Planning Your Trip

At this escape on the southernmost tip of China’s Hainan Island, visitors are treated to miles of immaculate white-sand beaches on Yalong Bay (known as the “Hawaii of China”), one of the region’s largest spas, verdant mountains, rainforests and views of the pristine South China Sea. Here’s what to pack to take advantage of it all.

What To Pack

If visiting on a romantic holiday, bring a small padlock and climb to the peak of Luhuitou Park (“deer turning head” park), where locals leave locks on a special chain in hopes that their love will endure as long as the lock stays in place.

Beach Vacation

With four pools — including a Ritz Kids pool complete with water slides — as well as miles of white-sand beaches, be sure to pack the essentials for long, relaxing days spent by the water.

With so many options for swimming or taking in the sun, it’s wise to bring at least two bathing suits so one will always be dry and ready if both morning and afternoon swims are in order.

Sun is plentiful and temperatures hover around 30 degrees Celsius year-round. Bring a wide-brimmed hat to protect yourself from the sun, and don’t forget a good SPF sunscreen — and reapply often.

While one would certainly not be out of place wearing a bathing suit around the resort, it’s best to bring a sarong or light cover-up to ward off any chill from the air conditioning indoors.

Spa Retreat

Spend a day recharging at the property’s luxurious spa. Begin with a workout in the fitness studio before enjoying a pampering facial and massage. Pack a few items to make the most of your visit.

Bring a bathing suit to take advantage of the resort’s pools and the spa’s unique features.

If you plan to use the extensive exercise studios like the fitness, kinesis and Chi studios, pack activewear and tennis shoes.

Luxurious robes and slippers are provided for guests to enjoy in the spa, but consider packing comfortable clothes suitable for lounging if you are inclined to linger in the spa’s relaxation lounge or courtyard before or after your treatment.

Outdoor Adventure

While it would be easy to spend an entire visit relaxing at the beach or by the pool, there are many other outdoor adventures to occupy your days. Bring a few key items to be prepared for any activity.

Tennis shoes or good walking shoes are recommended for the Segway tour along the coast, a bike excursion through the mangrove reserve, or a day trip to a spectacular site like the Nanshan Temple or the Caves Tourism Zone.

A light backpack or satchel is helpful to bring a water bottle or snacks for longer excursions as well as a bathing suit to enjoy the hot springs at Seven Fairy Mountain.

The resort is just minutes away from both the Yalong Bay Golf Club and Sun Valley Golf Club — two of the area’s most famous courses. Bring your clubs to enjoy a few rounds.

What To Reserve

There are so many things to see and do while on holiday in Sanya — from outdoor adventures and wildlife viewing to spectacular dining and relaxing afternoons at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Sanya, and even unique activities for the youngest visitors. Set a few advance plans to make the most of your visit.

Dining Reservations

Visit the Culinary Shell — a hub featuring seven unique restaurants — for meals to suit every taste. In particular, make a reservation at Sofia for an exceptional wine list of prestigious vintages and the best Italian food in Sanya. Authentic dishes like mushroom risotto or Wagyu beef with mushrooms, arugula, Parmesan and sun blush tomato are the star of the show. For local fare, Pearl offers Cantonese, Hainanese and Sichuan dishes. Make a reservation at Scene for an elegant afternoon tea with breathtaking views of the South China Sea.

Spa Appointments

Begin or end any treatment at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Sanya by enjoying the many on-site amenities like the steam room, cool mist showers, or the serene leisure area with its water features and courtyards. Reserve a locally inspired treatment like the Tropical Poultice Massage to increase circulation, enhance immunity and soothe muscles. The Island Oasis Retreat uses the nourishing and brightening properties of coconut to renew the skin and aid in deep muscle relaxation. Or arrange for the Spa Wellness Program — a full day of exercise, diet and detox.

Day Trips

Set off for a drive to the Nanshan Temple — a massive recreational area that includes three stunning parks, Longevity Valley and Nanshan Bay, and the famous Kwan-Yin statue on the South China Sea. If a day of golf is in order, arrange for a tee time at either Yalong Bay Golf Club or the nearby Sun Valley Golf Club. Or have an adventure at Diaoluo Mountain, one of the six tropical rainforest regions on Hainan Island with a mountain summit nearly a mile high, providing stunning views as well as the opportunity to encounter much spectacular flora and fauna on the way to the peak.

Children's Activities

While many off-site adventures are ideal for younger travelers, there is also much to do at the resort for children of all ages. Upon arrival, the youngest guests receive a passport that includes suggestions for on-site activities involving the coral reefs, forest, programs about recycling and sustainability, story time, art and cuisine. If children complete all activities listed on the passport, they receive a special certificate. Children can also partake in special events like Catch the Crab at the beach front or a fishing adventure at Chi Studio Lake.

