Taoist temple complex dong tian. Taoist park heavenly grottoes. Hainan. Water temperature

Taoist Heavenly Grottoes Park (Sanya, China): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews of tourists.

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This Taoist park is located about 50 km from Sanya, at the foot of the South Mountain, and covers an area of ​​23 square meters. km. It was founded as early as 1187 during the Song Dynasty. Thus, the park can be called the oldest attraction in Hainan. It is famous for its stunning natural scenery, ecological resources and historical sites.

An interesting story is connected with the name of the park. According to Taoist doctrine, there are 10 large and 36 small grottoes (Dongtian), as well as 72 sacred caves in which the gods live. During the Song Dynasty, Mao Kun, the governor of Hainan Province, found Big Dongtian and Little Dongtian on the South Mountain. He turned this place into a resort and inscribed inscriptions on the cliff and rocks. Today, only the Small Dongtian remains under the cliff: the Big one is impossible to find, and this makes it even more legendary. True, the names Big and Small Dongtian are still used.

The Taoist Park consists of six areas: Dongtian Grottoes, Southern Longevity Mountain, Temple of the Dragon King of the South China Sea, Wall of Records, Sea Wonders, and Sanya Natural History Museum.

The Taoist Park consists of six areas: Dongtian Grottoes, Southern Longevity Mountain, Temple of the Dragon King of the South China Sea, Wall of Records, Sea Wonders, and Sanya Natural History Museum. In total, more than 50 attractions have been collected in the park, and tourists from all over the world come here to get acquainted with local customs, relax and have fun.

Dongtian Sky Grottoes, according to legend, is the very place from where Mao Kun ascended to heaven. Three fabulous islands are especially popular: Panglai, Yungzhou and Phanzang. This is where Taoism originated in South China, and many historical Taoist relics can be seen here, including the Heavenly Imprint and the Heavenly Altar.

The Southern Longevity Mountain deserves its name: it is 85% green and contains more negative ions than anywhere else in China. Even more surprising are the 30,000 dracaenas, which are called “longevity pines” here: this plant of the agave family is one of the rarest centenarians in the world, its age can reach, according to some sources, 10 thousand years.

In the Temple of the Dragon King of the South China Sea, a statue of that same king is kept. In Chinese culture, the dragon king brings stability and good fortune. The second lunar day of February is considered the day when the dragon raises its head. During this holiday, magnificent traditional celebrations are held in the park and prayers are offered to the king and the sea.

The Wall of Records is located on top of South Mountain, sometimes called Divine Turtle Mountain because of its characteristic shape. There is a corresponding statue here. The inscriptions speak of Kuiksing, the god of writing, who is often depicted standing on the back of a sea turtle. It is believed that this deity marks the one who is famous for his talents in the field of writing.

The Sanya Natural History Museum is the only one in southern China. Here are collected the remains of dinosaurs and objects that recreate the appearance of the Earth as it was 140 million years ago. In total, the exposition contains about 2 thousand items, of which 800 are considered national treasures. In particular, the western Liaoning fossil collection was called by US President Bill Clinton "the most amazing find of the 20th century."

In addition to the six zones mentioned above, the park has a conservation area of ​​the Lesser Crescent Bay. In this small bay, many plants have been preserved, and the concentration of cations here reaches 10 thousand per cubic centimeter: this is a real natural oxygen bar. There are also the usual beach bars, as well as huts and campgrounds where you can stay for a few days.

Practical information

To get to the Taoist Park, you can either take a tour bus directly here from Sanya Bay, or take a bus to South Mountain from Sanya West Station, get off at the intersection with the road leading to the park, and get there on foot. Free shuttles to the park leave in the summer months in the morning, once a day, from the Summer Department Store and Pearl Square.

Opening hours: daily, from 8:30 to 18:30.

Entrance: CNY 135 for adults, CNY 70 for children 120-140 cm tall, children under 120 cm tall enter free; trip by electric car - 15 CNY.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

40 kilometers from the city of Sanya, on the other side of the mountain, where the Nanshan temple complex is located, there is another beautiful Hainan park - Dong Tian. Translated from Chinese, “Dong Tian” means “heavenly grottoes”, this term in Taoism refers to the caves where immortal saints live.

The Dong Tien Taoist Center is one of the island's most visited attractions. Various festive and festive events are often held here, cultural, political and public figures come here, as evidenced by photographs along the main entrance alley.

