Sanya Pirate Island how to get there. Pirate island in sanya. Hainan vacation how much does it cost
White sandy beaches, blue waters and palm trees don't immediately come to mind when you think of China. But Hainan, the country's southernmost province and the second largest island after Taiwan, has it all! Pirate Island in Haitang Bay is one of the best places for those who want to enjoy a relaxing holiday on a sandy beach next to blue water and palm trees.
Pirate Island in Hainan is located in the South China Sea and has a coastline of 5.7 km. It is located just 30 kilometers from the city of Sanya. Today, Pirate Island in Hainan is a great place for vacationers, but in the past it was exclusively home to a temple built in honor of the goddess Matsu. Later this island was a strategic defense zone. Only in the 1990s did it become a holiday destination.
The tropical island is surrounded by clear waters with abundant marine life, which means it's great for snorkeling and diving. In the waters near Pirate Island, you will see a variety of colorful fish, shells, sea urchins and corals. Other water sports on this island include surfing, sailing and canoeing.
If the underwater world does not particularly appeal to you, then you can explore the island itself. The southern and eastern coastlines are made up of dramatic boulders and rock formations that look like they are falling into the sea. In the west and north of Pirate Island you will find flat terrain. The temple of the goddess Matsu is the main attraction of the island. You can also highlight the famous bridge of lovers.
Tourists who want to stay on Pirate Island in Hainan can book a room in a resort complex or rent wooden houses located on the seashore.
How to get to Pirate Island from Sanya
The easiest way to get to Pirate Island is by ferry ride from the pier in Sanya city. The cost of the trip is 50 yuan, and the ferries run from 07:40 to 18:00 every 20 minutes. The journey will take you only 10 minutes. But you still need to get to the ferry pier. The most convenient way to do this is by taxi, but the cost of the trip will be high.
Of course, you can also purchase an excursion to the island of pirates, the price of which includes a boat trip. As a rule, this is a profitable option.
This article is a complete guide to Hainan Island for 2019 with a description of places, prices, obtaining a visa and much more. In general, before going to Hainan Island, I read quite a lot of reviews, which often differed radically from each other. Some of the reviews about Hainan were positive and people said they would definitely come back. Other reviews were extremely negative, our compatriots did not like a lot of things on the island. In a separate article about the resort town of Sanya, he already shared his impressions, but today only useful information.
It is worth clarifying that the sights of Hainan Island are not of great interest to me, therefore I have not visited most of the national parks, which, along with the beaches, make up the main list of Hainan attractions. In the article, reviews of these parks are based on the opinions of local residents, vacationers, and are also partially based on reviews from the Internet. In the case of parks, my task was to find a place personally and indicate it on the map, so that in the future it would be easier to find it on my own. This article is part of a large guide to China.
you can see a map of Hainan Island with the main attractions. Not all the places that exist on this tropical island are on this map of attractions. Nevertheless, this map will be your faithful assistant when planning an independent route. Please note that under each label there are exact gps coordinates. You can transfer them to your phone or tablet to always be sure of the correct route.hainan island map
hainan attractions
Basically, we will talk about places near the resort town of Sanya. As a rule, they go there to rest. We will also find out what sights of Hainan Island are in the north, in the vicinity of the city of Haikou.
Sights of Sanya. Beaches
Sanya Bay
The largest and one of the most visited beaches in Sanya. The beach in Sanya Bay stretches for several kilometers along the city, and getting here on foot is not difficult from anywhere in the city of Sanya. Pleasant sand and not a rocky bottom, but you need to be prepared for crowds of Chinese tourists. There are probably a lot of them here throughout the year.
Dadonghai Beach
Another very popular beach of Hainan Island and in particular the city of Sanya. Walking to it is not difficult if you live in the Sanya Bay or Dadonghai area. The beach is regularly cleaned, the sand and the bottom on most of the coast without stones. Here you will be offered a wide range of entertainment from water sports. Prices are quite reasonable for the services provided.
How to get there: on foot or by bus 26.
Small Dadonghai (Xiao Dadonghai)
Another beach in the Dadonghai area, but much smaller and less crowded. Pleasant fine sand, beach equipped with sun loungers and a good bottom. One of the best solutions for those who love a beach holiday.
How to get there: bus 26.
Yalong Bay
I liked Yalongwan Beach in Yalong Bay, first of all, with clear water and the presence of a huge number of water activities. The beach is quite large, the coast is not rocky, but it takes about an hour to get from Sanya by bus.
How to get there: bus 25.
Xidao Island
How to get there and cost: bus terminus 26 or bus 25. The ticket for the entrance to the park along with the ferry is 100 yuan.
