Trip Overview
When: December (winter escape from the cold)
Duration: 5 days
Travelers: Two best friends (闺蜜)
Budget: ~3,000 RMB (~$420 USD) per person
Transportation: Flight + rented shared car
Why Sanya?
Originally, we planned to see the golden ginkgo trees in Tengchong, but they hadn't turned yellow yet—so we pivoted to warm Sanya instead. With international travel restricted due to COVID-19, Sanya became the go-to destination for anyone craving beautiful ocean views without leaving China. Both my friend Li Piao and I prefer a laid-back travel style—we're not about rushing from one attraction to another. We like eating, drinking, and soaking in the local vibe.
Our 5-day Sanya itinerary:
Day 1: Quanzhou - Sanya - Lover's Bridge - Mengdada Coconut Chicken - Fisherman's Village Lane 4
Day 2: Sanya Bay - Atlantis Aquarium - Haitang Bay Duty-Free Store - ALang Seafood - Yalong Bay
Day 3: Dadonghai - Xiaodonghai - First Market
Day 4: Tianya Haijiao - Night Cruise on Sanya Bay
Day 5: Sanya - Harbin
Day 1: Lover's Bridge & Coconut Chicken
We met at Sanya Phoenix Airport at 10 AM, picked up a shared car, and headed to our hotel. After dropping off our luggage, we made a beeline for Sanya's Lover's Bridge.
Sanya actually has several "Lover's Bridges"—the one on Wuzhizhou Island, the牛王岭 boardwalk on West Island, and the crossing rope bridge at Yalong Bay's Forest Park (featured in If You Are the One 2). The one we visited is a pedestrian bridge in the city proper, connecting the east and west banks of the Sanya River like a rainbow spanning the waterway—hence its nickname, "Rainbow Bridge."
The weather wasn't perfect when we arrived, but we still enjoyed strolling along the bridge. It undulates like waves—apparently it's stunning when illuminated at night. We could already imagine the lights reflecting on the water.
Walking around, we spotted Mengdada Coconut Chicken (萌哒哒椰子鸡)—a restaurant that had been on my must-try list. First meal of the trip? Done. A place with a name as cute as this had to be good.
The dining environment feels like you're in a forest of coconut trees—Wenchang chickens (文昌鸡) run freely around your feet, recreating the natural environment where coconut chicken originates. This dish is Hainan's #1 famous cuisine, and after it, I totally get why the trying chicken never gets tiresome when cooked in coconut juice.
Must-try: Super Food Coconut Chicken (花胶木瓜椰子鸡)—Wenchang chicken with incredibly tender meat, cooked in three coconuts' worth of juice plus wood ear fungus, papaya, lotus seeds, fresh coconut meat, and red dates goji. The soup also includes sea coconuts and Wuzhishan maotao herbs. Healthier than health food, and absolutely delicious. Once the chicken fully absorbs the coconut flavor, don't forget to ladle out a bowl of the soup—it's heavenly.
Besides the coconut chicken, we ordered Tangqiao Fried Ribs (藤桥炸排骨), Spicy Chicken Feet (麻辣土鸡脚), and Hainan Ding'an Pork Zongzi (海南定安猪肉粽). Despite being a "internet-famous" restaurant, nothing let us down—we left thoroughly satisfied.
Hainan Taro (海南香芋): Totally different from what we have at home—super绵 (mian, melt-in-your-mouth). The longer you cook it, the more it dissolves in your mouth. Wild Bamboo Fungus (野生竹荪) was our favorite side dish—tender with a slight crunch, dipped in the restaurant's special sauce. Absolute heaven.
Foreigner tip: The Tangqiao Fried Ribs are legendary—aromatic the moment they hit your table, crispy and not greasy at all, with incredibly flavorful meat. I couldn't resist having several more pieces. Perfect with beer!
Late Night Food Hunt: Fried Chicken in Fisherman's Village
Funny coincidence—our other friends Kai Kai and crew arrived in Sanya just one day after us, so we had dinner together. After the meal, I insisted on finding Qingbuliang (清补凉, a refreshing Hainan dessert). Enming said "Why not," and off we went to find more food.
