Main Content
Photos
Sanya
About Sanya
Sanya Race Village is now CLOSED
For more information, visit the Sanya Stopover website www.volvooceanracesanya.com.
Sanya race village will be open from February 4 - 19, 2012
The race villiage is located at Serenity Marina, Luling Road, Sanya - see the location here
________________________
Sanya Race Weekend
- Friday February 17, 1200 local (0400 UTC) - Pro-Am Race (see course map here)
- Saturday February 18, 1400 (0600 UTC) - Haitang Bay In-Port Race (see course map here)
- Sunday February 19, 1400 (0600 UTC) - Leg 4 start to Auckland (see course map here)
Key Dates
- Saturday February 4 - Race village Opens
- Wednesday February 8 - 12 - Academy Team Racing
- Saturday February 11 - Beach Clean
- Sunday February 12 - 18 - Environmental Art Workshop
- Sunday February 12 - Skeleton Sea Q&A
- Wednesday February 15 - Model Open 70 Racing
- Thursday February 16 - Leg 3 Prize Giving
- Friday February 17 - Pro-Am Race
- Saturday February 18 - Haitang Bay In-Port Race
- Sunday February 19 - Leg 4 start to Auckland
If Qingdao was characterised by a freezing fog, then “China’s Hawaii” will offer something a little more welcoming when the race makes its second visit to the country.
Sitting on the southern tip of Hainan province, this idyllic tropical city rarely has a daytime temperature of less than 23°C, even at the height of winter. As such, it is rated one of the best spots in the country for relaxation and water sports (Yalong Bay is recommended for the former and Wuzhizhou Island the latter), with clear blue seas and miles of sandy beaches. Hiking is also popular with visitors to Sanya, the mountains offering some challenging yet stunning paths. For golfers like Ken Read, Sanya has 11 courses, two of which are included in the famous Yalong Bay NationalResort.
“It is beautiful,” was the summary of Guo Chuan, the first Chinese sailor to participate in the race. “I am from Qingdao but Sanya is a much nicer place to go in winter! There is a lot to do there and the weather is always good.”
Sanya also has a proud cultural history, dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC), and the Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya statue shouldn’t be missed (literally, as it is 108 metres tall, making it the fourth highest in the world).
Romantics are often advised to head for Luhuitou Park, a peninsula some five kilometers from Sanya’s urban centre. Legend has it (by that, we mean Wikipedia) that a hunter once chased a deer to this headland. Cornered, the deer turned to face the hunter and then morphed into a beautiful woman and the man could not kill her. As such, Luhuitou is known as a place for lovers, couples often visiting a statue at the site and leaving a padlock on a chain in the hope that their love will last.
Did you know: Sanya has hosted the Miss World competition on four occasions,in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, as well as Mister World in 2007. It also hosted the World’s Strongest Man event in 2006.
Things to do in Sanya
Water Sports
One of the most relaxing ways to enjoy Sanya is laze on the beach and do nothing! But if you are in the mood for something more active, the beach is a good place to start with a swim in the sea. Surfers can catch waves at Shimei Bay and there is an abundance of sites for diving and snorkelling around Hainan and nearby islands.
Sanya Haitangwan Nantian Hot Spring
Soak yourself in the thermal mineral pools or enjoy some of the spa treatments and traditional Chinese therapies such as massage, acupuncture and facials.
Golf
There are a over a dozen quality golf courses on the island of Hainan, most of which offer attractive golfing packages including caddies, carts and green fees.
Luhuitou Peak Garden
From the top of this hill you have spectacular views of the city and its surrounds.
Peaceful Sacred Seaside Park of Buddhism
Nanshan Tourism Zone of Buddhism Culture is a unique Buddhism Culture tourism zone featuring the 108-metre Bodhisattva Guanyin statue standing in the surf.
Secondary Content
Local Info
View in Google Maps
By Car
Though you can rent a car or motorbike in Sanya, you will need a valid chinese driving licence (International Licenses are not valid). There is no exemption to this rule and according to Chinese law you can be jailed for up to 15 days by driving or riding a motorcycle without a license. In the event of an accident, this will be a major issue.
By Bus
From Sanya's long-distance bus station, Jiefang Lu there are frequent buses and minibuses to most parts of Hainan, including many deluxe buses to Haikou. Buses to Wuzhishan Shi leave roughly every hour, and there are two departures daily for Qiongzhong.
By Train
Sanya can be reached directly by train from Beijing (35 hours), Shanghai (36 hours) and Guangzhou (15 hours). The whole train is loaded on to a ferry for the journey from mainland China to the Island, then continues its journey around the west coast as far as Sanya.
By Plane
Phoenix airport has flights to a small number of international destinations and a stack of domestic destinations, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Kunming. Prices vary greatly depending on the season, the airline and even the time of day, so it’s worth shopping around.
For more information, visit the Travel China website www.elong.net