And immediately we meet a warning sign.

Everywhere is very clean and beautiful. Grow grass :)

I want to say right away about one very interesting place in the park - the archaeological Museum of the History of Natural History. The extensive exposition of the museum deserves close attention, it contains more than 2 thousand exhibits, among which are unique objects protected by UNESCO: fossil dinosaur eggs, the skeleton of a huge ichthyosaur, the first fossil flower, the skeleton of a Sanyang pterosaur, an ancient ebony.

The park is located on a mountain slope and a rocky seashore. Huge boulders and small stones give an indescribable charm to the beauty of the sea.

The graceful decorations of the park are stone sculptures: real and mythical animals, wise elders.

A forest spirit peeps out of a huge stump.

A wide staircase goes up from the central square, rising to the sculptures of Buddhist monks. The stairs are framed by fragrant hibiscus bushes, where exotic butterflies flutter from flower to flower. And flocks of snow-white doves live on palm trees.

At the foot of the stairs is a family of turtles.

Some young ladies shared their hats with the turtles.

Hieroglyphs with wise sayings are carved on many stones.

We make our way along the path surrounded by tall grass.

There are benches hidden in the mangroves along the path.

The path takes us to the beach.

And grottoes.

In fact, the grotto is a small gap under the stone, through which you can seep through and climb out from the other side of the stone.

Despite the narrowness of the space, incense is smoked inside the grotto. We get out of the grotto along the ladder :)

Walking along the sea, we reach other grottoes

We find phrases carved on the rocks: small and large.

Some stones, reminiscent of something or someone, are overgrown with legends and traditions. For example, the Magic Peach stone. According to legend, Wang Mu, the Empress of Heaven, gave a magical peach to the Eight Immortals. But half of the peach was stolen and eaten by a magical cow, and the Immortals left the other half of the peach on the shore. And after thousands of years, the peach turned to stone.

Or Jian Zhen's stone. According to legend, the monk Jian Zhen often bathed here and basked in the sun. A lot of time has passed since then, and here appeared a stone that looked like a sunbathing Jian Zhen.

We go to the far point of the park along the picturesque cliffs, along the seashore.

Bas-reliefs on the rocks depict sages and divine characters.

Stone carving "Lao Tzu looks at the sea". Lao Tzu, one of the greatest ancient Chinese philosophers, the founder of the teachings of Taoism.

Southern God of Longevity.

Let's go back a little and go to the Dragon Temple. According to legend, it is here, in Dong Tian Park, that the giant Dragon of the South Sea lives.

By the way, here at the Dragon Temple I managed to observe and film the scene of a snake hunting a frog, but more on that in the next posts.

From the Temple of the Dragon, a path rises up the mountain, or rather a huge staircase, completely endless.

On the way there are hanging bridges and sayings immortalized on stone.

Climbing the stairs, we pass by the gazebos.

A tree hugging a stone.

Quite unexpectedly, the path leads us to the Immortal Turtle of the South Sea. Beautiful and unusual, made of copper, and weighing 1.5 tons, the Turtle is also a sacred symbol.

There are incense on the square in front of her, red ribbons with wishes are tied nearby.

And the stairs lead us up and up, never ending. But everywhere there are carefully placed warning signs with a wonderful Russian translation.

From the top there is a beautiful view of the sea.

To be honest, we didn’t get to the very top platform, it was already getting dark, and the park was supposed to close soon, so we go down.

We enjoy the empty paths of the park and the evening coolness.

Finally, a clickable panorama.

Trips

When we talk or think about China, we tend to think more of the country's huge, densely populated mainland cities, numerous factories, and inexpensive goods.

However Chinese resorts at least most of them very different from our ideas..

One of the finest holiday destinations in China, and perhaps in the world, is tropical island hainan, which is also a province of the same name in the People's Republic of China.

It is worth noting that this island includes a group of small islands, including: Qizhou, Dazhoudao and Simaozhou.

The largest city on the island and concurrentlycapital - Haikou. The name of the city is translated as "Sea Gate" and it boasts a developed area of ​​recreation and entertainment, as well as a large network of hotels of various levels.

In just 20 years, this city has turned from an ugly duckling, an ordinary small provincial town into a white swan - modern city with a population of over 1.5 million.

Where is Hainan Island

This island is located in the south of China. Its area is 33,920 sq. km., the length of the coastline is 1,500 km., the population is 8.18 million inhabitants.