Itineraries

The miles of beautiful white-sand beaches, consistently balmy tropical weather and clear turquoise seas have transformed Sanya into “the Hawaii of China,” and made it the nation’s most popular tourist city. The city’s history stretches back more than 2,200 years, and visitors have a wealth of opportunities for recreation, exploration and education. From the tremendous coral reefs on the seabed to limestone caves in the towering mountains, every level of Sanya and the southern Hainan province beckons with something that will enchant and entice.

2-Day Romantic Getaway

Sanya is renowned for beautiful beaches, sylvan forests, historic temples — and an abundance of sites brimming with romance. In this southernmost part of Hainan province — China’s most popular vacation destination — hilltop statues, beachfront monuments and seaside structures all have their roots in legends of everlasting love and devotion, and the area’s beautiful climate and enchanting destinations are bound to inspire it even further.

Day 1

Morning

Stroll Down a Lovers Bridge. Wuzhizhou Island boasts beautiful white-sand beaches and water that’s so clear you can see the coral reefs as far as 40 feet down during your snorkeling excursion or ride in a glass-bottomed boat. Don’t miss Lovers Bridge, which earned its name from the couples who clung to each other as they navigated what once was a perilous steel-cable contraption on their way to a lookout point off the beach. It’s now a sturdy plank bridge, but why not hold hands anyway?

Midday

Find Gorgeous Gifts. Haitang Bay International Shopping Complex, the world’s largest duty-free center, has nearly 1 million square feet of designer and luxury boutiques, with more than 300 stores.

Afternoon

Be Surrounded by Flowers. One of the highlights inside Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park is the 2,800-acre Orchid Valley, which includes a footpath through the lush greenery of orchids, banyan trees and Chinese wisteria, as well as a floral workshop and a teahouse. When the neighboring Rose Valley is in season, visitors can whizz through the colorful, scent-filled growing fields on electric carts, then purchase rose-scented fragrances and other products at the flower plantation’s mercantile.

Face Your Fears. Another feature inside the forest park is the Dragon Chain rope bridge — at 550 feet long and 130 feet above the forest floor, it’s the longest, highest suspension bridge in Hainan. It’s also referred to as the Lovers Bridge, but this time it’s because legend says if couples walk it hand in hand, they’ll be together forever.

Evening

Luxuriate and Reinvigorate. The three-hour Ocean Escape journey at The Ritz-Carlton Spa Sanya, Yalong Bay includes a foot ritual, a full-body exfoliation with natural sea salts, a detoxification wrap with marine mud, and an aromatherapy massage that uses heated shells to radiate warmth and heat throughout the muscles. After your private butler drives you back to your oceanfront villa, you’ll drift off to sleep a new person.

Day 2

Morning

Tour the Terrain. Reserve bicycles and start your morning by pedaling along the paths that wend through the mangrove reserves and the sandy beaches that surround The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay.

Midday

Admire the Beauty of Buddhism. The verdant hills of the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone create an incredible background for the 10-acre Buddhist temple and its architecture, garden and statues. Admire the 13-foot-tall gold and jade Kwan-yin statue, gilded with 221 pounds of gold and silver and adorned with 120 carats of South African diamonds as well as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls and jade. And marvel at the 354-foot-tall copper statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin — the third-tallest statue in the world — which has three “aspects” facing different directions, so as to bless the entire world.

Afternoon

See the Lovers Rock. The two giant boulders at Tianya Haijiao were, according to legend, once young lovers who were pursued by agents sent by their families, who disapproved of their elopement. During a thunderstorm they jumped into the sea here — called “the End of the Earth” for its location as the farthest point south in China — and a flash of lightning transformed them into stone. They stand today as a symbol of eternal and faithful love — so much so that many couples are wed here.

Evening

Snap a Stunning Sunset Shot. The 12-mile Coconut Dream Walk is one of the few uninterrupted spots along the beaches of Sanya, which lends itself to, well, dreamy sunset views, with sandy beaches and coconut palms.

Climb High for Love. Marvel at the 39-foot-high granite centerpiece statue at Luhuitou Peak Park that represents a legendary pair of lovers — an intrepid hunter and a fairy who transformed herself into a deer to enchant him. Add your ribbon of love to the branches of a tree marked with the vow hai shi shan meng (“each other”), then admire the views of the sparkling city lights and sea below.

Toast Your Trip. Finish your trip with a delightful dinner and drinks at Sand, with views of Yalong Bay Beach. Opt for any of the locally caught seafood on the menu, including red snapper, grouper, prawns and lobster.

