# Yalong Bay, Sanya > Yalong Bay (亚龙湾) is a crescent of fine white sand about 7 km long, roughly 25 km east of downtown Sanya on Hainan. The public beach is free and, unofficially, open around the clock; you pay only for loungers, water sports and food. Allow three to four hours, and come between autumn and April for the best weather. Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay - City: [Sanya](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya), China - YesGo score: 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Entry: Beach free; rentals extra - With kids: Fine with kids - Public beach: Free - Hours: 24 hours, unofficially - You pay for: Loungers, umbrellas, showers, water sports - Public section: Middle of the bay, by Yalong Bay Central Square - From downtown Sanya: ≈ 25 km: taxi or DiDi 30–40 min, city bus about an hour - From Phoenix Airport (SYX): Taxi 30–40 min; bus 27 or an airport shuttle line - Payment: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your foreign card, or cash in yuan - Best time: September to April; July–October is the wettest stretch - Visa: Hainan: 30 days visa-free for 61 countries, including the US, UK and Australia - Coordinates: 18.21083, 109.65444 - Facts checked: 04.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 7–7.5 km** — of crescent-shaped beach (source: English Wikipedia and Travel China Guide (7.5 km); Chinese Wikipedia and chinatravel.com (about 7 km)) - **Free** — entry to the beach — only services cost money (source: Travel China Guide; China Discovery) - **≈ 25 km** — east of downtown Sanya (source: Travel China Guide; chinatravel.com) - **30 days** — visa-free on Hainan for ordinary passports from 61 countries (source: National Immigration Administration of China, 20 August 2026) - **亚龙湾** — the Chinese name, said “Yalongwan” (source: Chinese Wikipedia; Wikidata Q8047513) - **National resort** — the bay is a state-designated tourism zone (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia) - **Coral reefs** — around the bay's islands — for snorkelling and diving (source: Chinese Wikipedia; chinatravel.com) - **22 °C+** — sea temperature off Sanya all year; Chinese Wikipedia gives about 20 °C in winter (source: English Wikipedia (Sanya); Chinese Wikipedia (亚龙湾)) - **July–October** — Sanya's wettest months (source: English Wikipedia (Sanya), climate table) - **Yalongwan station** — the bay has its own stop on Hainan's ring railway (source: English Wikipedia; China Discovery) ## Is Yalong Bay beach free and public? Yes. The sand is **free to visit** and, according to travel guides, open 24 hours — there is no ticket gate. What costs money is everything on top: loungers and umbrellas, showers and lockers, jet skis, kayaks and dives. The catch is that resorts line almost the whole shore, and their loungers, umbrellas and showers are for hotel guests. If you're not staying in the bay, head for the **public section in the middle**, around Yalong Bay Central Square, where you can rent a lounger and an umbrella. We couldn't confirm the exact boundaries from an official source. > **Sort out payment before you leave the hotel** Cash in yuan works, but most of China pays by phone. Link your foreign Visa or Mastercard to **Alipay** or WeChat Pay before the trip — it covers DiDi, beach rentals and cafés. Keep some small notes for vendors who don't take QR codes. ## How to get to Yalong Bay 1. From downtown Sanya (Jiefang Road) the easy way is a taxi or DiDi: about 25 km, 30–40 minutes. Show the driver 亚龙湾中心广场 — Yalong Bay Central Square. 2. By city bus: travel guides list route **15** from Dadonghai and the downtown streets, taking about an hour. Sanya's bus numbers change, so check the route in a map app before you board. 3. From Sanya Phoenix Airport (SYX): taxi 30–40 minutes. Guides also mention city bus **27** and an airport shuttle line to the bay; we couldn't confirm their timetables. 4. There's also Yalongwan railway station on the island's ring line, but you'll still need a taxi from the station to the sand. 5. Going back, order a DiDi from Central Square — the app shows the fare before you book, so there's nothing to explain to the driver. ## Is Yalong Bay worth it? For a beach day, yes — it's the best all-round swimming beach in Sanya: finer sand, clearer water and a gentler slope than the city beaches. It's not a place for sightseeing or nightlife, though, and the resort-lined shore can feel private. Come for the sea, stay three or four hours, and spend the evening back in town. If you're short on time and staying in town, [Dadonghai](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/dadonghai) gives you a decent swim without the 30-minute ride. If snorkelling is the goal, set expectations: it's pleasant, not Southeast-Asia spectacular. ## Yalong Bay vs Dadonghai, Sanya Bay and Haitang Bay | | Yalong Bay | Dadonghai | Sanya Bay | Haitang Bay | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Where | ≈ 25 km east of downtown | In town | Along the city, near the airport | ≈ 28 km north-east | | Beach entry | Free | Free | Free | Free | | Sea | Calm and clear | Shallow — waist-deep 15 m out | Coarser sand | Big waves, poor for swimming | | Around it | Resorts, few cafés | City, cafés, shops | City, restaurants | New resorts, duty-free mall | | Drive from downtown | ≈ 30 min | A few minutes | Close by | ≈ 40 min | Unofficial, from Travel China Guide and China Highlights. For swimming and snorkelling pick Yalong Bay; for an in-town base pick Dadonghai. ## Best time to visit Yalong Bay You can swim all year: English Wikipedia puts Sanya's sea above 22 °C in every month, while Chinese Wikipedia gives around 20 °C in winter. The most comfortable stretch is **September to April**, drier and less sticky. July to October brings the most rain. Summer and autumn are also typhoon season. When a storm warning is issued, the city closes beaches, islands and boat trips until it passes, so build a spare day into your plans and watch the forecast. Chinese public holidays and the winter peak fill the public beach — go on a weekday or early in the morning. ## Things to do at Yalong Bay - Snorkel off the reef-fringed islands — Travel China Guide says you can see down to about 10 m in clear water. - Jet skis, kayaks, sailing and guided dives — choose a licensed operator that gives a safety briefing. - Start at Central