Luhuitou Park
Sanya, China
Dadonghai Bay, Sanya
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Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Beach open 24 hours
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 2 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Swimming
- Buoyed zone only, while lifeguards are on duty; unofficially 8:30–18:30
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Beach length
- ≈ 2.8–2.9 km
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Sea
- South China Sea; ≈ 23 °C in winter
- From downtown (Jiefang Road)
- ≈ 3 km: taxi 10–20 min, buses 2 and 8 to Dadonghai Square
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - From the airport
- Taxi 30–45 min; city bus 8
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - To Yalong Bay
- ≈ 20 km east
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card, cash yuan
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Freeentry to the beach and seafront at any hour
3 sourcesi
China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com)Travel China GuideEast China Trip≈ 2.8–2.9 kmof shoreline around a crescent bay
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China Daily — 2.8 kmTravel China Guide and East China Trip — 2.9 km≈ 3 kmfrom downtown — a bay right in the city
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English Wikipedia — about 2 kmTop China Travel — about 3 kmTravel China Guide — 4 kmSouth China Seawashes the bay and the whole south coast of Hainan
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English Wikipedia: Sanya≈ 23 °Caverage sea temperature in January and February
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Weather2Travelseatemperature.infoNovember–Marchthe most comfortable months: little rain, no typhoon risk
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Top China Traveltravelto.ruWeather2Travel大东海Chinese name, literally “Great East Sea”
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English WikipediaWikidata Q9857467 (spelling)≈ 20 kmto Yalong Bay
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travelto.ruChina Highlights (about 30 minutes by car from downtown)Water sportsbanana boats, jet skis, parasailing, boat dives, a semi-submersible
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China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com)Travel China GuideEast China TripTop China TravelIs Dadonghai worth it?
Yes — as a base, and for an easy beach day with dinner afterwards. Dadonghai is the only Sanya bay where you can walk from the sand to noodle shops, malls and bars without a taxi, and the beach is free, around the clock.
It is not Sanya's best water. The sea is cloudier than at Yalong Bay, boats and jet skis work the middle of the bay, and in high season the sand is packed. If clear water is the whole point of your trip, stay or spend a day at Yalong Bay; if you want the beach and the city together, Dadonghai is the practical choice.
Dadonghai beach and swimming
The beach is a crescent of about 2.8–2.9 km with a gentle sandy slope into the South China Sea; near the rocks at each end the bottom turns stony. Entry is free and the sand is open 24 hours. One guide gives the swimming zone hours as 8:30–18:30 — check the signs on the beach.
Sunshades, loungers and showers belong to the beach cafés and rental stands, and prices are negotiable, so agree on one before you sit down. Mornings are cooler, calmer and less crowded — the best time for swimming with children. Don't leave bags unattended on the sand.
Water sports are run from the beach: banana boats, jet skis, parasailing, boat dives and a semi-submersible for looking at the seabed. Ask what the price includes and haggle — rates are not fixed.
How to get to Dadonghai
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From downtown (Jiefang Road) it's about 3 km. A taxi takes 10–20 minutes and, unofficially, costs around 15 yuan. DiDi runs inside Alipay in English and accepts foreign Visa or Mastercard.
- City buses 2 and 8 run from downtown to the Dadonghai Square stop (大东海广场, Dadonghai Guangchang). Fares start at 2 yuan, paid in cash (no change) or by QR code. Sources disagree on route numbers, so check them in Alipay or Amap before you go.
- From the stop, walk across the square to the sea — 3–5 minutes.
- From Sanya Phoenix Airport (SYX) it's about 15 km as the crow flies: a taxi takes 30–45 minutes, unofficially 40–80 yuan; city bus 8 is cheaper and takes about an hour; some guides also list airport bus line 1 — check the numbers on arrival.
- Carry on along the coast to Yalong Bay, about 20 km east — easiest by taxi.
Best time to visit Dadonghai
November to March is the sweet spot: daytime highs around 25–28 °C, little rain, and the sea about 23 °C in January and February — fresh but swimmable. It gets hot from April, and May to October is humid with heavy tropical downpours.
Typhoon season runs from roughly June to October, peaking in August and September. When a storm warning is issued, the beaches close to swimmers and boat trips are cancelled, so leave a spare day in a summer or autumn itinerary. From December to April the typhoon risk is close to zero.
Things to do in Dadonghai
- Walk the seafront from Dadonghai Square to the eastern end of the bay — early morning or after sunset.
- Catch sunrise from the east side of the bay; for sunset, head up to Luhuitou Park for views over the bays and the city.
- Try a water sport — jet ski, parasailing or a boat dive, booked on the sand.
- Spend the evening on the bar strip along the shore, with seafood restaurants and live music.
- Day-trip to quieter bays — Xiaodonghai, 4–6 km away, for calm swimming, or Yalong Bay for Sanya's clearest water.
Where to eat
Everything is within a few blocks: noodle shops, Chinese and Russian-menu cafés, Western bars and chain fast food in the malls. Seafront restaurants are convenient but cost more than places one street back.
For seafood the local way, take a taxi to Sanya First Market, about 3 km north-west in downtown: you pick live fish and prawns at the stalls and a restaurant nearby cooks them for a fee. Watch the weighing and agree on the cooking price first. The small evening market in Dadonghai itself is a way to fill an hour, not a food destination.
