Pirates Island in Sanya (Sanya, China) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.

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The area of ​​this island in Haitang Bay, 30 km from Sanya, is only 1.5 square meters. km. It has a jagged butterfly shape and has a coastline of approximately 5.5 km. According to one legend, the development of the island began with the Taoist monk Wu Huakun, who arrived here and built a hut here in search of a place to create the “elixir of life.” And since the 1990s. The island began to take on a completely new role as a romantic getaway.

Pirates Island, despite its small size, is distinguished by an amazing variety of flora. More than 2,700 plant species can be found here, including exotic flowers and trees such as the dragon tree; some consider it to be the oldest member of the plant kingdom in the world. The waters surrounding the island also contain a variety of curious creatures, including sea cucumbers and tropical fish.

In addition to natural beauty, the island is full of places for entertainment (in its northwestern part) - restaurants, bars, swimming pools, fitness clubs, outlets.

Pirates Island is located in such a prime location that the weather is pleasant all year round. In the eastern and southern parts there are hills about 80 m high, in the west and north the landscape is flat and the coastline is covered with white soft sand.

Until the second decade of the 21st century, only a third of the island was inhabited. In May 2011, a project to create a marine ecozone was launched. "Sea Ranch" is expected to include 18 thousand cubic meters. m of artificial reefs on an area of ​​approximately 66 hectares. The project is financed from private funds.

The island has enough attractions to make it a pleasant place for a stroll. This is the old temple of the goddess Matsu, the Lovers' Bridge, the Sunrise Rock, the strip of the Golden Turtle going into the sea, the Island of Lovers and the Well of Life. In addition to all these natural beauties, the island is full of places for entertainment (in its northwestern part) - restaurants, bars, swimming pools, fitness clubs, outlets. Here you can surf and glide, sail and canoe. In addition, Pirates Island is known as a good diving spot due to the coral reefs and fish that surround it. Finally, there are enough restaurants with excellent cuisine, in all parts of the island. The best are seafood and fruits, local, fresh and inexpensive.

Practical information

The island can be reached by taxi from Sanya Airport and it will take less than an hour. There is no direct bus from the city center to the shipyard, so it is more convenient to get to the ferry terminal by car: ferries go to the island from 7:40 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every 20 minutes. Travel time by ferry is about 10 minutes.

This article is a complete guide to Hainan Island for 2019 with descriptions of places, prices, obtaining a visa and much more. In general, before going to Hainan Island, I read quite a lot of reviews, which were often radically different from each other. Some reviews about Hainan were positive and people said they would definitely return. Other reviews were extremely negative; our compatriots did not like a lot on the island. In a separate article about the resort town of Sanya, I already shared my impressions, but today there is only useful information.

It is worth clarifying that for me the sights of Hainan Island are not of great interest, so I did not visit most of the national parks, which, along with the beaches, make up the main list of attractions in Hainan. In the article, reviews of these parks are based on the opinions of local residents, vacationers, and are also partly based on reviews from the Internet. In the case of parks, my task was to find the place personally and indicate it on the map, so that in the future it would be easier to find it on my own. This article is part of a large guide to China.

you can see a map of Hainan Island with the main attractions. Not all the places that exist on this tropical island are included on this map of attractions. However, this map will be your faithful assistant when planning your own route. Please note that under each label there are exact gps coordinates. You can transfer them to your phone or tablet to always be sure of the correct route.

Hainan island map

Hainan attractions

Basically, we will talk about places near the resort city of Sanya. As a rule, people go there for vacation. We will also find out what attractions of Hainan Island are in the north, in the vicinity of the city of Haikou.

Sights of Sanya. Beaches

Sanya Bay

The largest and one of the most visited beaches in Sanya. The beach in Sanya Bay stretches for several kilometers along the city, and getting here on foot is not difficult from anywhere in Sanya. Nice sand and not a rocky bottom, but you need to be prepared for crowds of Chinese tourists. There are probably a lot of them here throughout the year.

Dadonghai Beach

Another very popular beach on Hainan Island and in particular the city of Sanya. It is not difficult to reach it on foot if you live in the Sanya Bay or Dadonghai area. The beach is regularly cleaned, the sand and bottom on most of the coastline are free of stones. Here you will be offered a large selection of water sports activities. The prices are quite reasonable for the services provided.

How to get there: on foot or by bus 26.

Small Dadonghai (Xiao Dadonghai)

Another beach in the Dadonghai area, but much smaller and less crowded. Pleasant fine sand, a beach equipped with sun loungers and a good bottom. One of the best solutions for those who love beach holidays.

How to get there: bus 26.

Yalong Bay

I liked Yalong Beach in Yalong Bay, first of all, for its clear water and the presence of a huge number of water activities. The beach is quite large, the shore is not rocky, but it takes about an hour to get from Sanya by bus.

