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City guide · Sanya, China · 2026

Sanya in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 26 spots · open in 2025–26

Sanya, China. From 26 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: Tianya · Jiyang · Haitang Bay.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 7h 45m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Nanshan Cultural Tourism ZoneYazhou🏛️ Sight

    108 m sea Guanyin statue; half day with shuttle carts

  2. Lunch
    Qingbuliang DessertTianya🍜 Food

    Coconut milk shaved-ice dessert; perfect in the heat

  3. Afternoon
    Dadonghai BeachJiyang✨ Hot spot

    Public beach close to town; nice evening walk

  4. Late afternoon
    Luhuitou ParkJiyang🏛️ Sight

    Summit view over Sanya Bay; go up at dusk

  5. Evening
    Sanya River PromenadeJiyang🌙 Night

    Lit riverside path with mangroves; cool evenings

Day 2 about 8h at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Tianya HaijiaoTianya🏛️ Sight

    "Edge of the sky" rock beach; very hot at midday

  2. Lunch
    Houhai VillageHaitang Bay🍜 Food

    Surf village cafes and seafood; near Wuzhizhou

  3. Afternoon
    Yalong BayJiyang✨ Hot spot

    Sanya's best beach lined with resorts

  4. Late afternoon
    Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest ParkYalong Bay🏛️ Sight

    Rope bridge and sea views; a film location

  5. Evening
    Fenghuangling Scenic AreaTianya🌙 Night

    Cable car up for Sanya city night views

Day 3 about 11h 30m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Wuzhizhou IslandHaitang Bay🏛️ Sight

    Clear-water island; water sports extra, check boat times

  2. Lunch
    Haitang 68 Food StreetHaitang Bay🍜 Food

    Dining street near the duty-free mall

  3. Afternoon
    Sanya International Duty Free CityHaitang Bay✨ Hot spot

    Huge duty-free mall; bring passport and flight info

  4. Late afternoon
    Betel Nut ValleyBaoting🏛️ Sight

    Li and Miao village culture shows; pair with Yanoda

  5. Evening
    Sanya Romance ShowJiyang🌙 Night

    Big stage show park; book an evening performance

🍜 Where to eat in Sanya: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. Houhai VillageHaitang BayIn the route

    Surf village cafes and seafood; near Wuzhizhou

  2. Qingbuliang DessertTianyaIn the route

    Coconut milk shaved-ice dessert; perfect in the heat

  3. Sanya No.1 MarketTianya

    Buy seafood and have it cooked nearby; bargain

  4. Xiaohaitun Seafood MarketYalong Bay

    Seafood market and eateries near Yalong Bay resorts

  5. Haitang 68 Food StreetHaitang BayIn the route

    Dining street near the duty-free mall

✨ Sanya hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. Yalong BayJiyangIn the route

    Sanya's best beach lined with resorts

  2. Dadonghai BeachJiyangIn the route

    Public beach close to town; nice evening walk

  3. Sanya International Duty Free CityHaitang BayIn the route

    Huge duty-free mall; bring passport and flight info

  4. Sanya BayTianya

    Long city beach; sunset strolls

  5. Jiefang Road Pedestrian StreetTianya

    Downtown shopping street near the First Market

  6. Yalong Bay Rose ValleyJiyang

    Rose garden walks and photos; cooler late afternoon

🌙 Sanya at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. Sanya Romance ShowJiyangIn the route

    Big stage show park; book an evening performance

  2. Sanya River PromenadeJiyangIn the route

    Lit riverside path with mangroves; cool evenings

  3. Fenghuangling Scenic AreaTianyaIn the route

    Cable car up for Sanya city night views

  4. Haiyue SquareTianya

    Sanya Bay plaza for sunsets and night walks

🏛️ Top sights in Sanya

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. Nanshan Cultural Tourism ZoneYazhouIn the route

    108 m sea Guanyin statue; half day with shuttle carts

  2. Tianya HaijiaoTianyaIn the route

    "Edge of the sky" rock beach; very hot at midday

  3. Wuzhizhou IslandHaitang BayIn the route

    Clear-water island; water sports extra, check boat times

  4. DaxiaodongtianYazhou

    Coastal rock scenery and Taoist sites; pair with Nanshan

  5. Luhuitou ParkJiyangIn the route

    Summit view over Sanya Bay; go up at dusk

  6. Yanoda RainforestBaoting

    Rainforest trails and ziplines; bring insect repellent

  7. Betel Nut ValleyBaotingIn the route

    Li and Miao village culture shows; pair with Yanoda

  8. Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest ParkYalong BayIn the route

    Rope bridge and sea views; a film location

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