Hainan Dao Things to Do

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People would generally consider this place under the "tourist trap" category, as there are people asking for tips and selling trinkets is somehow moved in w/ the actual trip, but the beautiful forest scenery here and the cultural effects here make it worth the trip.

The entry price is 40RMB. You go up the cliff to catch a view of Sanya City and the bay that made "Lu Hui Tou" famous - as the bay arches, it resembles a turning deer's head, so goes the Li tribe's legend. For 40RMB, you get to go uphill in a little slide car, trotting slowly as it struggles uphill on metal chains and tracks. Up at the park, a famous statue has been built to commemorate the legend (not to mention lots of stores selling souvenirs). The downhill ride is more fun as it resembles a slower roller coaster ride, though you will be warned not to speed around corners.

Take a breather from the maddening city and hide in the oasis that is Haikou Park. Watch people fish, when there're plenty of "No Fishing" signs. In the morning, you may encounter older folks doing their Tai Chi, and that giving way to folks catching some naps under the shades of trees in the afternoon. It's not the most gorgeous of parks, but it will do, for a change of pace.

Yalong Bay's pristine soft white sandy beach is fantastic (The Hainanese call it "Hainan's No.1 Bay") as long as you don't mind the hoards of holidayers, crawling with mainlanders, Hongkongers and Russians! This is a 5-stars beach where all the top hotel chains (Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt just to name a few) come to roost.

Dadonghai's beach is coarser and browner. The hotels around it are also less fanciful. Here, you will have a better chance of getting cheaper accommodations such as hostels. But it does not translate into a less crowded scene; the beach still pretty much occupied!

Verdict is split on this place. This is the supposedly the highlight of the place, once the furthest reach of known Chinese territory, and hence rich in history. Distractors called it 2 big boulders on the beach. You pay 65RMB to enter to see landscaped gardens and statues, a reasonably scenic stroll along the coastline and then, horridly right into hoards of vendors selling knitknacks and even larger hordes of tourists. Must see for the "romantics" in some of us; a tourist trap for the hordes of crowds!

There really isn't much to see in Haikou. The main 2 highlights are "Wu Gong Ci" or Hall Of The 5 Lords and "Hai Rui Mu" or Tomb of Hai Rui. Take a cab from the inner city (each trip should not be more than 10RMB) . These are sights commemorating Chinese historical figures.

Entry fee for "Wu Gong Xi" is 25RMB while that of "Hai Rui Mu" is 10RMB.

It's not actually a must-do unless you are aching and long for a good spa/jacuzzi/hot spring. Here, you find them all. For 128RMB (or 100RMB if you book via hostels and hotels), you can enter the sprawling grounds of this resort and make use of its jacuzzi pools, swimming pools, water parks and if you are willing to splurge more, massages and golf. Smacked right in the middle of nowhere, you have nothing else but the resort to amuse you. From Dadonghai, you can catch a free shuttle bus from Pearl River Garden Hotel. There's also a free shuttle bus from Yalong Bay. These shuttles will arrive and depart at specific time, so plan ahead.

There is a bus connecting the 2 ends of Sanya from Tianya Haijiao Park all the way to Yalong Bay with dadonghai beach smack right in the middle. The entire journey takes slightly over an hour and cost 10RMB. Best way to see the coastline of Sanya, especially the stretch from Dadonghai to Tianya Haijiao Park (5RMB). Extremely scenic! Also the cheapest way to get to this 2 popular destinations, no matter what other folks say. There are bus-stops and this special bus is the only double-decker bus in service. The lower floors are air-conned; the upper floor al fresco.