Hainan reviews. Places around Sanya
We have reviewed the most popular beaches in the city of Sanya, now let's talk about how you can dilute your vacation. Hainan Island has a huge number of amusement parks and many places for families. In my opinion, not all of them are interesting and not all of them I had a chance to visit personally, but I’ll tell you how to get to them and what to see.
Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone (Big Buddha)
Basically, people come here to see the statue of a big Buddha with their own eyes and take a walk in a fairly large park. Many turn to the services of numerous travel agencies, but getting here on your own is very simple. From Sanya city, take bus 25 and go to the final stop. Then you need to walk 700 meters to the entrance to the park and you are there. No matter how hard you try, you won't get lost.
Road: bus 25 (final stop).
Opening hours and entrance fee: from 8.00 to 18.00 daily; 150 yuan for an adult and 78 for a child.
End of the Earth Park (Tianya Haijiao)
I have not been personally, but judging by the reviews, the place is for once. When I was near the park, there were a lot of buses from travel agencies, it is logical to assume that Chinese and Russian tour operators regularly take excursions here. Nearby there is a pier from where you can sail to the island of Sidao.
Road and entry price: bus 26 (end station) or bus 25. From October 1 to April 30, the entrance ticket costs 95 yuan, from May 1 to September 30, 80 yuan.
Pirate Island (Wuzhizhou Island)
An island with a lot of different kinds of entertainment. You can get directly to the island from the pier quite quickly on high-speed boats. Probably the best solution would be to visit this place with children.
Road and entry price: bus 28, 130 yuan (includes entrance ticket and boat crossing in both directions).
Opening hours: from 8.00 to 17.30 (the box office closes at 16.00)
Monkey Island
An interesting place where you can see a large number of monkeys that are bred on the island. The main disadvantage is the road. If you get on your own, first you need to go to the town of Lingshui for more than an hour, and then to Xincun town, from where the cable car to the island is stretched. If you decide to go on your own, check at the station, perhaps there will already be direct buses to the cable car in Xincun town. The entrance ticket includes the cable car to the island, entrance to the park and a bus ticket from the island.
Entrance price: 68 entrance ticket, 30 cable car.
Schedule: from 8.00 to 17.30.
Deer Turning Head Park
It is located in the Dadonghai area and it is better to go there closer to sunset. Then you will have the opportunity to watch the sunset and admire the lights of Phoenix Island at night.
Road and entrance fee: bus 54 or 26; 42 yuan.
Schedule: 7.30 – 22.30.
Phoenix Island
It's funny, but what I liked most about Phoenix Island was when I was in Sanya. The best time to visit Phoenix Island is in the evening. There are practically no people, the island is illuminated by lights, it is quite small and you can safely walk. Before entering the bridge leading to Phoenix Island, you will need to take a small open car that transports tourists to the other side. Get off at the first stop and go where your eyes look.
Road and entry price: any bus running along Sanya bay; for free.
Yanoda Rainforest
Getting here on your own is not so easy, since there are no direct regular buses. Alternatively, you can buy a bus ticket to Wuzhishan City and ask the driver to stop near the turn to the park (the turn is marked with ). But you will have to catch a passing bus back to Sanya. In China, this is a common practice, so do not worry, not one like the other, it will definitely stop. I read that there are free shuttles from several popular hotels, but I could not find these shuttles.
Entrance price: 160 yuan, but for some activities there is a separate fee directly in the park.
Schedule: from 7.30 to 18.00.
Five Finger Mountain (Wuzhishan, Five Finger Mountain)
Near the city of Wuzhishan is the highest point of Hainan Island. In fact, you will not be allowed to rise. It was not possible to understand why most of the hiking areas were closed. It seems like the area is blocked by the military. There is some kind of small park, but it’s a waste of time to drive more than two hours just because of it.
Road: 25 RMB per bus from Sanya Bus Terminal.
Seven Fairy Mountain (Qi Xian)
The only reason to go to Wuzhishan is to visit the hills near the town of Baoting. There are no direct messages from Sanya. First you need to get to Wuzhishan, then buy a ticket to Baoting.
Hainan reviews. Locations around Haikou City
There is little that I can tell about Haikou, although I was there for several days. In fact, not far from the city you can see a park with volcanoes and drop by the beach along the way. Both are on the map. According to the story of one Irishman, the park with volcanoes is small, you can easily get around it in an hour, and the best way to get there is to rent a bike in one of the hostels. If you happen to visit Haikou, I highly recommend Banana hostel.
