# Tianya Haijiao, Sanya > Tianya Haijiao (天涯海角, “the edge of the sky, the corner of the sea”) is a stretch of coast scattered with giant granite boulders, 23–24 km west of downtown Sanya. Entry is free, but you must book a slot online with your passport. It opens daily from about 8 am to 6 pm (unofficial). Allow two hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/tianya-haijiao - City: [Sanya](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya), China - YesGo score: 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, with advance booking - How to book: WeChat mini-program “三亚天涯海角游览区”, or Alipay / Meituan; passport details needed - Hours: Daily ≈ 8:00–18:00, until 18:30 in summer; last entry ≈ 30 min before - Park shuttle: ≈ ¥25, optional; under 1.2 m free - From downtown Sanya: 23–24 km: taxi or DiDi 30–45 min, city bus 1–1.5 hours - Time needed: ≈ 2 hours; half a day with beach time - Payment: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your foreign card, or cash in yuan - Visa: Hainan: 30 days visa-free for 61 countries, including the US, UK and Australia - Coordinates: 18.29110, 109.34700 - Facts checked: 04.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Free** — entry since 1 June 2023 — book online and bring ID (source: Sanya municipal government, announced in China Daily (30 May 2023); Chinese Wikipedia) - **23–24 km** — west of downtown Sanya (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia (24 km); Travel China Guide (23 km)) - **≈ 2 hours** — to walk to the main rocks and back (source: YesGo estimate; East China Trip — about 30 min on foot between the main rocks) - **1733** — when the characters 天涯, “edge of the sky”, were carved into the rock (source: Chinese Wikipedia; tonkosti.ru) - **1909** — the Nantian Yizhu inscription — “Pillar of the Southern Sky” (source: Chinese Wikipedia; English Wikipedia (inscription by Fan Yunti)) - **¥2 note** — the Pillar of the Southern Sky appears on the back of the fourth-series 2-yuan note (source: English Wikipedia, Fourth series of the renminbi) - **Not the southernmost point** — despite the legend — Jinmu Cape lies further south (source: English Wikipedia, Tianya Haijiao) - **≈ 15 km** — as the crow flies to Nanshan — an easy pairing (source: YesGo calculation from Wikipedia and Wikidata coordinates (Q857031)) - **Sun and Moon** — a pair of boulders seen as husband and wife — a favourite with newlyweds (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia) - **30 days** — visa-free on Hainan for ordinary passports from 61 countries (source: National Immigration Administration of China, 20 August 2026) ## Do you need tickets for Tianya Haijiao? No ticket, but you do need a booking. Sanya's government made Tianya Haijiao **free from 1 June 2023**, and entry now works by reservation: a zero-yuan slot for your date, tied to your passport. Older guides and some ticket sites still quote ¥68–95 — those are pre-2023 prices. Book through the park's WeChat mini-program, “三亚天涯海角游览区”, or by searching 天涯海角 in Alipay or Meituan. Enter your name and passport number exactly as printed, then show the booking and your passport at the gate. On Chinese public holidays the daily quota can run out, so book a day ahead. If a reseller asks for money, you're buying a bundle — transfer, shuttle or photos — not entry itself. > **Set up Alipay before you go** Booking, DiDi rides and the park shuttle are all easiest with **Alipay** or WeChat Pay linked to your foreign Visa or Mastercard — set it up before the trip. Carry some cash in small notes for vendors and the bus, and your passport for the gate. ## Opening hours The park opens **every day**. We couldn't confirm the hours from an official source: travel guides give roughly 8 am to 6 pm, extended to 6:30 pm from March to September, with last entry about 30 minutes before closing. Other sites quote anything from 7:30 am to 7 pm, so check the time slot when you book. Come at opening time. Mornings are cooler, the light is softer and the tour coaches arrive later. There's almost no shade on the sand or around the rocks, and the sun bites even in winter. ## How to get to Tianya Haijiao 1. From downtown Sanya (Jiefang Road) or Sanya Bay, a taxi or DiDi is quickest: 23–24 km, 30–45 minutes. Show the driver 天涯海角 on your screen; DiDi shows the fare before you book. 2. By city bus: several routes run west along the Sanya Bay seafront to the Tianya Haijiao (天涯海角) stop, taking 1–1.5 hours for a few yuan. Guides disagree on the numbers — **16, 25, 30 and 55** come up most often, and route 25 is said to start from Dadonghai. Check the route in Amap or Alipay before you board. 3. From the stop it's a few minutes' walk to the gate. Inside, a seafront path — or the optional shuttle — takes you to the Tianya and Haijiao rocks. 