5-Day Family Vacation Fun

The Sanya area has become China’s top vacation getaway, and the region’s bounty of recreational destinations easily validates that decision. In addition to the Hainan province’s expansive coastline, which inspired its nickname “the Hawaii of the East,” its ecological, zoological and historic sights all rank high on the list of superlatives — biggest, oldest and most beautiful, just to name a few. Get ready to go exploring!

Day 1

Morning

See the Village People. Members of the indigenous Miao and Li minority groups still weave brocades, play nose flutes and live native lifestyles at Bing Lang Gu. Learn from local guides about

the groups’ tattooing traditions and folk art (and take the not-so-native zip-line to travel one village to the next).

Afternoon

Bridge the Gap. The lush forests of Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park are home to wild pigs, chameleons and more than 100 types of birds. Traverse the Dragon Chain rope bridge — 550 feet long, 130 feet above the forest floor — and find the mountaintop Longxingtianxia dragon sculpture.

Evening

Wind Down in the Water. Relax on the white-sand beaches of Yalong Bay National Resort, one of the most picturesque places in Hainan province. The water’s extra-clear here, too, which makes it an ideal location for daytime snorkeling and scuba diving, as well.

Day 2

Morning

Admire Buddhist Beauty. The Nanshan Temple was completed in 1998 — the 2,000th anniversary of Buddhism in China. Among the highlights: a 354-foot-tall copper statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin — taller than the Statue of Liberty — and a golden jade Kwan-yin statue, covered with 221 pounds of gold and silver and laden with South African diamonds and other jewels.

Afternoon

Discover Taoist Traditions. Explore the statues and natural wonders at Taoist Fairyland Park. Sanya’s oldest attraction dates back to 1187, when it was considered a home of gods. Today, the park includes a natural history museum and the verdant South Mountain, which has more than 30,000 “longevity pine” trees, many of which are more than 1,000 years old.

Evening

Go to the “End of the Earth.” Legend says the two giant boulders at Tianya Haijiao were once young lovers who jumped into the sea to avoid their disapproving families. The region’s name means “end of the sky and corner of the sea,” after the early belief that this was the edge of the world.

Day 3

Morning

Explore Monkey Island. Take China’s longest oversea gondola for the ride to Nanwan Monkey Island. The 247-acre nature preserve is home to thousands of macaques. Many are so acclimated to people that they’ll accept treats.

Afternoon

Hit the Beach. The butterfly-shaped Wuzhizhou Island offers white-sand beaches and protected coral reefs, perfect for surfing, snorkeling and swimming. Landlubbers can explore Sunrise Rock, Lovers Bridge, Gold Turtle Stretching Toward the Sea and a temple for the goddess Matsu.

Evening

Abandon Your Duties. The world’s largest duty-free store, Haitang Bay International Shopping Complex has nearly 1 million square feet of designer and luxury boutiques — more than 300 stores in total.

Day 4

Morning

Go Spelunking. A pair of large stalactites protrude from the ceiling of Luobi Cave, a 60-foot-tall cavern with wall carvings from the 1200s, and human fossils that date back 11,000 years. (Legend has it that anyone who comes in contact with the stalactites’ dripping water will become a talented writer.)

Afternoon

Submerse Yourself. Take a trek in a semi-submarine at Yalong Bay Undersea World and watch the tropical marine life flit past your windows about 7 feet underwater. Or strap on a pressure resistant helmed with its own oxygen supply and walk through vibrant coral reefs.

Evening

Get in the Swing of Things. The 18-hole Yalong Bay Golf Club, designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, has been named one of the top 10 courses in China. Kids 16 and under can take advantage of the free 26-tee driving range, too.

Day 5

Morning

Put It in Park. The views inside Luhuitou Peak Park are almost as stunning as the sights of the city and sea that stretch out below its hillside perch. Its centerpiece statue represents a legendary pair of lovers — an intrepid hunter and a fairy who transformed herself into a deer to enchant him.

Afternoon

Market Daze. Have lunch prepared before your eyes at Chunyuan Seafood Square, the open-air market where vendors sell everything from shrimp to sea urchins, snapper to scallops.

Be a Lounge Act. After all that exploring, it’s time to relax! Choose a pool from the four options at The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay — will it be the beachfront infinity-edge pool, one of the lagoon pools with cabanas, or the Ritz Kids pool with slides and water sprayers?

Evening

An All-star Ending. Forbes Travel Guide calls Sofia “Sanya’s one and only notable Italian restaurant,” which confirms it as an ideal place for your final dinner in the city. Then walk down to Sand beach bar and toast your vacation.

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The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay

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Yalong Bay National Resort District,

Sanya, Hainan, China, 572000

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