Holiday season in Hainan
If we talk about the holiday season in Hainan, the most favorable time to visit Hainan Island is from the second half of September to May. In September-October, the air temperature is still quite high after the summer heat and stays at around 30 degrees Celsius. In the winter months, from December to February inclusive, on Hainan Island the temperature often drops to +17 +20, which is quite comfortable. The only drawback of the winter months is the Chinese New Year that falls in early February. At this time, we should expect a large influx of tourists from all over China.
If you are interested in the weather on Hainan Island by months, a more detailed report was made in a separate article - Weather now in Hainan.
How to get to Hainan?
There are several ways to get to Hainan Island. The easiest way is to take a direct flight to one of the two international airports in the cities of Sanya or Haikou. Upon arrival, you will receive a visa on arrival for 14 days. It is written in more detail about a visa on arrival, there will also be a link to a detailed article on how to get a visa to China.
Hainan Airport
Hainan Island has two international airports, in Sanya City and Haikou City. If you are flying on a package tour, most likely your flight will be to the city of Sanya.
Hainan Airport, Meilan (Haikou City)
Meilan Airport, located in the capital of Hainan Island, Haikou, serves a huge number of international flights every year. It is located 25 kilometers from the center of Haikou. Getting a taxi from the airport to the city center will cost about 70-80 yuan. Regular buses will cost 30 yuan, half an hour on the way.
Sanya Phoenix Airport
Phoenix Airport, in the resort city of Sanya, is located about 15 kilometers from the center. The airport is modern, serving many flights every day. There are two ways to get from Phoenix Airport to downtown Sanya.
- Bus number 8, going directly from the airport. The cost is 5 yuan, the journey takes about an hour, the operating time is from 6.00 to 23.00.
- Taxi. At the exit of the airport, you can take a taxi that will take you anywhere in Sanya. The journey takes about 30 minutes, the cost is 60-100 yuan, depending on the distance.
Sanya airport online scoreboard
If you are interested in seeing the online scoreboard of Sanya Airport, you can use the widget below:
Sanya airport online scoreboard
How long is the flight to Hainan?
It takes quite a long time to fly to Hainan from any city in Russia. We list the flight time for direct flights to Hainan in the most popular destinations:
- How long is the flight from Moscow to Hainan? Fly to Hainan ~ 11 hours.
- What is the flight time for Novosibirsk Hainan? Fly to Hainan ~ 6 hours.
- Hainan Irkutsk flight time? Fly to Hainan ~ 5 hours.
- How long is the flight to Yekaterinburg Hainan? Fly to Hainan ~ 7 hours.
- How long is the flight from Vladivostok to Hainan? Fly to Hainan ~ 4 hours.
How to get to Hainan from mainland China
Most people fly to the south of China in the cities of Hong Kong or Guangzhou. Consider how to get from Hong Kong to Sanya by land. If you arrive in Guangzhou, the itinerary for you will be identical, it will just start in Guangzhou itself. There is no direct land connection between Hong Kong or Shenzhen to Sanya.
First of all, you need to get to the railway or bus station in Guangzhou (both stations are on the Guangzhou attractions map. Details on how to get from Hong Kong to Guangzhou are written in Hong Kong guide. The best solution would be to buy a ticket for a night train, thereby saving time and strength.The train leaves in the evening and arrives in the morning.The bus option is worse for two reasons.Firstly, it is not a fact that you will get a bed-ridden bus, in which case you will have to sleep sitting.Secondly, you will need to cross the ferry yourself.I am in this I had no luck in my plan as I was traveling in southern China on Chinese New Year and there were no train tickets available, both times I traveled by bus.
If you chose the train option, then you will arrive at Haikou Dong East Station (marked for Hainan). If you chose the bus, from the pier you will still need to get to the railway station on your own. There are high-speed trains from the East Station to Sanya. Travel time is less than two hours. Buses to Sanya follow from the same station, but the journey takes about five hours.
Prices for transport on the route Hong Kong - Sanya (prices in yuan):
- Train Shenzhen-Guangzhou - 100
- Guangzhou-Haikou - 300 for the train and 290 for the bus (including the ferry 41 yuan)
- Haikou-Sanya - 100 per train and 50 per bus
Visa to Hainan
Upon arrival at Sanya Phoenix International Airport or Haikou International Airport, you can obtain a visa on arrival for a period of 14 days. Applying for a visa will not take much time and will require a standard list of documents from you. I wrote more about obtaining a visa to Hainan and obtaining other types of visas to China in a separate article - Visa to China.
hainan sanya
Sanya is a good place to spend your holidays. For lovers of a beach holiday, the resort town of Sanya in Hainan will be the right place. If you are not afraid of a large number of our compatriots and slightly inflated prices relative to mainland China, you can safely plan your vacation in Sanya. I will write a little more of my impressions in the article - Sanya China.