Fisherman's Village Lane 4 (渔村四巷) has a steep slope that's actually a blast to navigate—you've got to judge whether cars will fit AND whether they'll make it up the hill. It's a fun little corner that tests your driving skills. I love these tucked-away spots because they show you the most authentic side of Sanya.
It was already late at night, yet the fried chicken shop was still packed. The owner had a big belly with a menu and ledger tucked in their waistband—definitely the boss.
We came specifically for the famous internet-famous fried chicken. Were we hungry? Not really. We just wanted to try it. The dipping sauce is sweet and sour, similar to our Fujian sweet chili sauce. The fried chicken is best eaten hot—crispy outside, tender inside. Absolutely perfect with drinks. We heard their seafood congee is also amazing, so we'll have to come back next time.
Day 2: Sanya Bay & The Atlantis
We stayed right on Sanya Bay—step out of our hotel or open the window and there's the sea. The winter sea breeze was quite strong. After several days of cloudy weather, we finally got a sunny day. For the past few days, we slept in until we woke up naturally, then figured out what to do next.
Sanya Bay is the closest to the city center, so it gets the most visitors. But here's something worth noting: Sanya's beaches are incredibly clean—almost no litter to be seen anywhere.
Sanya Bay stretches for 22 kilometers. Starting from the airport heading south, you reach Sanya Bay quickly. Facing west, it's also a fantastic spot for watching sunsets. The Coconut Dream Corridor (椰梦长廊) is Sanya Bay's most famous attraction. This time, we discovered something special—the Sanya Bay Wedding Photography Base (三亚湾婚纱摄影基地). Just get off at the "Sanya Bay West Section" bus stop.
Most people here are newlyweds getting wedding photos taken, but with a bit of patience and queuing, you can capture gorgeous photos in this area too.
Li Piao and I often took walks along Sanya Bay after meals. There's not much to do activity-wise here—it's good for swimming, and some vendors sell泳圈 (swimming rings) and other swimming essentials. We'd stroll along the beach, rest under the coconut trees when tired, with Phoenix Island (凤凰岛) standing in the distance.
Atlantis Aquarium
My deepest impression of the Atlantis Aquarium (亚特兰蒂斯水族馆) is definitely that blue background from the TV drama—it always gives off romantic and dreamy vibes. I couldn't resist coming to see it and satisfy my occasional少女心 (girlish heart).
When you enter the aquarium, the first things you see are various colorful, rare fish and crystal-clear jellyfish that look different from anything you've seen. After walking through several exhibition halls, the Ambassador Atrium (大使环礁湖) comes into view! At 16.5 meters high with 13,500 tons of seawater, this massive underwater world instantly transports you into a dreamy blue ocean realm.
The second floor features the Coral Sea (珊瑚之海)—living corals swaying with the currents, with clownfish swimming between them. It's the most carefree underwater scene you can imagine.
Atlantis is based on the mythological civilization of the same name. At Sanya's Atlantis, this serves as the blueprint for an ocean-cultural theme destination. At specific times, the Ambassador Atrium features mermaid performances—mermaids diving into the underwater world, becoming one with the freely swimming fish, bringing different surprises as the music rises and falls.
Foreigner tip: If you don't buy a ticket, you can still enter the hotel lobby for free to see one side of the ocean world through the viewing wall. However, buying a ticket lets you see many more different sea creatures. Hotel guests at Atlantis can enter the aquarium unlimited times!
BBQ by the Beach
Want an open-air dinner with music, BBQ, and beer? Walking past the Nostalgic Seafood BBQ (怀旧海鲜烧烤) open-air area, I was already deeply attracted to the environment. At dusk, watching the sunset's ever-changing colors, having beer with my bestie while sea breezes blow past my ears—absolutely comfortable.
The environment at Nostalgic Seafood BBQ is perfect for taking photos. The evening breeze gently passes, singers perform on stage—eating in this atmosphere is simply wonderful.
Traveling as two people is actually quite nice—at least when having BBQ, you can sample almost all the varieties. We ordered seafood like oysters and scallops, plus beef and lamb skewers, and delicious vegetables like okra and green peppers.