On
the outskirts of Sanya city, 20 kilometers west of 'the end of the
world' lies Nanshan Mountain, guarded by one grandiose statue of
buddasava of mercy rising up to 108 meters overlooking the sea.
Nanshan Temple was the only Buddhist
temple built from scratch after the birth of PRC. The architecture of
the entire temple complex was tastefully adapted to pre-Tang style,
surrounded by tropical botanic gardens.
Its short history does not discourage
pious Buddhists and dutiful son and daughters pouring in paying
pilgrimage. Because its location. South is believed to be the
direction of buddisava of mercy's domain. This golden sculpture is a
remarkable piece resembling modern craftsmanship of portraying her in
Tibetan Buddhism style.
Nanshan, the mountain on the south, is
also believed to be the auspicious mountain of longevity in Chinese
mythology.
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Wuzhizhou
Island is a tropical island with some excellent scuba diving available
around the spectacular coral reefs.
This place is known locally as a
microcosm for all that is gorgeous about Hainan Island: white beaches,
palm trees, sunshine and wonderful sea life including sea urchin,
starfish and sea horse.
This spot is generally acknowledged as
the best place for scuba diving on the entire island.
How to get there: Buses run from
Sanya city to the island. We recommend taxi since it is very
convemient and not expensive at all.
Cost: RMB 100 for admittance.
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Asian
Dragon Bay (Yalong wan) is arguably Hainan's best beach and
definitely the most pristine. 7 km of white sand stretches along
beautifully clean blue water here, backed by palm trees and lush green
hills.
The beach sits roughly on the same
latitude as Hawaii and enjoys similar temperatures and weather
conditions. The water here is wonderfully clear, reflecting the blue
sky and white sand beneath the depths. Snorkeling and scuba diving are
popular pursuits here given the clear water, bright-colored coral
reefs and tropical fish that abound and this is arguably the nicest
place to swim on the entire island. This is a new resort and
development is underway in a very tasteful manner. This is a protected
marine reserve and commercial fishing is forbidden here, keeping the
water very clean and lovely for swimming.
Facilities
are also good here. This great beach is adjacent to shops, restaurants
and a museum with a pretty collection of sea shells. There is also a
charming outdoor butterfly garden here with a mountain hiking trail
and some great walks. Hot springs, numerous golf courses and submarine
cruises are also offered.
A nice trip from the bay is to Wild
Boar Island. Take a boat from the bay to the island for some
great snorkeling and swimming. Prices for this vary, so ask around at
your hotel or in the restaurants on the bay.
Hainan Island's best hotels can
be found here too including the Gloria
Resort, and the Cactus
Resort.
How to get there: Asian
Dragon Bay is about 20-25 km southeast of Sanya City. To get there,
take a taxi from the center of town. This should cost approximately
RMB50+.
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Sightseeing
Index
