Photography in Sanya
Our recommended photographer Sharon speaks English and Chinese. Explore her work and enquire about a photoshoot or video.
See Sharon’s workPractical guides
Get to know Sanya.
Choose a beach, plan a night out or settle into everyday life. Find places to explore, ways to get around and useful details in English.
Local guide · Reviewed 3 September 2026
Living in Sanya
Rent by area, scooter and car hire with prices and booking links, Hainan’s temporary driving permit, designated swimming beaches, hospitals and everyday costs.
Open the local guideLocal guide collection
Choose the guide you need.
Beach days, island trips, rainforest walks and nights out, alongside help with transport, payments and meeting people.
Buying a home in Sanya
Compare areas, understand the housing market and get help with agent introductions and Chinese-language communication.
Explore buying in SanyaWhere people meet
The Sanya Expats WeChat group is open for everyday questions and plans. Dadonghai remains the easiest first area to meet people in person.
Read the community guidePaying in Sanya
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with an overseas card, exchange foreign cash and find an ATM that works with your card.
Open the payment guideNightlife, bars and live music
Beach bars, live music and late nights across Dadonghai, Sanya Bay and Houhai, with map links and venue details.
Explore Sanya nightlifeGetting around
DiDi, taxis, buses, stations and realistic trips between Sanya’s spread-out bay areas.
Plan your journeysSanya’s beaches
Compare Dadonghai, Sanya Bay, Yalong Bay, Haitang Bay and Yazhou by daily life, resort style and transport.
Compare the baysDadonghai
Beachfront walks, bars, everyday shops and places to stay in one of Sanya’s easiest areas to explore on foot.
Explore DadonghaiMaps of Sanya
Districts, bays, islands and key places — then the wider southern Hainan map for day trips beyond the city.
Explore the mapsIsland day trips
Village lanes, clear water or cliff views: compare West Island, Wuzhizhou and Boundary Island, with ferry details and ticket prices.
Choose an islandSpecial activities
Skydiving, waterfall abseiling, Dinner in the Sky, waterfall climbing and rafting — with operator links and booking details.
Choose an experienceHikes and rainforest walks
Forest parks, coastal paths and mountain climbs, with new Yanoda and Diaoluoshan waterfall entries.
Choose a routeSouthern Hainan’s 5A attractions
Seven big days out, from Nanshan’s sea-facing Guanyin to rainforest adventures, with prices, hours and directions.
Compare all sevenHave local knowledge?
Send a suggestionHelp keep the guides useful.
Know a place we should cover, or spotted something that has changed? We’d love to hear about it.