Money, visas and staying connected
Hainan has its own visa-free scheme: ordinary passport holders from 61 countries — including the US, the UK and Russia — can stay up to 30 days for tourism or business, entering through any open Hainan port and staying within the province. China's nationwide visa-free and transit rules are separate — check your nationality before booking. Flights land at Sanya Phoenix Airport (SYX), 30–45 minutes from Dadonghai.
China runs on QR payments. Link your Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly; international cards also work at hotels and big malls but rarely at small cafés or beach stands, so carry some cash yuan in small notes. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked in China — sort out roaming or an eSIM that routes abroad before departure.
Dadonghai vs Yalong Bay vs Sanya Bay
| Dadonghaiyou are here | ≈ 3 km from downtown | Average, busy with boats | City: cafés, shops, bars | Beach and city on foot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yalong Bay | ≈ 20 km east, ≈ 30 min from downtown | Sanya's clearest | Resort hotels, a drive to town | Swimming and snorkelling |
| Sanya Bay | Along the city, closest to the airport | Weakest for swimming | City and a long promenade | Walks and sunsets |
Base yourself in Dadonghai for convenience, give Yalong Bay a full day for swimming, and save an evening for sunset on the Sanya Bay promenade.
Before you go: checklist
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Sanya's beaches and bays compared
Every bay and seaside spot in Sanya rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Phoenix Island | 43 | 45 min | Free | 3.9 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dadonghai Bayyou are here | 38 | 2 h | Free | — |
| Yalong Bay | 24 | 3 h | Free | 14.3 km |
| Tianya Haijiao | 21 | 2 h | Free | 19.8 km |
| Nanwan Monkey Island | 20 | 2 h 30 min | ≈ ¥154 incl. return cable car | 52.5 km |
| Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone | 19 | 3 h | ≈ ¥130–160 with park train | 34.3 km |
| Yanoda Rainforest Park | 17 | 3 h 30 min | ≈ ¥168 incl. park shuttle | 29.5 km |
| Wuzhizhou Island | 16 | 4 h | 144 yuan incl. return ferry | 27.5 km |
Three bays in a day
Morning swim in Yalong Bay's clear water, lunch and the beach in Dadonghai, sunset from the Luhuitou hilltop. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Yalong Bay3 h · Beach free; rentals extra
- 248 min walk from the previous stopDadonghai Bayyou are here2 h · Free
- 40 min walk from the previous stopLuhuitou Park1 h 30 min · Free entry; cart 28 yuan return
3 places · about 11 h 18 min with walks · 288 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Swim in the morning: calmer water, fewer boats and gentler sun.
- For sunset, go up to Luhuitou Park: the hilltop looks over both Dadonghai and Sanya Bay.
- Loungers, banana boats and jet skis have no fixed prices — agree before you start.
- Seafood is better value bought at Sanya First Market and cooked there than ordered on the seafront.
- Travelling in summer or autumn? Keep a spare day in case a storm closes the beach.
Questions
Is Dadonghai beach free?
Yes. The beach and seafront are free at any hour; you only pay for loungers, sunshades and water sports.
Can you swim at Dadonghai?
Yes, inside the buoyed zone while lifeguards are on duty. Boats run outside it, and the water is closed during storm warnings.
Is Dadonghai or Yalong Bay better?
Yalong Bay has clearer water and a calmer, resort feel. Dadonghai is closer to town and lets you walk to restaurants, shops and bars.
How do I get to Dadonghai from downtown Sanya?
Taxi in 10–20 minutes, or city buses 2 and 8 to the Dadonghai Square stop — check the route numbers in Alipay or Amap first.
How far is Dadonghai from Sanya airport?
About 15 km as the crow flies: 30–45 minutes by taxi, or about an hour on city bus 8.
When is the best time to visit Dadonghai?
November to March: dry, warm and outside typhoon season. The sea is about 23 °C in January and February.
What is there to do in Dadonghai?
Swim, try water sports, walk the seafront, catch sunrise from the east end and spend the evening at the bars along the shore. Luhuitou Park is next door for the views.
How far is Dadonghai from Yalong Bay?
About 20 km east — roughly half an hour by taxi.
Can I pay by card in Dadonghai?
International cards work at hotels and big malls. Elsewhere, pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your card, or with cash yuan.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com): Dadonghai Tourism Area — free entry, shoreline length, buses, water sports
- Travel China Guide: Dadonghai — shoreline, hours, buses, distances
- Top China Travel and East China Trip: Dadonghai Beach — season, swimming zone hours, airport buses
- travelto.ru: best beaches of Dadonghai — swimming zones, lifeguards, distances to Xiaodonghai and Yalong Bay
- China Highlights: guide to Sanya's bays
- Weather2Travel and seatemperature.info: Sanya climate and sea temperature
- English Wikipedia: Dadonghai; Wikidata Q9857467
- National Immigration Administration of China (NIA): Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals, 20.08.2026 — Hainan visa-free entry
- Baba Goes China: where to stay in Sanya — paying by card
- T—Zh (t-j.ru): paying in China — Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card
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