2 days in Sanya: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 4 of 5 free; paid: Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:30 each day
- Start and finish
- Phoenix Island → Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone
- On foot
- ≈ 0 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 43 min
- Lunch
- around 12:06
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- November to April.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Sanya09:30–15:28 · 3 places · 6 h
Phoenix Island
· 45 min · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Luhuitou Park
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Dadonghai Bay
· 2 h · Free
Day 2 · Sanya09:30–16:30 · 2 places · 7 h
Tianya Haijiao
· 2 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 60 min · transport or taxi
Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone
· 3 h · ≈ ¥130–160 with park train
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
4 of 5 are free; 1 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Phoenix Island | 43 | 45 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Luhuitou Park | 36 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 3 | Dadonghai Bay | 38 | 2 h | Free |
| 4 | Tianya Haijiao | 21 | 2 h | Free |
| 5 | Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone | 19 | 3 h | ≈ ¥130–160 with park train |
| Total | 9 h 20 min | 4 of 5 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Phoenix Island. A reclaimed island with five egg-shaped towers. No free entry — see it from the shore, lit up at night.
- 2
Luhuitou Park. A hill with a 12 m deer statue and a view over the city. Free with a passport; the buggy is 28 yuan.
- 3
Dadonghai Bay. The city bay with a 3 km sandy beach. Free; swim by day in the lifeguarded zone.
Day 2
- 4
Tianya Haijiao. The 'End of the World' shore of giant granite boulders. Free with an online passport booking.
- 5
Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone. A seaside Buddhist park with a 108 m Guanyin on an island. About 130–160 yuan with the park train.
Who this route is for
- A week in Sanya
- Temples and the sea
- By taxi or with a driver
- Monkey Island is in Lingshui, a separate trip
- Yanoda needs another day
November to April.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Sanya itinerary. Day two goes west: the End of the World and Nanshan are on the same road, so a taxi for the day works well.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Nanshan
Entry with the park train is about 130–160 yuan (unofficial), open roughly 8:00–17:00. The Guanyin statue stands on an island reached by a causeway. Allow about three hours.
Is 2 days in Sanya enough?
For the city and the west, yes. Monkey Island has a cable car over the sea to the macaques, about 154 yuan; Wuzhizhou is a 144-yuan return ferry.
How to do it right
- Book the End of the World online with your passport.
- Dress modestly for Nanshan's temple.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- A taxi for the day to Nanshan beats two separate rides.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Sanya?
Day one: Phoenix Island, Luhuitou, Dadonghai. Day two: the End of the World and Nanshan.
How much is Nanshan?
About 130–160 yuan with the park train.
Do I need to book the End of the World?
Yes, online with your passport; entry is free.
How far is Nanshan?
About 40 km west of Sanya.
Is 2 days in Sanya enough?
For the city and the west, yes; the islands need more days.
How much does it cost?
Almost free on day one, 130–160 yuan on day two.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; a train runs through Nanshan park.
When is the End of the World open?
Roughly 8:00–18:00, until 18:30 in summer.
When is the best time?
November to April.
How do I pay in Sanya?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Sanya Tourism
- Wikipedia: Nanshan Temple (Sanya)