How to get there: bus 25.

Xidao Island

How to get there and cost: terminal bus 26 or bus 25. Ticket for entering the park along with the ferry is 100 yuan.

Hainan reviews. Places around Sanya

We have looked at the most popular beaches in Sanya, now let’s talk about how you can spice up your holiday. Hainan Island has a huge number of amusement parks and many places for family recreation. In my opinion, not all of them are interesting and I didn’t have a chance to visit all of them personally, but I’ll still tell you how to get to them and what to see.

Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone (Big Buddha)

Basically, people come here to see the statue of the big Buddha with their own eyes and take a walk in a fairly large park. Many people turn to the services of numerous travel agencies, but getting here on your own is very easy. From Sanya, take bus 25 to the final stop. Next you need to walk 700 meters to the entrance to the park and you are there. No matter how hard you try, you won't get lost.

Road: bus 25 (final stop).

Opening hours and entrance price: from 8.00 to 18.00 daily; 150 yuan for an adult ticket and 78 for a child.

End of the Earth Park (Tianya Haijiao)

I haven’t been there personally, but judging by the reviews, it’s a one-time place. When I was near the park, there were a lot of buses from travel agencies; it is logical to assume that Chinese and Russian tour operators regularly carry excursions here. There is a pier nearby from where you can sail to Sidao Island.

Road and entrance price: bus 26 (terminal station) or bus 25. From October 1 to April 30, the entrance ticket costs 95 yuan, from May 1 to September 30, 80 yuan.

Pirate Island (Wuzhizhou Island)

An island with a lot of different kinds of entertainment. You can get directly to the island from the pier quite quickly by high-speed boats. Probably the best solution would be to visit this place with children.

Road and entrance price: bus 28, 130 yuan (entrance ticket and round trip boat ride included).

Opening hours: from 8.00 to 17.30 (ticket offices close at 16.00)

Monkey island

An interesting place where you can see a large number of monkeys that are bred on the island. The main disadvantage is the road. If you get there on your own, you first need to drive for more than an hour to the town of Lingshui, and then to Xincun town, from where the cable car runs to the island. If you decide to go on your own, check at the station; there may already be direct buses to the cable car in Xincun town. The entrance fee includes the cable car to the island, entrance to the park and a bus ticket from the island.

Entrance price: 68 entrance ticket, 30 cable car.

Schedule: from 8.00 to 17.30.

Deer Turning Head Park

It is located in the Dadonghai area and it is better to go there closer to sunset. Then you will have the opportunity to watch the sunset and admire the lights of Phoenix Island at night.

Road and entrance price: bus 54 or 26; 42 yuan.

Schedule: 7.30 – 22.30.

Phoenix island

It's funny, but I liked Phoenix Island the most while in Sanya. The best time to visit Phoenix Island is in the evening. There are practically no people, the island is illuminated with lights, it is very small and you can walk around calmly. Before entering the bridge leading to Phoenix Island, you will need to board a small open car that transports tourists to the other side. Get off at the first stop and go wherever your eyes lead you.

Road and entrance price: any bus plying Sanya bay; for free.

Yanoda Rainforest

Getting here on your own is not so easy, since there are no direct buses. Alternatively, you can buy a bus ticket to the city of Wuzhishan and ask the driver to stop near the turn to the park (the turn is marked on). But you will have to catch a passing bus back to Sanya. This is a common practice in China, so no need to worry, more than one will definitely stop. I read that there are free shuttles from several popular hotels, but I couldn't find those shuttles.

Entrance price: 160 yuan, but for some entertainment there is a separate fee directly in the park.

Schedule: from 7.30 to 18.00.

Five Finger Mountain (Wuzhishan, Five Finger Mountain)

Near the city of Wuzhishan is the highest point of Hainan Island. In fact, they won’t let you get up. It was not possible to understand why most areas for hiking were closed. It seems like the area is blocked off by the military. There is some kind of small park, but it’s a waste of time to drive more than two hours just to get there.

Road: RMB 25 per bus from Sanya Bus Terminal.

Seven Fairy Mountain (Qi Xian)

The only reason to go to Wuzhishan is to visit the hills near the town of Baoting. There are no direct messages from Sanya. First you need to get to Wuzhishan, then buy a ticket to Baoting.

Hainan reviews. Places around Haikou City

I can’t tell you much about Haikou, even though I was there for several days. In fact, not far from the city you can see a park with volcanoes and drop by the beach on the way. Both are on the map. According to the story of one Irishman, the park with volcanoes is small, you can easily walk around it in an hour, and the best way to get there is to rent a bicycle from one of the hostels. If you happen to visit Haikou, I highly recommend Banana hostel.