Since Hainan is located on the same latitude as Hawaii, also called "Eastern Hawaii".

The name of the island can be translated into Russian as "an island south of the sea." Hainan Island is surrounded by the waters of the South China Sea.

Dense forests, fruity mango, banana and pineapple plantations, plantations coffee and tea under the slopes of the mountains, as well as plantations coconuts located in the central part of the island.

But the industrial zones are located in the northern part, in the same place as the capital.

This island has rich flora and fauna. Most of the endemic species of Hainan is taken under the protection of UNESCO.

Anchar tree (Antiaris)

Anchar tree grows here, which contains milky juice. This juice is used as an antidote for snake bites.

The rare and rich nature of the island is preserved in special botanical gardens.

Hainan on the map

How to get to Hainan Island

Airports in Hainan

There are two major airports on the island: one is located in Haikou - and the other in the city of Sanya - Sanya Phoenix airport.

Haikou Meilan International Airport

Both airports receive a total of 384 domestic flights and 21 international. Charter flights fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg several Russian airlines. In addition, there are charter flights to the island. from several cities in Siberia and the Far East.

Most planes from Russia to Hainan Island arrive at the airport of the southern city of Sanya, which is the main tourist region here.

Taxi

This is the most popular mode of transport by which tourists reach various places on the island. However, it is worth remembering that taxi drivers almost do not speak English, which means that you must know the exact name of the desired place or have a photo of this place or a business card with you.

Train

The Sanya-Haikou high-speed train can be taken if you want to visit various places of interest. It stops at many popular tourist spots.

Weather on Hainan Island

On the island of Hainan the sun shines 300 days a year. The climate here is subequatorial. The average air temperature for the year is +24 C, and the water temperature is +26 C.

The climate of the island makes it possible relax and swim all year round. However, the tourist season here is the period between November and May.

Between June and October, the climate on the island is more humid and very hot., and the air temperature can reach +39 C. It also often rains during this period.

But such things do not scare many tourists. The point is that it is Between June and October prices for all services are lower than usual and there are far fewer people on the beach.

Hainan. temperature by month.

Hainan in September, October

At this time it is very hot and humid here. Divers should be aware that their equipment will not dry well.

Hainan in November, December, January, February

At this time, the rainy season ends, the heat and humidity subside, and the temperature becomes more pleasant for relaxation. However, for evening walks, it is still better to take clothes with long sleeves.

Hainan in March, April, May

Perhaps the most suitable time to relax, as the temperature is the most comfortable, and it almost never gets cold in the mornings and evenings.

Hainan in June, July, August

During this period, it rains and there is intense heat. The highest temperatures are recorded in July.

Typhoon threat between May and November- no more than one per season.

Hainan. Water temperature.

All environmental standards are strictly observed on the island:

* Within a radius of 100 kilometers from Sanya - the southernmost city on the island - it is forbidden to build any industrial facilities.

* Any dumping into the sea is prohibited.

* All sewer systems are connected to centralized treatment facilities.

Sanya, Hainan, China (map)

Infrastructure in Hainan

International tourism in the region continues to develop, and with it the infrastructure continues to develop rapidly.

Here you can find:

* A developed network of tourist routes that go both through the mountains and along the coast.

* Excellent high-speed tracks.

* Improving complexes with radon and mineral springs.

* Beautiful sandy beaches.

* Ethnographic villages belonging to the indigenous inhabitants of the island (the Li and Miao peoples).

* In the capital of the island, Haikou City, the leisure and entertainment industry is very developed. Here you can find a large number of hotels of different levels.

In addition, the island is located close to Hong Kong and Macau. If we consider everything together, both ecology and infrastructure, then we can understand how Hainan Island differs from other resorts located in Southeast Asia.

Economy of Hainan Island

There are plantations of tropical fruits such as mangoes, bananas and pineapples, as well as plantations of coffee, tea and coconuts.

Most of the industrial facilities are located in the northern part of the island, near Haikou.

In the area of ​​the city of Wenchang in the northeast of the island, a spaceport was built in 2014, bearing the name of the city - Wenchang. Not far from the spaceport, the authorities plan to create a theme park that will be dedicated to the Chinese space program.

Visa to Hainan Island

Hainan Island is a special economic zone that promotes the development of inbound tourism. This means that the visa regime is simplified here, and tourists who are going to visit Hainan can get a visa right at the airport, immediately upon arrival.

