Luhuitou Park
Sanya, China
Phoenix Island, Sanya
i
Photo: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free from the shore; island by booking
- Hours
- Promenade open 24 hours; towers lit every evening, unofficially 19:30–23:00
- Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Island access
- Hotel guests or proof of a purchase on the island, checked at the bridge
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - View from the shore
- Free
- Light show
- Nightly, about 19:30–23:00 (unofficial)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Bridge entrance
- Sanya Bay Road (三亚湾路) at Guangming Road (光明路)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - From downtown (Jiefang Road)
- Taxi 5–10 min, or about 1 km on foot to the bridge
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - From Phoenix Airport (SYX)
- ≈ 30 min by taxi
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your foreign card, or cash in yuan
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Visa
- Hainan: 30 days visa-free for 61 countries, including the US, UK and Australia
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Artificialisland reclaimed from Sanya Bay, built from the late 2000s into the 2010s
Sourcei
English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia≈ 395 mbridge to the shore; other sources give 394 m long and 17 m wide
2 sourcesi
English and Russian Wikipedia (395 m)Huanqiu, 2016, and intotravelchina.com (394 m)Five towersoval hotel and apartment blocks — Sanya's skyline icon
2 sourcesi
intotravelchina.comHuanqiu, 2016≈ 36.5 haisland area (365,000 m²)
Sourcei
Russian and Chinese Wikipedia≈ 1.25 kmlong and about 350 m wide; Russian Wikipedia gives 1,100 by 370 m
Sourcei
English and Chinese WikipediaMAD Studiothe Beijing architecture firm behind the design
Sourcei
English and Russian WikipediaCruise portan international terminal for liners plus a yacht marina
3 sourcesi
Chinese WikipediaHuanqiu, 2016OpenStreetMap凤凰岛the Chinese name, said “Fenghuang Dao”
2 sourcesi
Chinese WikipediaWikidata Q7186912≈ 1.8 kmin a straight line from mid-island to Jiefang Road downtown
Sourcei
our measurement from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata coordinates30 daysvisa-free on Hainan for ordinary passports from 61 countries
Sourcei
National Immigration Administration of China, 20 August 2026Can you visit Phoenix Island?
Not as a casual walk-in. A guard post sits at the start of the bridge, and according to travel guides it lets through people with a room key or booking at one of the island's hotels, or proof of something bought on the island — dinner, a yacht trip, a tour. Cruise passengers come and go through the island's port. We found no official rules, so treat this as how it usually works.
If you get through, a free electric shuttle runs to the towers; on foot it's about 15 minutes across the bridge and island. For everyone else the good news is that the island is built to be looked at: the best views are from the shore, and they cost nothing.
What is Phoenix Island?
It's a reclaimed island in Sanya Bay, facing downtown Sanya on the south coast of Hainan, joined to the mainland by a bridge of roughly 395 m. The island is about 1.25 km long and 350 m wide, covering some 36.5 hectares. Its Chinese name, 凤凰岛, means Phoenix Island.
Rising straight out of the water are five oval towers designed by Beijing's MAD Studio, holding a hotel and serviced apartments. The southern tip has an international cruise terminal and a yacht marina. From the promenade the towers seem to float on the bay, which is why they've become the city's postcard image.
Phoenix Island light show: times and best viewpoints
Every evening the tower façades turn into giant screens — shifting colours, moving patterns, and themed programmes around festivals. Travel guides say the lighting was upgraded in 2024 and runs roughly from 19:30 to 23:00. We couldn't find an official schedule, so get there just after sunset.
The best free viewpoints are the Sanya Bay promenade north of the bridge, the seafront squares along Sanya Bay Road, and Luhuitou hill, where the island sits in front of the whole city. Bring a mini tripod or rest your phone on a railing — handheld night shots blur. For a view from the water, take an evening cruise around the bay.
How to get to Phoenix Island
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 Sanya (Jiefang Road), a taxi or DiDi takes 5–10 minutes. Show the driver 凤凰岛大桥 (Phoenix Island bridge); the bridge starts where 三亚湾路 (Sanya Bay Road) meets 光明路 (Guangming Road).
- On foot from the southern end of Jiefang Road it's about 1 km in a straight line to the bridge — 15–20 minutes through the blocks to the sea.
- By bus: there's a stop called 凤凰岛 by the bridge. Guides list different routes (8, 9, 15, 16, 19, 25, 26), so check the current number in a map app before boarding.
- Without a booking, turn onto the promenade at the bridge: the Coconut Dream Corridor (椰梦长廊) runs north along Sanya Bay Road and frames all five towers with the bridge.
- For the view from above, head up to Luhuitou Park, about 2 km from the island across the river mouth — a 10–15 minute taxi ride.
Is Phoenix Island worth it?
