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,…
Yalong Bay Tourist Resort, Sanya · AI illustration for China Trip
Key facts
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
- Getting there
- Buses and tourist shuttles serve the urban area and Dadonghai. From the city's West Station or East Station, take a Taihe bus (泰和公交车) to Yalong Bay for ¥5. A taxi costs ¥25–30.
- Guidebook rating
- 5 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 2545. Open in Google Maps
About 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.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Prices are high. Yalong Bay is built around hotels, with almost no affordable restaurants, supermarkets (a ¥2 can of beer sells for ¥8 in the Yalong Bay supermarkets) or public transport. A taxi from your hotel to downtown costs about ¥70, and to the airport about ¥120. Hailing a taxi out on the road can save about one-third.
- 2. Stay at least one night. The best way to experience the real Yalong Bay is to pass as a guest at any international hotel west of Tianyu (天域) and walk along its beach. If you can afford to stay at least a day at over ¥1,000 per night, even better.
- 3. Activities children love: bring a torch and catch crabs on the Yalong Bay beach at night, which is great fun. Butterfly Valley (蝴蝶谷), opposite the Cactus Hotel, is quiet and rarely crowded, and flocks of butterflies fill the air at dawn, so it is well worth a visit.
- 4. Types of diving
- a. Snorkelling: wear only a diving mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket, and explore the shallow water 1–3 metres deep with a guide.
- b. Scuba diving: wear professional diving gear and first receive half an hour of training from an instructor, then dive with a tank to 4–15 metres under the sea, accompanied by your instructor. The fee is ¥300 per person, but during the low season bargaining down to ¥200 is no problem.
- c. Seabed walking: wearing a helmet supplied with air, descend a ladder from the tour boat and walk across coral reefs 4–5 metres deep, weaving among brightly coloured corals and tropical fish. The trip takes about half an hour.
- 5. Adventure spot: Jinmu Cape (锦母角) and Yalong Cape (亚龙角) in Yalong Bay are great for rock climbing, so adventurous travellers can give it a try.
- 6. Diving prices: if you want to go diving, the usual price is ¥380–480, not including instructor fees.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Yalong Bay Tourist Resort?
Buses and tourist shuttles serve the urban area and Dadonghai. From the city's West Station or East Station, take a Taihe bus (泰和公交车) to Yalong Bay for ¥5. A taxi costs ¥25–30.
How long should I spend at Yalong Bay Tourist Resort?
Plan on 3–4 days for Yalong Bay Tourist Resort.
Where is Yalong Bay Tourist Resort?
Yalong Bay Tourist Resort is in Sanya, Hainan Province, in the South China of China.
More places in Sanya
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.
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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 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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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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Dadonghai Tourist Area
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