimming.

If you don't fancy the long ride out to Yalong Bay, Dadonghai is the answer — a short crescent right in central Sanya, walkable from many hotels. The water is clear enough, the sand is fine, and behind the beach you've got restaurants, massage shops, convenience stores and accommodation at every budget. It's perfect for an easy swim with no planning, or for solo and budget travellers. I'll be straight: it's far busier than Yalong Bay, especially in high season, but the buzz is part of the fun, and at dusk the beach fills with swimmers and people shooting the sunset.

On the hilltop peninsula between Dadonghai and Sanya Bay, Luhuitou Park has one of the finest views of the city — its name means "the deer turns its head," from a Li-people love legend about a hunter chasing a deer that turns and becomes a beautiful woman. There's a deer-turning statue at the summit, but what really draws people up is the sunset and the city lights after dark: from the top you look down over Sanya, the bays and the open sea. Head up before sunset and stay to watch the city lights flick on one by one.

There's plenty of sea and temple in the city, but with extra time the region delivers. The Yanoda Rainforest (呀诺达) is a tropical rainforest park to the north, about 45 minutes away, with valley boardwalks, waterfalls, a glass skywalk, ziplines and water-play. Boundary Island (分界洲岛) is a diving island at Lingshui, about 1.5 hours away. The Areca Valley / Binglanggu (槟榔谷), about 40 minutes out, is the place to learn about Li and Miao culture. And Haikou (海口), the Hainan capital, is 1.5–2 hours on the island-loop high-speed rail — go for the Qilou old arcades and the volcanic park.