As a view, yes — it's the defining image of Sanya, and half an hour on the promenade at dusk is time well spent. As a destination in itself, not really: there's no museum, park or ticketed attraction, and without a booking you won't get past the bridge.
Fit it into an evening rather than making a special trip. Combine a beach afternoon at Dadonghai or Yalong Bay, sunset on Luhuitou hill, then dinner on the Sanya Bay waterfront with the towers glowing across the water.
What to see on and around Phoenix Island
- The five-tower skyline by day, best from the promenade north of the bridge.
- The evening façade lighting — the main reason to come.
- The bridge itself, with views of the cruise terminal and the yachts.
- Sunset over Sanya Bay, with the towers turning into a silhouette.
- The classic panorama from Luhuitou Park: island, fishing boats, city and mountains in one frame.
- For guests: the waterfront around the towers, the marina and the hotel's viewing decks.
Staying on Phoenix Island
A room in the towers buys you the island itself, quiet evenings away from the crowds, and views of the city and hills. The trade-off is the beach: Sanya Bay's sand is coarser and better for strolling than swimming, so you'll travel for a proper swim. Some listings in the towers are private apartments rather than the hotel — check that the address really is on the island, not just 'island view'.
Before your evening at Phoenix Island
Ready: 0 of 6Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Sanya after dark: where to go
Every Sanya place worth an evening visit, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Phoenix Islandyou are here | 43 | 45 min | Free | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dadonghai Bay | 38 | 2 h | Free | 3.9 km |
| Luhuitou Park | 36 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 33 min walk |
An evening of beach, hilltop sunset and island lights
Afternoon on Dadonghai beach, sunset from Luhuitou hill, then the promenade facing Phoenix Island once the towers light up. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Dadonghai Bay2 h · Free
- 40 min walk from the previous stopLuhuitou Park1 h 30 min · Free entry; cart 28 yuan return
- 33 min walk from the previous stopPhoenix Islandyou are here45 min · Free from the shore; island by booking
3 places · about 5 h 28 min with walks · 73 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
How to do it right
- Arrive on the promenade just before sunset and stay half an hour after — you'll see the towers in daylight and lit up.
- For the postcard shot, go up to Luhuitou Park while it's still light.
- Don't plan a walk on the island without a booking — the bridge guards may turn you back.
- The beach facing the island is for strolling; swim at Dadonghai or Yalong Bay instead.
- Coming from the airport, tell the driver 'island', not 'Phoenix Airport' — the names are easy to mix up.
Questions
Can you go to Phoenix Island in Sanya without staying there?
Usually not. Guards at the bridge reportedly admit hotel guests and people with a purchase on the island, such as a meal or yacht trip. Cruise passengers pass through the port. Everyone else can watch from the free promenade.
Is there an entrance fee for Phoenix Island?
No ticket covers the island itself — access depends on a booking. Viewing it from the Sanya Bay promenade or Luhuitou hill costs nothing.
What time is the Phoenix Island light show?
Every evening after sunset; travel guides say roughly 19:30–23:00. We couldn't find an official timetable.
Where is the best place to see Phoenix Island?
The Sanya Bay promenade (Coconut Dream Corridor) north of the bridge for the full skyline, and Luhuitou hill for the panorama with the city behind.
How do I get to Phoenix Island?
Take a taxi or DiDi to 凤凰岛大桥, the bridge at Sanya Bay Road and Guangming Road — 5–10 minutes from downtown, about 30 from the airport. City buses stop at 凤凰岛; check the route number in a map app.
Is Phoenix Island worth visiting?
As a view at dusk, yes. As a place to explore, not without a hotel booking — there is no public attraction on the island itself.
What are the buildings on Phoenix Island?
Five oval towers by Beijing's MAD Studio holding a hotel and apartments, plus a cruise terminal and yacht marina at the southern end.
Is Phoenix Island man-made?
Yes. It was reclaimed from Sanya Bay and covers about 36.5 hectares, linked to the city by a bridge of roughly 395 m.
Do I need a visa for Hainan?
Ordinary passport holders from 61 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can stay on Hainan for up to 30 days without a visa, counted from the day after entry.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Phoenix Island, Atlantis Sanya; Russian Wikipedia: Феникс (остров); Chinese Wikipedia: 凤凰岛; Wikidata Q7186912
- Huanqiu (huanqiu.com): article on Phoenix Island, 6 December 2016
- intotravelchina.com: Sanya Phoenix Island, undated
- OpenStreetMap: coordinates of the island, cruise port, Jiefang Road and Guangming Road
- National Immigration Administration of China: Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals, 20 August 2026
Top YesGo picks: Sanya
Dadonghai Bay
Sanya, China
Yalong Bay
Sanya, China
Tianya Haijiao
Sanya, China
Nanwan Monkey Island
Sanya, China
Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park
Sanya, China
Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone
Sanya, China
Yanoda Rainforest Park
Sanya, China
Wuzhizhou Island
Sanya, China