The Da Xiaodongtian Tourist Area in Sanya is located in Yazhou District, Sanya City, Hainan Province, about 40 km away from the urban area of Sanya. The total area of the scenic area is 22.5 square kilometers, and it is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area.
The scenic area has distinct features. With the context of "Fairyland on Earth, Spectacular Scenery of Sea and Mountains", and taking Taoist culture, longevity culture, and South China Sea dragon culture as the main lines, it integrates wedding services, science popularization and research learning, coastal leisure, aerial sightseeing, and maritime experiences. Here, there is unique natural scenery of mountains and seas. The beautiful scenery is composed of mountains, seas, rocks, and forests. There are peculiar and beautiful sea views, mountain views, rock views, and cave views, known as "the most famous landscape in Qiongya in eight hundred years". The scenic area also has a rare tropical coastal plant ecosystem in China. There are more than 30,000 dragon's blood trees, known as the "Immortal Pine of Nanshan", which is one of the oldest species on the earth.
The Taste Seaview Restaurant in the scenic area has a total floor area of 8,470.25 square meters and a total building area of 5,300 square meters, which is a relatively large catering building in the scenic area.
History and Culture
The Da Xiaodongtian Tourist Area in Sanya has a long history. It was first established in 1187 AD and has a history of more than 800 years. In 1022 AD, Ding Wei, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, was exiled to Nanshan and brought Taoist culture here. In 1187, Zhou Kang, the Zhijun of Jiyang, searched for Taoist culture and discovered Da Xiaodongtian. He also opened up scenic spots such as "Stone Boat" and "Stone Chamber", and left cliff inscriptions such as "Record of the Cave Entrance" and "Record of the Stone Boat". In 1247, Mao Kui, the magistrate of Yazhou, developed Da Xiaodongtian with the perspective and concept of Taoist culture, making it a Taoist scenic spot. He also left famous cliff inscriptions such as "Spectacular Scenery of Sea and Mountains" and "Xiaodongtian", from which the name of the Da Xiaodongtian Scenic Area originated.
Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, this place has been renowned as a fairy cave in the world. It can be compared with the three immortal islands in the East Sea in legends, namely Penglai, Yingzhou, and Fangzhang, and is known as the Immortal Island in the South China Sea, attracting many people seeking the Tao. It is the birthplace of Taoism in Hainan. Bai Yuchan, a famous Taoist priest and the fifth patriarch of the Southern Sect in the Song Dynasty, once lived in seclusion here, built Taoist temples, and spread Taoist cultural and philosophical ideas. Historical relics such as the "Fairy Altar" and "Fairy's Footprint" still remain in the scenic area.
In modern times, in 1962, Guo Moruo, a Chinese archaeologist, was invited by the Party Committee of Yaxian County to proofread the ancient "Yazhou Annals". He once visited and was full of praise. He created the poem "Visiting Aoshan in Yaxian County" and praised it as "A Marvelous Land in the Southern Ocean". In 1993, Jiang Zemin, who was the President of the People's Republic of China at that time, inspected Hainan and came to the scenic area. He inscribed the words "The blue sea stretches to the sky, and Qiongya is full of spring". In 2014, when Jiang Zemin revisited Da Xiaodongtian, he inscribed the words "Fairyland on Earth".
Main Scenic Spots
Nanhai Fumen (South China Sea Blessing Gate)
It is the same style as the "Gates of Heaven" in Bali and is a popular photo check-in spot. The photos taken here have a great effect. There are also various shooting props such as a glass church and a white auditorium around it.
Group Statue of Monk Jianzhen
This statue was erected to commemorate Monk Jianzhen's six voyages to Japan to spread Buddhism. He was drifted to Sanya, Hainan due to a typhoon on his fifth voyage. It has profound historical and cultural significance.
Xiaodongtian
The strange and jagged rocks by the sea were formed by the erosion of the sea water over thousands of years. It looks like a cave but is not exactly a cave. The words "Xiaodongtian" are inscribed at the entrance of the cave, and it is a key cultural relic protected at both the city and provincial levels.
Shouzi Stele (Longevity Character Stele)
This stele was written by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty and was engraved and bestowed on Wang Geng, who was the Zhizhou (magistrate) of Yazhou (now Sanya City) at that time. It is a key cultural relic protected by Sanya City.