Also, citizens of the Russian Federation who arrived in a group of more than 5 people and for a period not exceeding 15 days can use visa-free entry according to the group list.

A Brief History of Hainan Island

Ancient map of Hainan

The island first became part of the centralized Chinese state during the Han Dynasty. But the Chinese representation here was limited to a military camp, which was located in the northern part of the island.

The name of the island was given during the reign of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the colonization of the island intensified. More and more people arrived from the continent, which pushed the natives to the southern coast of Hainan.

Hainan again received the status of a separate administrative entity in 1906. The Chinese politician and reformer Deng Xiaoping (1904 - 1997) was able to create the largest free economic zone in China in this region.

Holidays on Hainan Island

The beaches of Hainan Island (photo)

Most of the famous beach resorts can be found in the southern part of the island. Here are the bays of Yalongvan, Dadonghai, Sanya and Haitang Bay.

Every year, thanks to fine clean sand, clear warm sea, developed infrastructure and clean air, this place attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists.

Sea. Hainan.

In addition to the famous large beaches, there are also small beach towns, as well as wild beaches.

It is worth noting that all the beaches on the island are municipal, and they are equippedeverything you need including sun loungers with umbrellas and showers.

All the beaches of the island are sandy and gently sloping. The cleanest water is considered to be the water in Yalong Bay. Here the sea is calm, but the water in it is cooler in comparison with other beaches of the island. In this place are the largest diving centers in Hainan.

The most popular hotels are located in Dadonghai and Yalunwan. But each place has its pros and cons.

Bays of Hainan Island

In the city of Sanya, there are two of the most popular bays on the island - Dadonghai and Yalunvan.

Each bay has its own distinctive sides. Some parts of them are freer, others are busier with tourists.

Dadonghai Bay

The beaches in Dadonghai City are often crowded. This is where the locals usually hang out. In addition, you may not have enough umbrellas and sunbeds. As a rule, the Chinese who vacation here are more love to sit on the beach.

Most Chinese try to relax away from the coast, where the cost of recreation is less.

Yalun Bay

If you decide to relax in Yalunvan, then here you are guaranteed peace. But if you want to actively relax, attend parties, for example, you will have to go to Sanya, which is 30 km away.

Bonus: Sanyavan Bay

This place is located near Sanya Airport. The infrastructure here is not yet highly developed, but the pace of its development is very high. At this stage, the minus of this resort area is that the beaches of Sanyavan Bay are across the road.

Despite the fact that the water in this place is not very transparent compared to the waters in Yalunvan, the impressive surrounding landscapes still bring a positive connotation.

Carefully!

Be careful with water sports in Hainan. The government doesn't put much emphasis on activities like parasailing, scuba diving and boating yet, and local staff don't give lessons. In addition, some equipment may be very old.

Hainan Island Hotels

Most of the hotels on the island are located in the rainforest. Here you can not only relax comfortably and breathe fresh air, but also feel like a part of nature and see all its richness.

If you are a fan of ecotourism, you can choose medium or small hotels.

If you prefer comfort, then there are 4- and 5-star hotels for you, owned by well-known brands: Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn and others.

On the first lines, you can find both simple and luxurious hotels - the choice is quite large.

Shopping Center in Hainan (Haitang Bay Duty-free Shopping Center)

This International Duty Free Shopping Center opened relatively recently in Haitang Bay.

It is the largest duty-free shopping center in the world, covering an area of ​​72,000 sq. m.

Here are the most famous brands of clothing, cosmetics, shoes and accessories, including: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Prada and Giorgio Armani.

In addition to shops, this shopping center has many entertainment venues, restaurants and even a hotel.

You can get here from Sanya or Haikou in the following ways:

1. Every half an hour (09-30 - 20-00) there are shuttle buses from Dadonghai, Yalunwan, and Wuzhizhou Island.

2. Shuttle bus No. 34 runs every 8-12 minutes (09.00-21.00 towards the shopping center and 10.00-22.00 from the store to the city).

3. You can take a taxi from Sanya.

4. By car.

Excursions on Hainan Island

The island has a huge number of attractions, but it’s still worth starting with one of the brightest.

Park "Tropical Paradise" (Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park)

This tropical forest park is located in Yalun Bay in Sanya. The park was built in accordance with all construction rules in ecologically clean areas, and fully meets the world standards of eco-tourism. All the flora and fauna of these places has been completely preserved here.

