Sanya

Go for warm water all year, large beach resorts and a choice of four bays along Hainan's southern coast.

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Sanya is a tropical beach city on the South China Sea, at the southern tip of Hainan Island in South China. Visitors come for the sand and warm water, which stretch across four bays: Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay. Large resorts and international luxury hotels line the coast, and the sea stays above 22°C (72°F) all year.

The sights sit close to the bays. Tianya Haijiao, near Sanya Bay, has a name that roughly means the edge of sky and sea. Inside Nanshan Temple stands the Guanyin of Nanshan, a large Buddhist statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin. Phoenix Island, a man-made island in Sanya Bay, holds a seven-star resort, one of the few in the world. Plan around the dry season, roughly November to April; the rainy season runs May to October, with the heaviest rain in July to October. Pick one bay as your base, then reach the sights by taxi or bus.

Sanya in five

Use Hainan's own 30-day visa-free ruleThe Hainan government lists 61 countries, including the UK and the US, whose passport holders may enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days, with activity limited to Hainan and no work or study. Sanya Phoenix Airport is an eligible port.Hainan visa-free policy
Compare it with the nationwide ruleHainan's rule keeps you on the island. Passports on the national 30-day list can also travel beyond Hainan, which the island rule does not allow. Check which list your passport is on before you book onward flights.China visa-free entry
Choose your bay before you bookSanya Bay is closest to the city, Dadonghai sits southeast of it and Yalong Bay lies farther east. The choice sets your beach, your dining and your taxi fares, so decide before you reserve rooms.
Plan your dates around typhoon seasonStorms can cancel flights into Sanya and close beaches. May to November is the risk window in the China guide; December to March is the usual drier, warmer window.China travel guide
Arriving by cruise ship?Sanya is one of the 13 ports in the group-only cruise visa-free rule. Independent visitors cannot use it; the China guide has the full rule.China travel guide

Things to do in Sanya

See all attractions in Sanya

Sight · SanyaSanya Bay

Sight · SanyaDadonghai

Lake · SanyaYalong Bay

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SanyaPut the places you like in Sanya on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Sanya Phoenix (SYX), a port for Hainan visa-free and 240-hour transit
Getting there: By air to Phoenix Airport; Haikou and Boao are Hainan's other main ports
Getting around: Taxis, ride-hailing and buses between the bays
Best base: Sanya Bay, Dadonghai or Yalong Bay
Time needed: 4 to 7 days for a beach trip

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh24°Low18°Dry, warm
FebruaryPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Dry, warm
MarchPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm, dry
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Hot
MayRain20 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Hot, storms
JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Typhoon risk
JulyRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Typhoon risk
AugustRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low26°Typhoon risk
SeptemberRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low25°Typhoon risk
OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Storm risk
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Warm, dry
DecemberPartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Dry, warm

Average daily high and low in Sanya, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Sanya

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 27°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 92%

Sanya

04:40 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+8

Today28°23°92%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 92%.
Wed30°24°68%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 68%.
Thu30°25°33%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 33%.
Fri31°24°22%Friday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sat31°24°37%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 37%.
Sun30°23°68%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 68%.

Updated 04:32 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 6.661 CNY

Amount

Converted to

CNY · Chinese Yuan

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Yalong Bayeast of the city by roadA resort bay that works as a beach day without changing hotels.
Nanshanwest of the city by roadA temple and cultural park on the coast west of Sanya.
Haikouacross the islandHainan's capital and the other main port for the 30-day island rule.

Before you go to Sanya

Beach hotels in SanyaCompare Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, YalongCheck availability

Sanya day tours and transfersGuided days and airport transfersCompare tours

eSIM for SanyaMaps and payment apps on arrivalRead the guide

Insurance for SanyaTyphoon delays and cancellationsRead the guide

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Rules for Sanya, checked

Passport holders from 61 countries, including the UK and US, may enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days; work and study are excluded.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Sanya Phoenix International Airport is an eligible port for the 240-hour visa-free transit in Hainan.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Sanya

All of China

Visa-free entry, payments, trains and cities

Read the guide China visa-free entry

The 30-day list and the 240-hour transit

Read the guide Hong Kong

Group visa-free route to Hainan via Hong Kong

Read the guide Shenzhen

Greater Bay city beside Hong Kong

Read the guide Xiamen

Another coastal city with typhoon season

Read the guide Travel insurance

Typhoon delays and cancellations

Read the guide

Sanya FAQ

Can I visit Sanya visa-free?

Passport holders from 61 countries, including the UK and US, may enter Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days, per the Hainan government, for tourism, business and similar purposes. Activity is limited to Hainan, and work or study is excluded.

Which Sanya beach area is best to stay in?

Sanya Bay for the city, Dadonghai for a mid-range beach strip and Yalong Bay for resort weeks. If you want to eat out in the city every night, stay closer to Sanya Bay; if you want a beach resort, Yalong Bay.

When is the best time to visit Sanya?

December to March, when it is warm and drier. Summer trips fall inside typhoon season, so book flexible fares and insurance that covers storm delays.

How many days do you need in Sanya?

Four to seven days for a beach trip. Short stays work if you fly in directly, but the airport transfer and the bay choice take a day of a three-day trip. Longer stays suit resort weeks.

Can I use the 240-hour transit in Sanya?

Yes, if you meet the transit rules: a connecting ticket to a third country or region and a passport from the 57-country list. The Hainan government names Sanya Phoenix Airport as an eligible port, with a stay of up to 240 hours.