ChinaRoam
ChinaRoam
Metro routes that work, tickets you can actually book, food you can order, and the payment hacks no guidebook prints — city by city.
China's tropical answer to the beach holiday — white sand, turquoise bays and palm trees on Hainan island.
Phoenix Airport (SYX) — most visitors fly directly. High-speed rail from Haikou connects the island. Hainan offers 30-day visa-free entry for many passport holders — check your nationality before booking.
DiDi and taxis; the beaches are spread along the coast — Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay.
Yalong Bay is the classic resort strip; Dadonghai is close and cheaper; Haitang Bay has the mega-resorts and the big duty-free mall.
The picture-perfect crescent of white sand — the best swimming beach, ringed by resorts.
Reserve: None
The snorkeling and diving island with clear water and coral — a half-day trip by boat.
Reserve: Booking recommended
'The Edge of Heaven' — giant beach boulders and the romantic Chinese slogan, best in late-afternoon light.
Reserve: None
A huge Buddhist complex with the 108 m Guan Yin statue — the island's cultural landmark.
Reserve: None
A hilltop lookout over Sanya Bay — the sunset and night-view spot.
Reserve: None
Poached chicken, fragrant rice and chili-ginger dip — the island classic.
Pick live seafood and have it cooked for you — the Sanya dinner ritual. Negotiate the price before you commit.
Chicken simmered in fresh coconut water — light and sweet.
The coconut-milk dessert soup with beans and fruit — perfect in the heat.
Alipay everywhere; seafood markets and beach stalls take cash — carry ¥200.
November–April (dry season). Summer is hot, humid and typhoon-prone (Jun–Sep).
Hainan's duty-free policy is generous — the Haitang Bay Duty Free is Asia's largest. Bring your passport for tax refunds.
Lifeguards on the main resort beaches — swim between the flags.
ChinaRoam is a crowdsourced guide to traveling China, built for foreign visitors. We started with the city guides that everyone needs but nobody could find in English: how do I actually pay? How do I book a museum with my passport? Which metro line goes where?
Unlike tourist agencies and travel portals, every entry here is written by travelers who have been on the ground — and every guide is open for anyone to correct and improve. It's a living guidebook, not a static one.
Prices, opening hours, and visa rules change. Treat every entry as a strong hint, not gospel — check official sources for things that matter. And if you spot something wrong, correct it: that's the whole point.
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