The total area of ​​the tropical park is 1,506 hectares and it is divided into several zones, each of which corresponds to a specific theme.

On the top of the mountain, which is located in the park, an amazing mountain forest resort, which includes 142 villas and several rooms created in a tropical style.

Each room has its own bird's nest name. There is: a nest of an eagle, magpie, peacock and others.

Guests can use an audio guide, and it is better to move around on shuttle basses.

What can be found in the park:

orchid valley - you will see a lot of rare flowers, and along the way you will meet antelopes, peacocks and parrots. There is also a "Snake House" in the valley where you can watch a show with snakes. Having risen to the observation platform, you can go down on a long cable car.

Dragon Bridge or Lover's Bridge - the length of this suspension bridge is 168 meters, and it connects the two banks of the park. The bridge can sway a lot, so you need to hold on tightly to the handrails. From the bridge offers amazing views of the sea and mountains.

Dragon World Theme Park - to get to it, you need to conquer the mountain (450 m), on top of which there is a park, or just take a bus.

The main attraction of the park is a bronze statue of a dragon, as well as a beautiful view of Yalun Bay. Other attractions include: the Hainan Island Photography Museum, the Buddha Stone hanging over the cliff, and the Phoenix Gate.

Sanya Aquarium (Sanya Tropical Marine World)

This is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the island. It is only 25 km from the city of Sanya.

In this aquarium you can see more than 200 representatives of the animal and marine world, including turtles, crocodiles, dolphins, unusual tropical fish, parrots and birds.

The oldest representative of the aquarium - turtle over 600 years old. She is kept in a special nursery for sea turtles.

Also in the aquarium arrange various show programs, whose main characters are parrots, dolphins and crocodiles. With crocodiles, by the way, experts perform various deadly tricks.

The workers will let you (for an additional fee) feed crocodiles live chicken and take a picture with one of them in an embrace.

With a strong desire, you can ride an ostrich.

On the territory of the aquarium there are several restaurants that offer seafood.

World's End Park (Tianya Haijiao)

This park is located 25 km from Sanya city at the foot of Malinshan Mountain. Despite the fact that this place is officially called a park, it is difficult to call it such, since here the seashore is "dotted" with large smooth boulders scattered over the sand and partially submerged in the sea.

Most often, this park is visited by lovers who come to watch the sunset and confess their love to each other.

Between the boulders ride a camel or take a picture with an ostrich. You can come here on your own or with a guide, and there are several ways to get there:

* By buses 2 and 4 (fare 1 yuan) - reach the final stop and change to a tourist bus (fare 5 yuan).

* By tourist bus to World's End Park and Nanshan (fare RMB 5).

* By taxi (fare 30-35 yuan).

Monkey Island

This place is located 80 km from Sanya city. You can get here only by air, and more specifically by cable car, which connects Monkey Island and the big island.

The adventure on the cable car itself can be regarded as a separate attraction. While in the cabin, you will have beautiful views of the groves with rare plants, and you will also see coastal town and fishermen's bay, dotted with many old boats, old houses and wooden walkways from high.

Monkey Island is a large park that is home to about 2,000 monkeys. They are everywhere - you can see them in the trees, walking on the ground, sometimes they even come up to people to ask for sweets or take away shiny jewelry.

There is also a circus in the park, where monkeys show their acrobatic abilities. In addition to monkeys, other animals perform in the circus, such as goats, which can walk on a tightrope while carrying a macaque on their heads. For the performance, you pay a parrot, who is happy to collect money from guests.

Butterfly Museum

This museum-reserve is located 30 kilometers from the center of Sanya. It is divided into two parts. In one you will find a large collection of butterflies and other insects that live in China, other Asian countries, as well as in America and Africa.

In another part of the museum is the "Butterfly Garden" - a small gorge located in the middle of tropical forests.

You can see the beauty of the museum by walking along the winding paths that will take you through the many tropical plants.

The territory of the museum is considered a protected area, so catching insects is prohibited, but guests are allowed to take pictures of them.

At the exit you can find a small shop selling various souvenirs.

Pearl Museum (Hainan Jingrun Pearl Museum)

China's largest pearl mining and processing company has decided to open a pearl museum on Hainan Island. Guests have the opportunity to visit a real pearl plantation and visit the pearl museum, where you can learn more about how pearls are grown and mined.