Hainan Hotels
China has a huge choice of hotels for budget travelers and those who are used to traveling, living in the best and most expensive hotels. Sanya is no exception to the rule, here you can easily find hotels and hostels to suit your budget. I decided to make a separate review of Sanya hotels, you can read it here - Hainan hotels.
Hainan vacation how much is it?
How much a vacation on Hainan Island costs will greatly depend on your preferences. Budget hostels, most often located in the Dadonghai area, start at 40 yuan for a bed in a dormitory. Luxury rooms in luxury hotels can reach several thousand per room.
If you eat in small restaurants near the hostels, "standard" rice with chicken and vegetables will cost 50-80 yuan, while moving away 500 meters from the tourist places and eating in the same place as the locals, the same dish will cost 15 yuan. Depends on your tastes and requests.
There are many excursions offered by numerous local and Russian travel agencies operating in Sanya. I can’t give you an idea of the prices for excursions, because I traveled everywhere myself. How to get to most popular places in the vicinity of Sanya wrote above in the article.
On the island of Hainan and especially in Sanya, tourists are offered a huge selection of various kinds of entertainment. Basically, these are water sports. Arriving at Yalong Bay, you can try diving, ride a water scooter or dive to the bottom of the sea. At Dadonghai, you will be offered to fly over water or fly with a parachute attached to a boat.
Prices in bars for alcohol start at 35 yuan for a glass of beer. As for the bars, in Sanya we managed to find only a couple of really interesting bars, the rest were not impressive. There are a lot of small restaurants on the shore, but the main contingent in them is Chinese.
If you came with a group or met someone already upon arrival, the right decision would be to rent a car for 5-6 people and see a lot in one day. The issue price is about 400 yuan for a comfortable minibus.
Hainan with a child
Walking around Sanya, it is striking how many people on the island of Hainan and in the city of Sanya in particular, travel with their families. Flying to Hainan with a child is a great idea if you are looking for a comfortable and safe place to stay. Speaking of Sanya, the town itself is small, moving around it is convenient and inexpensive, and there is a huge amount of entertainment for children.
You can spend time on one of the beaches, go to one of the many amusement parks or national parks. Relative to the countries of Southeast Asia, it will be a little expensive, but relative to a similar holiday in Europe, it will be much more economical. The choice is yours whether to go to Hainan with a child or not.
Pirate Island is a resort island near the greater Hainan, located in Haitan Bay. The Pirate Island area is only 1.5 sq. km, and the length of the coastline is about 5.5 km. Distance to the coast of Hainan is 2.6 km.
The eastern and southern parts of the island are hilly (the height of the hills is about 80 meters), the coast is rocky. It is picturesque here, but it is not very convenient to swim in the sea. But in the west and north, the landscape is more even, it is here that the best beaches with snow-white clean (almost Maldivian) sand are located. It is recommended to visit all parts of the island. It is very small, but, at the same time, surprisingly diverse.
According to legend, people came to the island during the time of the Taoist monk Wu Huakong. He arrived on the island first and built a small hut here. Here the monk tried to find and create the so-called elixir of life.
Tourists began visiting the island in the 1990s.
The green island is popular with tourists vacationing in Sanya. Basically, the place is considered as a cruise-excursion: in a few hours you can see the whole island: get acquainted with the local flora and fauna, see the temple of the goddess Matsu (or Mazu; this is the goddess of the sea and fishing, the protector of Chinese fishermen), visit the rope bridge and, finally, relax on the beach or actively engage in beach sports.
The water here is very clean, transparent, so you can go snorkeling and look at the marine life. Such unusual creatures as sea cucumbers live here. Lots of tropical fish. The island is also suitable for fans of diving, as there are coral reefs nearby. In addition, it is possible to do sea fishing for a fee.
With scuba gear, you can also go to a shipwreck near the island as part of an organized group. It is probably because of him that the island got its name, the island of Pirates. Also here you can rent a boat or a yacht, swim in a boat with a transparent bottom.
All kinds of water activities, such as banana rides, are also offered on Pirate Island.
Despite its tiny size, Pirate Island boasts incredible natural diversity. More than 2,700 species of plants grow here, including rare and exotic trees and flowers. For example, here you can see a dragon tree - dracaena. Some scientists are sure that it is dracaena that is the most ancient plant on Earth.
There are also animals on the island. On the coast of the island you can meet peacocks. For large tropical turtles, special pools by the sea are reserved.