Square, with its tall totem pole, and walk the sand in either direction. - Ride up to [Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay-forest-park) on the hills above the bay for trails, viewpoints and the glass bridge — separate ticket. - Browse Hundred Flowers Valley shopping street and the International Rose Valley nearby. - Walk the full length of the beach at dawn, before the heat and the jet skis. ## Where to stay: in the bay or in town? Staying in the bay is the simplest way to enjoy it. Front-row hotels sit right on the sand; second-row ones are across the road, usually under a kilometre away, and some run a free beach shuttle. Many resorts also offer airport pick-ups. The trade-off is distance: restaurants, markets and day trips all mean a taxi. If you want both beach and town life, base yourself in Dadonghai and come out to Yalong Bay for the day. ## Eating and safety on the beach There are cafés and restaurants around the public beach and on Hundred Flowers Valley street; hotel restaurants cost noticeably more. With seafood, confirm the price per weight, the cooking fee and the total before you order. Swim in daylight where lifeguards are on duty, respect flags and closures, and use high-SPF sunscreen even in winter — the tropical sun burns fast. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Alipay linked to a foreign card, plus some cash in yuan - [ ] DiDi installed and 亚龙湾中心广场 saved on screen - [ ] SPF 50, hat, sunglasses and water - [ ] Own snorkel mask — more comfortable than rentals - [ ] No storm warning in the forecast - [ ] Passport — operators often ask for it ## Sanya's beaches and waterfront compared Every waterside place in Sanya 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 - [Dadonghai Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/dadonghai) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free - [Yalong Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Beach free; rentals extra - [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 - [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 ## A beach day with an evening in town The forest park above the bay in the cool of the morning, the beach after lunch, then Dadonghai and the views from Luhuitou in the evening. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [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 2. [Yalong Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/yalong-bay) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Beach free; rentals extra 3. [Dadonghai Bay](https://yesgo.io/china/sanya/dadonghai) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free 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 Yalong Bay in Sanya is not Ha Long Bay in Vietnam — the names are often mixed up. The Tropical Paradise Forest Park with its glass bridge is a separate, ticketed attraction on the hill. Hainan's own 30-day visa-free rule applies only on the island; leaving for mainland China needs another basis for entry. ## Tips - Arrive before 10 am — the sand is still cool and the light over the islands is better for photos. - Ask the price before you lie down on a rental lounger, not after. - Pair the beach with the forest park right above it. - Avoid Chinese public holidays if you can — the public beach fills up by lunchtime. - Carry your passport: dive shops and boat operators often ask for it. ## Questions ### Is Yalong Bay beach free? Yes, the public beach is free. Loungers, umbrellas, showers and water sports cost extra, and the resort sections with their loungers are for hotel guests. ### How do I get to Yalong Bay from Sanya? Taxi or DiDi is quickest — about 30–40 minutes from downtown. Travel guides list city bus 15 from Dadonghai, taking about an hour; check the route in a map app first. ### How far is Yalong Bay from Sanya airport? Around 30–40 minutes by car from Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX). Many resorts in the bay offer airport pick-ups. ### Is Yalong Bay worth visiting? For swimming and a lazy beach day, yes — it's Sanya's best all-round beach. For nightlife and food, Dadonghai or downtown is better. ### Yalong Bay or Dadonghai — which is better? Yalong Bay for cleaner water and a longer, calmer beach; Dadonghai for a city base with cafés and shops. Many visitors stay in Dadonghai and come out for a day. ### Can you snorkel at Yalong Bay? Yes, around the islands in the bay, where there are coral reefs and clear water. It's enjoyable rather than world-class; book with a licensed operator. ### When is the best time to visit Yalong Bay? September to April, when it's drier and less humid. Summer and autumn bring heavy rain and typhoons, which can close the beach for a day or two. ### 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. ### Is Yalong Bay the same as Ha Long Bay? No. Yalong Bay is a beach in Sanya on China's Hainan Island; Ha Long Bay is a limestone seascape in northern Vietnam. ## How we checked The English core comes from English-language search results and related questions. Beach length differs: 7.5 km in English Wikipedia and Travel China Guide, about 7 km in Chinese Wikipedia and chinatravel.com — we show both. Free entry is confirmed by Travel China Guide and China Discovery; 24-hour access comes only from unofficial guides, and chinatravel.com listed 7:30–18:00 back in 2021, so hours are marked 'checking'. Guides give different bus numbers (15, 24, 25, 27, 102 and airport shuttle lines) and we couldn't open an official Sanya timetable. Taxi fares in sources range from ¥30–50 to ¥60–80, so we don't quote one. Hainan's visa-free rule is from the official National Immigration Administration page; payment advice comes from travel guides, not banks. Ctrip blocks automated requests and we didn't try to get round it. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Yalong Bay, Sanya, Sanya Phoenix International Airport; Chinese Wikipedia: 亚龙湾; Wikidata Q8047513 - National Immigration Administration of China: Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals, 20 August 2026 - Travel China Guide: Yalong Bay and Beaches in Sanya, updated 8 August 2025 - China Discovery: Yalong Bay; China Highlights: Sanya Travel Guide - chinatravel.com: Yalong Bay Tourism Zone; goasia.cc: Yalong Bay, 20 October 2026; sunnyhainan.com — getting around Sanya --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.