It is worth noting that pearls are the symbol of Hainan Island. Today, Hainan is China's leader in producing and exporting the highest quality pearls. All the necessary conditions have been created in the South China Sea for the extraction of the best pearls on Earth.

Of course, in such a place, guests can buy products made of pearls, as well as precious and semi-precious stones, and many different cosmetic preparations.

Crystal Museum

In this museum you can see a huge collection of crystal, as well as many semi-precious stones.

Here guests can also get interesting information about crystal and its varieties, about how crystal was mined in the past, and what modern technologies are used today to process crystal.

In addition, visitors are offered to purchase a huge amount of jewelry and souvenirs made from different types of crystal, including white crystal, yellow and green.

Pirate Island

This small island has an area of ​​​​only 1.5 square meters. km and it is located 20 minutes from the pier of Hainan Island.

He stands out clean white sand, clear sea water, untouched nature, an incredibly diverse underwater world of coral reefs, as well as a large number of beach activities, including: trip on a boat with a transparent bottom, scooter rental, sea fishing, boat and motorbike rental.

Walking along the shore, you can see peacocks, and large tropical turtles rest in a specially created pool.

In addition, the island has hotels with their own beaches and sun loungers, as well as a diving center. And the bungalows in which you can relax are equipped as 4 and 5-star hotels.

You can get here by buses 23 and 28, and by taxi (from Yalong Bay). It costs about 50 yuan to get to the port of Wuzhizhou, and about 200 yuan from Sanya to the port. Ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter, and also try to check that the amount starts from 8 yuan.

You can also get to Wuzhizhou by the largest hovercraft in China (from 8-30 to 16-00). The cost of a round-trip ticket is about 130 yuan.

If you like such places, then you can also visit West Island, which is also famous for its clear water, beautiful sandy beach and water activities.

Animal World in Sanya City (Thai Park)

This zoo was built in 2005, and today more than 20,000 crocodiles and more 200 tigers. The animals were brought from Thailand.

In this park, guests are given the opportunity to take pictures with a small tiger cub and / or a crocodile. In addition, there is a tiger circus on the territory of the Animal World.

It is worth noting that crocodiles live here in spacious enclosures equipped with pools. You can view them while walking along the safe concrete bridges that were built over the enclosure.

But you can look at tigers and lions on a special vehicle. Animals move freely around the park, and you can see them from the transparent windows of the car.

Perhaps the most interesting representative of the animals in this park is tigrolev, which is a being that combines tiger and lion shape. Similar hybrids have been bred in China since 2001.

DunshanHu Zoo, Sanya Nanshan Dongtian Park

This is one of the most popular places on Hainan Island. Dongshanhu Nature Reserve rich in tropical flora and in terms of size the largest natural park in Asia.

The total area of ​​the reserve is 130 hectares. It also houses about 1,000 exotic animals brought from all over Asia. Guests can see here: bears, spotted deer, tigers, leopards, flexible gibbons and many other animals and birds.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in this park is that the animals are not kept in cages - they just live their usual lives, a natural habitat has been created for them. Only small enclosures separate some animals from others.

Animals that are peaceful for humans, such as giraffes, elephants or ostriches, are allowed to stroke and feed.

A tour of the park takes the form of a jeep safari. Guests get into special SUVs or buses with a guide.

Nanshan Buddhism Center

The largest center of Buddhism in Asia located near Nanshan Mountain (South Mountain). Its total area is 50 sq. km, and it was opened in 1997. An ancient Buddhist temple was reconstructed in this center, and a large landscape park was also built.

It is worth noting that on a small island in the sea rises bronze statue of the goddess of mercy Guanyin- its height is 108 meters.

In addition, the park has a pavilion that stores giant golden statue of the goddess Guanyin, whose weight is 140 kg. The statue of the goddess is decorated with precious stones. There is a statue on a pedestal, the shape of which repeats the shape of a lotus flower, and the pedestal itself is made of white jade.

This statue was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest golden statue in the world- it took to create 100 kg of gold. The statue also contains particles of the ashes of the Buddha.

Daoist temple complex Dong Tian

This complex of temples is considered one of the most ancient (over 800 years old) surviving complexes in China.

Dong Tian is a sacred place for all adherents of Taoism. The temple became famous thanks to ancient Taoist beliefs, according to which the Southern Dragon lives in these places. This creature is one of the 4 lords of the world. Here you can hear from the guides and other interesting legends that are associated with this complex.