In the northwestern part of Pirate Island (from Hainan) there is a bungalow complex (in some sources it is also called a campsite) and a hotel with a restaurant and a bar. There are also swimming pools, shops and even fitness clubs. By the way, the restaurants on the island are quite good. It is recommended to try seafood, seafood is always fresh here.
As a rule, vacationers prefer to stay for no more than 1-2 days, since the island and its beach are small, and all the main places can be walked around several times during this time.
However, newlyweds and lovers sometimes stay here for a week or more. A favorite place for couples is the Lovers' Bridge. Also on the island you can visit the Rock of Sunrise and the Well of Life.
It is important to know that not so long ago, the Chinese authorities decided to limit the one-time number of tourists on the island, due to the high popularity during the hot season (before this rule was introduced, it was sometimes simply impossible to find free space on the beaches in the summer months). Therefore, it is better to plan a visit to the island in advance and book places in advance. Without pre-order, there is a risk of not getting to the island at all.
Weather on Pirate Island
Pirate Island is suitable for visiting at any time of the year. Good weather in these parts reigns all year round. The air temperature does not fall below +20 °С even in the coldest winter months. The water is also always warm, its temperature is rarely below +22 °C. The hottest time is in summer. And it is most comfortable on the island in spring and autumn, when the thermometers show +27...+30 °С, and the water temperature is +26...+28 °С.
The coolest time on Pirate Island is from January to March. But there are also much fewer people at this time of the year, the island seems much more secluded.
How to get to Pirate Island from Sanya
Pirate Island is located just 30 km from Sanya.
The easiest way to get to the island of interest is to take the ferry from the pier in Sanya. Ferries are available from early morning (from 7:40 - 8:00), during the day they depart at intervals of about 20 minutes, the last evening flight is at 18:00. Travel time by ferry to the island is only 10-15 minutes.
In addition, boat trips are organized to the island - such offers can be seen in the waterfront area and in brochures in hotels.
Pirate Island Resort, Hainan - Google Maps panorama
Pirate Island is a very beautiful small island located near Hainan Island. You can get there by boat. The trip to the island takes only 15 minutes.
Experienced tourists are advised to spend a few days on Pirate Island. To do this, there is a hotel on the island where you can rent a cozy bungalow and enjoy the beauty of the local nature to the fullest.
The island is ideal for a pleasant relaxing holiday and diving. There are several snow-white clean sandy beaches with very clear water, and an amazing tropical forest with various representatives of flora and fauna is located around.
In addition to diving, there are many other activities and entertainment on the island. For example, trips on a boat with a transparent bottom, night fishing, rides on scooters, bananas, paragliders, jet skis, yachts. In addition, a beautiful observation deck has been built on the island, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of Hainan Island.
Pirate Island was opened to tourists recently. In this paradise, nature is still preserved in the wild, coral reefs are almost in their original state. This is a great place for an unforgettable vacation for a few days.
Holidays on the island of Pirates will be unforgettable. Experienced tourists recommend relaxing in this place for several days in order to fully enjoy the local nature and indulge in a variety of beach activities. You can stay on the island in a cozy bungalow or in one of the hotels, many of whose rooms have sea views.
Pirate Island hotels on the map with prices
To book a hotel on Pirate Island, select the hotel on the map. The system will quickly compare prices for this hotel on many sites and offer you the best options.
Things to do in Wuzhizhou
The island is attractive primarily for the beauty of nature. Tourists are waiting for clear water of the color of sky blue, the purest white sand, the wonderful world of perfectly preserved underwater coral reefs. An untouched tropical forest with exotic representatives of flora and fauna will conquer any vacationer with its beauty. For lovers of contemplation of natural beauties on the island of Wuzhizhou there is also an observation deck with an unforgettable view of Hainan.
Pirate Island is a great place to have a good time. Here you can fully enjoy a relaxing holiday, taking leisurely walks on a boat with a transparent bottom, admiring the beauty of the underwater world, or rent a yacht and arrange a boat trip or fishing. Many tourists specially come to Pirates Island for diving and exciting night fishing. Those who are already tired of sunbathing on the beach will be able to do active sports here. On the island you can fly paragliders, ride banana boats and water scooters, there are many other entertainments on the water.
How to get to Pirate Island from Hainan
Wuzhizhou Island is located in the southwestern part of Hainan, about 30 kilometers from the city of Sanya in Haitang Bay.
You can get to Pirate Island from Pier No. 2 of Telu Pier in Hainan. Boats leave almost every hour from 8:40 to 18:00.
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