Holiday season in Hainan

If we talk about the holiday season in Hainan, the most favorable time to visit Hainan Island is from the second half of September to May. In September-October, the air temperature is still quite high after the summer heat and remains around 30 degrees Celsius. In the winter months, from December to February inclusive, on Hainan Island the temperature often drops to +17 +20, which is quite comfortable. The only drawback of the winter months is the Chinese New Year falling at the beginning of February. At this time, you can expect a large influx of tourists from all over China.

If you are interested in the weather on Hainan Island by month, a more detailed report was compiled in a separate article - Current weather in Hainan.

How to get to Hainan?

There are several ways to get to Hainan Island. The easiest way is to take a direct flight to one of two international airports in the cities of Sanya or Haikou. Upon arrival you will receive a 14 day arrival visa. More details about visa on arrival are written, there will also be a link to a detailed article on how to get a visa to China.

Hainan Airport

There are two international airports on Hainan Island, in Sanya City and Haikou City. If you are flying on a package deal, most likely your flight will be to Sanya.

Airport in Hainan, Meilan (Haikou City)

Meilan Airport, located in the capital of Hainan Island, Haikou, handles a huge number of international flights every year. It is located 25 kilometers from the center of Haikou. Taking a taxi from the airport to the city center will cost about 70-80 yuan. Regular buses will cost 30 yuan, half an hour on the way.

Sanya Airport Phoenix

Phoenix Airport, in the resort city of Sanya, is located about 15 kilometers from the center. The airport is modern, serving many flights every day. There are two ways to get from Phoenix Airport to downtown Sanya.

• Bus number 8, going directly from the airport. The cost is 5 yuan, the journey takes about an hour, opening hours are from 6.00 to 23.00.
• Taxi. At the exit from the airport, you can take a taxi that will take you anywhere in Sanya. The journey takes about 30 minutes, the cost is 60-100 yuan, depending on the distance.

Sanya airport online scoreboard

If you are interested in viewing the Sanya Airport scoreboard online, you can use the widget below:

Sanya airport online scoreboard

How long is the flight to Hainan?

It takes a long time to fly to Hainan from any city in Russia. We list the flight times for direct flights to Hainan on the most popular routes:

• How long is the flight from Moscow to Hainan? The flight to Hainan is ~11 hours.
• Flight time Novosibirsk Hainan? The flight to Hainan is ~6 hours.
• Hainan Irkutsk flight time? The flight to Hainan is ~5 hours.
• How long does it take to fly from Ekaterinburg to Hainan? The flight to Hainan is ~7 hours.
• How long is the flight from Vladivostok to Hainan? The flight to Hainan is ~4 hours.

How to get to Hainan from mainland China

Most people fly into southern China to the cities of Hong Kong or Guangzhou. Let's look at how to get from Hong Kong to Sanya by land transport. If you fly to Guangzhou, the route diagram for you will be identical, it will just start in Guangzhou itself. There is no direct land connection from Hong Kong or Shenzhen to Sanya.

The first thing you need to do is get to the railway or bus station in Guangzhou (both stations are on the map of Guangzhou attractions. Details on how to get from Hong Kong to Guangzhou are written in the Hong Kong guide. The best solution would be to buy a ticket for a night train, thereby saving time and strength. The train leaves in the evening and arrives in the morning. The bus option is worse for two reasons. Firstly, it is not a fact that you will get a recumbent bus, in which case you will have to sleep sitting. Secondly, you will need to cross the ferry crossing on your own. I’m in this I was unlucky in my plan because I was traveling in the south of China on Chinese New Year and there were no train tickets available. Both times I got there by bus.

If you choose the train option, then you will arrive at Haikou Dong East Station (marked for Hainan). If you choose a bus, you will still need to get from the pier to the train station on your own. There are high-speed trains from the East Station to Sanya. Travel time is less than two hours. Buses to Sanya run from the same station, but the journey takes about five hours.

Transport prices on the route Hong Kong - Sanya (prices in RMB):

• Train Shenzhen-Guangzhou - 100
• Guangzhou-Haikou - 300 per train and 290 per bus (including ferry 41 yuan)
• Haikou-Sanya - 100 per train and 50 per bus

Visa to Hainan

Upon arrival at Sanya Phoenix International Airport or Haikou International Airport, you can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 14 days. Applying for a visa will not take much time and will require you to submit a standard list of documents. I wrote more about obtaining a visa to Hainan and obtaining other types of visas to China in a separate article - Visa to China.

Hainan Sanya

Sanya is a good place to spend your holiday. For beach lovers, the resort town of Sanya in Hainan will be a suitable place. If you are not afraid of the large number of our compatriots and slightly inflated prices relative to mainland China, you can safely plan your vacation in Sanya. I’ll write a little more about my impressions in the article - Sanya China.