The temples of the complex look especially beautiful among the amazing seascapes of the island. Nearby you can see a forest "decorated" with amazing tropical plants.

One of the most interesting plants dragon palm(dracaena cambodiana), which is already over 6,000 years grows in these places and therefore is the Chinese symbol of centenarians.

This garden is located near thermal radon springs. It is considered one of the largest tropical botanical gardens in the country. Its total area is 32 hectares, and the garden is decorated with more 1,000 different plant species.

In addition, in the botanical garden, scientists are working on the study of some species. Here you can also get acquainted with the culture, traditions and even cuisine of various countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and India.

Taking a tour of this garden, you can visit the Xing Long Asian Tradition Garden, where everything around is stylized in Asian style.

Hike to the crater of Ma An volcano

This volcano is located 27 km from the capital of the island, the city of Haikou. Extinct volcano Ma An last erupted about 50,000 years ago, and today it is one of the few extinct volcanoes that are well preserved.

To get to the crater, you need to climb the stairs, created from volcanic magma. For a more comfortable journey, a railing was installed along the diameter of the crater and everything was arranged so that this place looked more like an observation deck. From here you can safely look directly into the depths of the volcano itself.

The crater zone was arranged in the form of a park. In its lower part, right in the palm grove, an open-air restaurant was built. In the evenings, folklore performances of the local Li and Miao peoples are held here on a special platform in front of the restaurant.

Treatment in Hainan

If you decide to relax on this island, then you will definitely be advised by traditional Chinese medicine.

It is worth noting that in the city of Sanya you can find more than a dozen branches of well-known medical centers in Beijing and Dalian. These centers offer various traditional Chinese treatments for rejuvenation and healing.

In addition, on the island you can try to be treated with radon and potassium-sodium thermal waters in the popular springs of Hainan Island. Since the springs contain a large amount of fluorine, silicic acid and radon, they have a beneficial effect on the skin and joints.

It is believed that these procedures can help those who have problems with the musculoskeletal system, nervous system (insomnia, migraine, neuralgia), skin and respiratory organs.

It also offers the following treatments:

• acupuncture
• qigong (therapeutic gymnastics)
• acupressure
• phytotherapy (herbal treatment)
• ear massage (auriculotherapy)
• aromatherapy
• sand treatment.

Medical procedures on the island can help with:

• problems with the spine (arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica)
• problems with prostatitis
• gynecological problems
• problems with alcohol, tobacco and/or drug addiction
• problems with diabetes
• problems with gastritis
• overweight problems.

With all of the above, it is worth remembering that with some ailments it is better to consult a doctor. Before leaving, do not forget to take out medical insurance. According to the Federal Tourism Agency, in the first place in the list of insured events are colds and infectious diseases, followed by digestive problems, and in third place are injuries and bruises of various types.

Day four.

Having planned a trip to three different places at once, we were only able to get out of the hotel at eleven. A thunderstorm raged at night and only at half past nine the weather improved and Yulia and Max went swimming. I was sleeping because I went to bed very late writing these notes.
We chose the Taoist center - Dun Tian as the first destination. It is part of the Nan shan park, but is located on the other side of the mountain. As I was told, the Taoist Center is not a tourist place, but a religious one. Pilgrims from all over China come here and, according to legend, here is the habitat of one of the dragons who created the earth.

It turned out to be quite a long drive to get there, much longer than yesterday to Nan Shan. The fact is that the entrance to it is located on the other side of the peninsula, which can only be reached by taking the highway leading to the capital of Hainan - Haikou. It is worth noting that we bargained for a taxi for 180. Maybe someone will be able to do it cheaper, but I was satisfied. After all, the distance turned out to be much more than we expected.
Entrance to the park cost us 71 yuan for two, in addition, we were given 3 types of tickets, the 2nd of which we managed to find a use for, if anyone knows, tell me, otherwise Yulia does not find a place for herself. :)

Going down to the coast, we found a map with a description of places worth visiting. But we never found where we are. So the map was useless.

The same card. Find yourself:)

We took 10 yuan electric bus tickets round trip. We naively assumed that the principle of operation of these buses, as in Nan Shan, but no ...

When we almost passed one of the sights, we asked the driver to stop. He, of course, did not understand but stopped. We went out, took a quick picture, but realized that if we hesitate, he will just leave :)
They sat back down and didn't come out again.

