Nanshan Temple
One of Hainan's most famous temples, Nanshan Temple is part of the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area, a 5A-rated scenic area in Sanya (the other 5A-rated area is Daxiaodongtian).…
Nanshan Temple, Sanya · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥129
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Take the new tourist bus from Yalong Bay to Daxiaodongtian, with the last return departure at 19:00. You can also take a minibus from Sanya West Bus Station (汽车西站) to Nanshan for ¥4, or catch one of the many minibuses on Jiefang 2nd Road (解放二路) to Nanshan. Bus 16 or 30 stops at the Nanshan Scenic Area stop.
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2550. Open in Google Maps
About Nanshan Temple
One of Hainan's most famous temples, Nanshan Temple is part of the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area, a 5A-rated scenic area in Sanya (the other 5A-rated area is Daxiaodongtian). It lies 40 km west of Sanya city, on the southern foothills of Nanshan. Its location is excellent: hills embrace it on both sides, it faces the vast blue expanse of the South China Sea, and clouds and mist drift over the mountain all year round. Legend says that in 748 CE, Master Jianzhen (鉴真大师), on his fifth attempt to sail to Japan, was blown off course by a typhoon and his ship drifted into Nanshan Bay, where the first Buddhist hall was built. The present temple is of course a modern reconstruction. Out at sea beside it stands a huge statue of Guanyin, which has become a landmark of Sanya.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Golden and Jade Guanyin: Be sure to see the Golden and Jade Guanyin on Nanshan with your own eyes. Entry costs ¥20. The statue is unusual: 3.8 metres tall, it was built using over 100 kilograms of gold, more than 120 carats of South African diamonds and 100 kilograms of jadeite.
- 2. Nanshan's beaches: The currents are strong and the reefs are numerous, so swimming is not allowed.
- 3. Vegetarian meals are pricey: Nanshan Temple offers nearly 100 types of self-service vegetarian dishes, usually made from wild mushrooms from the mountains, konjac and tofu products. They taste pretty good and cost ¥68 per person. You must buy an entrance ticket and enter the temple before you can eat them.
- 4. No need to buy incense to enter the temple: Nanshan Temple now follows a civilised incense-offering practice and no longer allows large incense sticks to be burned. Every visitor entering the temple is given free thin incense sticks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Nanshan Temple cost?
Admission to Nanshan Temple is ¥129, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
How do I get to Nanshan Temple?
Take the new tourist bus from Yalong Bay to Daxiaodongtian, with the last return departure at 19:00. You can also take a minibus from Sanya West Bus Station (汽车西站) to Nanshan for ¥4, or catch one of the many minibuses on Jiefang 2nd Road (解放二路) to Nanshan. Bus 16 or 30 stops at the Nanshan Scenic Area stop.
How long should I spend at Nanshan Temple?
Plan on 1–2 hours for Nanshan Temple.
Where is Nanshan Temple?
Nanshan Temple is in Sanya, Hainan Province, in the South China of China.
More places in Sanya
Wuzhizhou Island
If you want to dive, Wuzhizhou Island is the best choice. Known as China's first developed tropical resort island, it is surrounded by clear water with the best visibility in Sanya, making it ideal for diving and other marine sports. The island is rich in conch, sea cucumber, Spanish mackerel, sea urchins and colourful tropical fish. Its surrounding coral reefs are remarkably well preserved, making it one of the best-protected natural marine areas along the coast of Hainan.
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Yalong Bay Tourist Resort
Yalong Bay Tourist Resort lies 20 km east of downtown Sanya. This half-moon bay, the southernmost on Hainan, is ringed on three sides by green mountains shaped like a whale rising from the sea, a truly spectacular sight. The beach is gently sloping, with white, fine sand made of true shell fragments, and visibility in the water reaches 7–9 metres, making it one of Sanya's finest beaches. Yalong Bay is home to most of Sanya's large international-class resort hotels, whose water facilities and landscaped gardens rival the world's top standards. It is the ideal choice for a luxurious holiday.
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Daxiaodongtian Tourist Area
Daxiaodongtian lies in the south-western corner of Nanshan, next to Nanshan Temple. It serves as the southern screen for Yazhou Ancient City and is regarded as the first of the Eight Scenic Views of Yazhou. The hills are lush and the scenery is beautiful, with nearly 30,000 dragon's blood trees (known as Nanshan's Evergreen Pines) flourishing across the area. The mountain has clear springs and wild animals, and along the 7-kilometre coastline below, winding and rugged, lie stone formations shaped by nature into all kinds of forms. Highlights include the Dragon King of the South Sea (南海龙王), Small Cave Heaven (小洞天), the Thousand-Year Evergreen Pine (千年不老松) and the Giant Sea Turtle of the South Sea (南海神鳌). Since ancient times it has been known as the 'Wonder of Sea and Mountain' (海山奇观).
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Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park
Remember the scene in If You Are the One 2 where Ge You carries Shu Qi? That was filmed right here, on the Jianglong Cable Car in the park. And the little mountaintop villa where they lived? That is the Bird's Nest Resort, also in the park.
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Tianya Haijiao (Edge of the Earth)
Sanya's signature scenic spot, a must-see for first-time visitors and anyone who enjoys traditional sightseeing. Along the coast you will find large rock formations rarely seen on other beaches. The site is vast and very crowded during the peak season. Stand in the sun for long and you will burn, so bring an umbrella.
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Dadonghai Tourist Area
Dadonghai is one of the first coastal resort areas in Sanya to be developed. It has mature dining and accommodation, convenient transport, free public beach access, and a wide range of watersports. Prices for most things are roughly half those in Yalong Bay. Because development started early and planning was weak, the area has many high-rise residential blocks and some eyesore unfinished buildings. Its natural scenery is not as pristine as Yalong Bay's, but it is busier with visitors. Hotels are mainly mid-range, ranging from five-star properties to youth hostels. At night, the beach has the liveliest atmosphere of anywhere in Sanya. Along the coast, beach bars play music, and fireworks are sometimes set off. You can eat beachside barbecue at open-air hotel stalls or at the busy roadside barbecue stands.
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