Hainan Hotels

China has a huge selection of hotels for budget travelers and those who are used to traveling while staying in the best and most expensive hotels. Sanya is no exception to the rule; here you can easily find hotels and hostels to suit your budget. I decided to make a separate review of Sanya hotels, you can read it here - Hainan hotels.

How much does a Hainan vacation cost?

How much a holiday on Hainan Island costs will greatly depend on your preferences. Budget hostels, most often located in the Dadonghai area, start from 40 yuan per bed in a dormitory room. Luxury rooms in luxury hotels can reach several thousand per room.

If you eat in small restaurants near hostels, “standard” rice with chicken and vegetables will cost 50-80 yuan, whereas if you go 500 meters away from the tourist spots and eat where the locals eat, the same dish will cost 15 yuan. Depends on your tastes and requests.

There are many excursions offered by numerous local and Russian travel agencies operating in Sanya. I can’t give you an idea of ​​prices for excursions, since I traveled everywhere myself. How to get to most popular places in the vicinity of Sanya was written above in the article.

On Hainan Island and especially in Sanya, tourists are offered a huge selection of various types of entertainment. Basically, these are water sports. Arriving at Yalong Bay, you can try diving, ride a jet ski or dive to the bottom of the sea. At Dadonghai you will be offered the opportunity to fly over the water or fly with a parachute attached to a boat.

Prices in bars for alcohol start at 35 yuan per glass of beer. As for bars, in Sanya we were able to find only a couple of truly interesting bars; the rest were not impressive. There are a lot of small restaurants on the shore, but the main contingent in them are Chinese.

If you came with a group or met someone upon arrival, the right decision would be to rent a car for 5-6 people and see a lot in one day. The price is approximately 400 yuan for a comfortable minibus.

Hainan with a child

Walking around Sanya, it is striking how many people on Hainan Island and in the city of Sanya in particular travel with families. Flying to Hainan with a child is a great idea if you are looking for a comfortable and safe place to relax. Speaking of Sanya, the town itself is small, getting around is convenient and inexpensive, and there is a huge amount of entertainment for children.

You can spend time on one of the beaches, go to one of the many holiday parks or national parks. Compared to the countries of Southeast Asia, it will be a little expensive, but relative to a similar holiday in Europe, it will be much more economical. The choice is yours whether to go to Hainan with your child or not.

Holidays on Pirates Island will be unforgettable. Experienced tourists recommend relaxing in this place for several days to fully enjoy the local nature and indulge in a variety of beach activities. You can stay on the island in a cozy bungalow or in one of the hotels, many of which have sea views.

Pirates Island hotels on the map with prices

To book a hotel on Pirate Island, select a hotel on the map. The system will quickly compare prices for this hotel on many sites and offer you the best options.

Things to do in Wuzhizhou

The island is attractive primarily for its natural beauty. Tourists here will find clear water the color of heavenly azure, the purest white sand, and an amazing world of perfectly preserved underwater coral reefs. The untouched tropical forest with exotic representatives of the flora and fauna will captivate any vacationer with its beauty. For lovers of contemplating natural beauty, Wuzhizhou Island also has an observation deck with an unforgettable view of Hainan.

Pirate Island is a great place to have a good time. Here you can fully enjoy a relaxing holiday, taking leisurely walks on a boat with a transparent bottom, admiring the beauty of the underwater world, or rent a yacht and arrange a boat trip or fishing. Many tourists come specifically to Pirate Island for diving and exciting night fishing. Those who are already tired of sunbathing on the beach will be able to engage in active sports here. On the island you can paraglid, ride bananas and water scooters, and there are many other water activities.

How to get to Pirate Island from Hainan

Wuzhizhou Island is located in the southwestern part of Hainan, about 30 kilometers from the city of Sanya in Haitang Bay.

You can get to Pirate Island from Pier No. 2 of Telu Pier in Hainan. Boats depart almost every hour from 8:40 to 18:00.

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Pirate Island is a very beautiful small island that is located near Hainan Island. You can get there by boat. The trip to the island takes only 15 minutes.

Experienced tourists advise spending several days on Pirate Island. To do this, there is a hotel on the island where you can rent a cozy bungalow and enjoy the beauty of the local nature to the fullest.

The island is ideal for a pleasant, relaxing holiday and diving. There are several snow-white, clean sandy beaches with very clear water, and around there is an amazing tropical forest with various representatives of flora and fauna.

Besides diving, there are many other activities and entertainment on the island. For example, walks on a glass bottom boat, night fishing, trips on scooters, banana boats, paragliders, jet skis, yachts. In addition, a wonderful observation deck has been built on the island, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of Hainan Island.

Pirate Island was opened to tourists quite recently. In this paradise, nature is still preserved in its wild form; the coral reefs are in almost pristine condition. This is a great place for an unforgettable holiday for several days.