Immortal Pine of Nanshan
Its scientific name is Dracaena cochinchinensis. It appeared in the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs existed and is known as a living fossil among plants. It is a national second-class key protected tree species. There are more than 2,000 trees in the scenic area with an age of more than a thousand years, and the longest one is more than six thousand years old.
Xiaoyuewan (Little Moon Bay)
There are beaches and rock scenery distributed along the coast. The natural vegetation is well preserved, and it is a natural oxygen bar. The concentration of negative ions is as high as 8,000-10,000 per cubic centimeter.
Delicacies
Taoist Health-preserving Dishes
The Taste Seaview Restaurant and the Xuanmiao Pavilion Seaview Restaurant in the scenic area aim at health preservation. They use a large number of unique green raw materials in Hainan, combine the fine craftsmanship of Cantonese cuisine, and introduce the essence of Taoist health-preserving food from Chongyang Palace in Shaanxi Province and Baxian'an in Changlefang. They provide a series of Taoist health-preserving dishes and can undertake various banquets.
Seafood
The seafood market in the scenic area provides various fresh seafood. You can select the seafood and have it processed in nearby restaurants. There are also many seafood barbecue stalls around, offering grilled fish, grilled shrimp, grilled crab, etc., which are delicious. Sanya has a rich variety of seafood, including lobsters, prawns, crabs, red fish, etc.
Characteristic Snacks of Hainan
You can find snack shops of Hainan noodles, Qingbuliang (a kind of cold dessert), Jishiteng (a kind of snack made from a plant), and other characteristic snacks of Hainan around the scenic area. Qingbuliang is made by matching various ingredients such as coconut milk, red beans, mung beans, and red dates, and it is sweet and refreshing. Hainan noodles are made of smooth rice noodles with ingredients such as dried beef, peanuts, and shredded bamboo shoots, and then topped with brine, and the taste is rich.
Admission Ticket
The scenic area is free to visit, but you need to make an appointment for the admission ticket in advance through the mini-program.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are from 08:30 to 19:00, and entry stops at 19:00.
Tour Routes
You can first enter from the main gate of the scenic area, check in at the Taiji Square, and then go to Nanhai Fumen to take photos. Then you can choose to take the sightseeing bus in the scenic area. On the way there, you will pass the Group Statue of Monk Jianzhen, Nanhai Dragon King's Courtyard, Xiaodongtian, the Useless Tree, and the Maritime Entertainment Area in sequence. On the way back, you can visit the scenic spots one by one, such as Xiaodongtian, Shouzi Stele, and the Immortal Pine of Nanshan, and finally leave from the exit. You can also choose to visit on foot. Walk along the seaside plank road, enjoy the sea view and unique rocks. Pass through scenic spots such as Xiaoyuewan and Aoshan Shougu, and feel the tranquility and mystery of nature.
Transportation
- Public Transportation: You can take Bus No. 30 to the Da Xiaodongtian Station and then walk for 5 minutes to reach the scenic area.
- Self-driving: Navigate to the parking lot of Nanshan Da Xiaodongtian Tourist Area.
Must-visit Scenic Spots
- Nanhai Fumen: It has a unique architectural style and is a great place for taking photos, allowing you to take photos with the same effect as those taken in Bali.
- Xiaodongtian: It has a unique sea erosion cave landscape and a strong historical and cultural atmosphere, and is one of the iconic scenic spots in the scenic area.
- Immortal Pine of Nanshan: As one of the oldest species on the earth, it has extremely high ornamental and popular science value, enabling people to feel the magic of nature.
- Xiaoyuewan: The beach is delicate, the sea water is clear, and the natural environment is beautiful, making it a great place to relax.
Tour Suggestions
- Make an appointment for the admission ticket in advance through the mini-program to avoid delaying the itinerary.
- The scenic area is large, so it is recommended to take the sightseeing bus, which can save your energy and allow you to visit each scenic spot more efficiently.
- Take sun protection measures, bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to prevent sunburn.
- Prepare mosquito repellent liquid, as there are many plants in the scenic area and there are many mosquitoes.
- If you want to take beautiful photos, you can arrive at the scenic area early, avoid the peak tourist season, and reduce the queuing time.
Notes
- Comply with the regulations of the scenic area and do not randomly damage the environment and facilities of the scenic area.
- When playing by the sea, pay attention to safety, follow the signs in the scenic area, and do not approach dangerous areas.
- If you choose to take the sightseeing bus, get on and off at the designated stops and keep your ticket properly.
- When taking photos at the photo check-in spots, queue up civilly and do not scramble.