4. There's no train: Hainan's ring railway has no Tianya Haijiao station. The nearest are Sanya and Phoenix Airport, and you'd still need a taxi. 5. The no-fuss option is a guided tour, usually combined with Nanshan and including a hotel pick-up. ## What to see at Tianya Haijiao - **Tianya Rock** — the boulder carved with 天涯, “edge of the sky”, in 1733. This is the shot everyone comes for. - **Haijiao Rock** — next to it, carved with 海角, “corner of the sea”, in the 1930s. Together they give the park its name. - **Pillar of the Southern Sky (Nantian Yizhu, 南天一柱)** — a tall rock inscribed in 1909 and pictured on the back of the old 2-yuan note. Bring one and compare. - **Sun and Moon Rocks (日月石)** — two boulders said to be husband and wife; newlyweds pose here, and legend promises lasting love to couples who reach them together. - The beach itself: golden sand, rolling surf and dozens of oddly shaped boulders, many with their own names and stories. - The seafront walk between the main rocks — about 30 minutes each way. ## Is Tianya Haijiao worth it? If you like places with a story and dramatic rocks by the sea, yes — it's one of Hainan's best-known sights, and it no longer costs anything to get in. In Chinese, 天涯海角 is a set phrase for “the ends of the earth”, so for Chinese visitors coming here is a bit like standing at Land's End. It's not a quiet beach. Expect crowds, wedding shoots and photographers touting for business, and surf around the rocks — we found no designated swimming area. If swimming is the point, spend the day at [Yalong Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay) instead. And despite the legend, it isn't China's southernmost point: Jinmu Cape lies further south. ## How long do you need? About **two hours** covers the walk from the gate to the main rocks, photos and a little time on the sand. Make it half a day if you want to linger by the sea. Including the ride from town, budget three to four hours in total. ## Tianya Haijiao and Nanshan in one day Both sit west of Sanya on the same road: [Nanshan](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/nanshan-temple) is about 40 km from the city, Tianya Haijiao 23–24 km, and they're roughly 15 km apart as the crow flies. That's why almost every day tour pairs them — the Buddhist park and its 108-metre Guanyin statue in the morning, the rocks after lunch, back in town for dinner. Nanshan charges admission (see its page for current prices); Tianya Haijiao is free with a booking. A taxi or DiDi between them takes around half an hour. By bus the day gets long and involves changes, so without a car a tour is the easier choice. ## Tianya Haijiao vs Nanshan and Luhuitou | | Tianya Haijiao | Nanshan | Luhuitou | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Where | 23–24 km west of downtown | ≈ 40 km west | In town, above Dadonghai | | Entry | Free, booking required | Paid | Free with passport | | Highlight | Inscribed rocks by the sea | Buddhist temple and a 108 m Guanyin | Views over the bays and city | | Pair with | Nanshan | Tianya Haijiao | An evening in Dadonghai | Unofficial, from English Wikipedia, Travel China Guide and Ruqin Travel. Prices and hours for Nanshan and Luhuitou are on their own pages. ## Best time to visit The most comfortable months are **September to April**, drier and less humid. July to October is Sanya's wettest stretch, and summer and autumn bring typhoons: when a storm warning is issued, the city closes beaches and boat trips, and the surf around the rocks turns dangerous. Keep a spare day in your plans and watch the forecast. Chinese public holidays and the winter high season fill the park by midday. If your dates overlap, book early and arrive at opening time. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Zero-yuan entry booking for your date - [ ] Passport in your bag - [ ] DiDi installed and 天涯海角 saved on screen - [ ] Alipay linked to a foreign card, plus some cash in yuan - [ ] SPF 50, hat and water — there's little shade - [ ] Comfortable shoes for sand and rocks - [ ] No storm warning in the forecast ## Sanya's best views compared Every place in Sanya with a view, rated by YesGo. - [Phoenix Island](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/phoenix-island) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free from the shore; island by booking - [Luhuitou Park](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/luhuitou-park) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; cart 28 yuan return - [Tianya Haijiao](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/tianya-haijiao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, advance booking required - [Nanwan Monkey Island](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/nanwan-monkey-island) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ≈ ¥154 incl. return cable car - [Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay-forest-park) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥158 incl. shuttle; bridges extra - [Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/nanshan-temple) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ ¥130–160 with park train - [Yanoda Rainforest Park](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yanoda) — YesGo score 17/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h 30 min · ≈ ¥168 incl. park shuttle - [Wuzhizhou Island](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/wuzhizhou-island) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 144 yuan incl. return ferry ## West Sanya in a day Nanshan in the morning, the Tianya Haijiao rocks after lunch, Phoenix Island in Sanya Bay on the way back and the evening view from Luhuitou. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Zone](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/nanshan-temple) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ≈ ¥130–160 with park train 2. [Tianya Haijiao](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/tianya-haijiao) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free, advance booking required 3. [Phoenix Island](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/phoenix-island) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free from the shore; island by booking 4. [Luhuitou Park](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/luhuitou-park) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; cart 28 yuan return ## Good to know You may see Tianya Haijiao sold as “The End of the Earth” or “Edge of the World” — it's the same park. Hainan's own 30-day visa-free rule applies only on the island; travelling on to mainland China needs another basis for entry. ## Tips - Book your free slot the evening before — on holidays the day's quota runs out. - Arrive at opening: it's cooler and the Tianya Rock isn't yet surrounded by tour groups. - Skip the shuttle on the way out — the seafront walk is the best part; ride back if you're tired. - Bring a 2-yuan note for a photo of the Pillar of the Southern Sky next to its picture. - Agree a price with photographers before they start shooting, not after. - Pair it with Nanshan — they're on the same road west. ## Questions ### Is Tianya Haijiao free? Yes, entry has been free since 1 June 2023. You need a zero-yuan booking on WeChat, Alipay or Meituan with your passport details. Only the shuttle, lockers and photos cost money. ### How do I get to Tianya Haijiao from Sanya? Taxi or DiDi is quickest — 30–45 minutes from downtown. City buses run along Sanya Bay to the Tianya Haijiao stop in 1–1.5 hours; guides list routes 16, 25, 30 and 55, so check in Amap. ### What are the opening hours? Daily, roughly 8 am to 6 pm, until 6:30 pm in summer — unofficial. Your booking shows the exact time slots. ### How long should I spend at Tianya Haijiao? About two hours for the walk to the main rocks and photos, or half a day with beach time. Allow three to four hours including the ride from town. ### Can I visit Nanshan and Tianya Haijiao in one day? Yes. They're on the same road west of Sanya, about 15 km apart as the crow flies. Do Nanshan in the morning and Tianya Haijiao after lunch, by taxi or on a tour. ### Is Tianya Haijiao worth visiting? For its famous inscribed rocks and its story, yes — especially now that it's free. For a swim or a quiet beach, choose Yalong Bay instead. ### Can you swim at Tianya Haijiao? It's a walking shore with rocks and surf, and we found no designated swimming area. Swim at Yalong Bay or Dadonghai. ### What does Tianya Haijiao mean? “The edge of the sky, the corner of the sea” — a Chinese set phrase for the ends of the earth. The two halves, 天涯 and 海角, are carved on the park's two main rocks. ### Is Tianya Haijiao the southernmost point of China? No, though it's often described that way. Jinmu Cape on Hainan lies further south. ### 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. ## How we checked The English core comes from English-language search results and related questions. Free entry from 1 June 2023 is confirmed by the Sanya government's announcement in China Daily and by Chinese Wikipedia; recent 2026 guides describe a free passport-based booking. Travel China Guide still lists a paid ticket (¥68–81) — a pre-2023 price. The park's official channel exists only inside WeChat and can't be read by our tools, so hours, the shuttle fare and booking details are marked 'checking': sources give opening hours anywhere from 7:30 to 19:00. Bus numbers differ widely (7, 14, 16, 25, 26, 30, 32, 55, 57, 125); we list the ones that recur. There is no Tianya Haijiao railway station, per Wikipedia's station list. Taxi fares in sources range from ¥35 to ¥100, so we don't quote one. The distance to Nanshan is our own straight-line calculation from coordinates. Ctrip and Sina block automated requests and we didn't try to get round them. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Tianya Haijiao, Fourth series of the renminbi, Nanshan Temple (Sanya), Hainan western ring high-speed railway; Chinese Wikipedia: 天涯海角; Wikidata Q857031 - China Daily: Sanya's Tianya Haijiao to be free for visitors, 30 May 2023 — announcement by the Sanya municipal government - National Immigration Administration of China: Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals, 20 August 2026 - East China Trip: Tianya Haijiao Sanya Travel Guide, 6 August 2026; China Survival Kit: Sanya Tianya Haijiao Guide, updated 8 October 2026 - Ruqin Travel: How to book tickets for the top attractions in Sanya, 2 April 2026; Travel China Guide: Beaches in Sanya, 8 August 2025 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.