The end, I must say, came very quickly. Our trip took about 2 minutes. The bus stopped and we were shown where to go. Well, we went.

We went up to the temple, located nearby, they were not allowed to take pictures there, but we were not upset, we bought incense sticks there, set them to smoke.

We reached the birthplace of the dragon, if I understand correctly. Basically, all the memorable places in this park look like stones, hieroglyphs of various sizes on them.

What we have successfully fixed :)

We must pay tribute to this park, unlike yesterday, there are inscriptions in Russian too, not quite correct and sometimes very funny :)

There was also the inscription “Steep descent”, which made me very happy :)

We started climbing up. Higher and higher up the stone ladders, hoping to see something unusual. After quite a long time (I did not carry a watch with me), we realized that this something was very high. On the way up this staircase, we met a lot of stones with hieroglyphs. But a little more time passed and the stones disappeared, there was only one staircase up. But retreat is not in our principles, and we, with Max in our arms, climb up.

Climbing to such a peak you get better. There is simply no strength to be angry. Although you can't tell from the photo :)

It was strong. It seems that there used to be a hermit's dwelling, but apparently everything has changed :)

Nevertheless, there was a magnificent view from there.

In general, we were in a state close to Nirvana. Apparently it was meant to be. We were wet through, and the weather was sunny and very hot. But my physical beginning, unfortunately, prevailed over the spiritual and went down.
The return trip was fast.
Summarizing, I can’t say how long the ascent took, but I know for sure that our entire walk, in a generally small park, took 4 hours.

After that, we decided to go to Oceanarium. We were dissuaded, they said that the picture was depressing, poor maintenance of animals, etc., etc., but we decided to please Max, as he is very tired of what interests us.
And they didn't regret it. I won't say that the aquarium met my expectations (at least I expected to see fish there), but there we took two cool pictures of Max with a turtle and a crocodile and watched a good show with sea lions. Max liked it.

Rest after a hard day...

Then there were many pools with different temperatures. All sources are natural. The fact is that Hainan Island is of volcanic origin, volcanic activity ceased 8 thousand years ago, but many hot springs are scattered throughout the island, one of which is Nan Tian.
There is a cool pool with coconut milk (we tried in vain to smell the coconut, but could not), with coffee beans, coffee smells - class.
Heaven on earth is here :)

The effect is the same as from the bath, only more powerful.
All the fatigue from climbing to the top was gone.
We went back to the hotel on the 9 o'clock bus. The children's pool was already closed at 8 o'clock already and Max was very bored, so we decided to repeat the next day.
I forgot to say about a very unusual pool with fish. When you lie down in it, the fish begin to pleasantly bite the skin all over the body. At first, it becomes unbearably ticklish, so everyone laughs very contagiously :)

We called it the pool of laughter. They say that it is very useful for the skin, the fish remove dead scales and it rejuvenates :)

Good thing it's not piranha :)

This story is one of a series of stories about our trip to Hainan Island in October 2006.

The Taoist temple complex is located in the southwest of Nanshan Mountain and is considered one of the oldest structures of its kind in China: it was founded in 1247 during the reign of the Song dynasty. This place is sacred to all Chinese followers of Taoism - one of the most revered religions in China. According to legend, it is here that the Southern Dragon lives - one of the four rulers of the world.

Followers of Taoism come here to bow to him and ask for help in the temple built in his honor. Especially often fishermen turn to him about sending down a good catch and salvation in the waters of the sea. Many legends are associated with this place.

Dong Tien is located on a picturesque seashore and is rightfully considered the first tourist area of ​​the Celestial Empire - the scenery here is so beautiful! No wonder the Chinese themselves call this place “Wonders of the Sea and Mountains”: the Heavenly Grottoes Park with bizarre caves and heaps of stones, majestic mountains and caves is really an ideal place for a happy life: it’s no secret that there are a lot of centenarians on Hainan Island. Pine dracaena cambodiana - a relic tree, endemic to the island - has become a symbol of longevity in China. You will see such a pine tree at the age of 6 thousand years on the territory of the temple complex. 30 thousand pines of this rare species grow here.

Visit the Taoist Heavenly Grottoes Park, take a walk through the shady pine park and the picturesque shoreline of the sea, philosophize. No wonder the name of this place from Chinese sounds like “Happy place where the gods live”!