Tianya Haijiao Tourist Area in Sanya City is located about 23 kilometers southwest of Sanya City, Hainan Province, on the cape between Sanya Bay and Hongtang Bay. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area.
The land area of the scenic area is 16.4 hectares, and the sea area is 25 square kilometers. The scenic area is characterized by its beautiful and charming tropical coastal scenery and its long-standing and unique history and culture. There are many reefs of various shapes here. Among them, huge stones such as the "Tianya Stone", "Haijiao Stone" and "Southern Sky Pillar" have long become the iconic landscapes of Tianya Haijiao. There are also some characteristic buildings in the scenic area, such as the Imperial Edict Museum, which covers an area of about 4,000 square meters. The museum collects and displays a large number of imperial edicts and other cultural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
History and Culture
The name "Tianya Haijiao" has been around since the Tang and Song dynasties. Yang Yan, a prime minister in the Tang Dynasty, was exiled to Yazhou (now around Sanya). In his poem "Composed on the Way to Yazhou and Reaching the Ghost Gate Pass", he wrote, "Going ten thousand li away, never to return even after a thousand attempts. Where is Yazhou? I've passed the Ghost Gate Pass alive." This expressed his feelings about the remote land.
Hu Quan, a litterateur in the Song Dynasty, was once exiled to Jiyang Army (now Sanya). He also mentioned the concept similar to "Tianya Haijiao" in his poems. It was during the Qing Dynasty that "Tianya Haijiao" really became famous. During the Yongzheng period, Cheng Zhe, the Zhizhou (a local official) of Yazhou, inscribed the characters "Tianya" on a huge stone. In the Republic of China period, someone else engraved the characters "Haijiao" on another huge stone. Since then, "Tianya Haijiao" has become a landmark scenic spot and symbol of Sanya.
The "Southern Sky Pillar" got its name according to the inscription "Southern Sky Pillar" written by Fan Yunti, the Zhizhou of Yazhou in the first year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1909). It symbolizes a pillar supporting the southern sky and also implies the spirit of perseverance.
Main Attractions
Tianya Stone
The Tianya Stone is about 10 meters high, 6 meters long and 4 meters wide, standing majestically in the scenic area by the mountain and the sea. It is one of the core landscapes of the scenic area. The characters "Tianya" are vigorous, simple and elegant, witnessing the vicissitudes of history. It attracts countless tourists to take photos as souvenirs and feel the unique charm of Tianya Haijiao.
Haijiao Stone
The Haijiao Stone is located on the right side of the Tianya Stone. It stands abruptly by the sea, about 6 meters high, with a bottom perimeter of about 10 meters. The characters "Haijiao" are engraved on one side of the huge stone, with a strong and powerful font. Standing beside the Haijiao Stone, listening to the sound of the waves hitting the reefs and looking at the endless sea, you will feel as if you are at the end of the world.
Southern Sky Pillar
The Southern Sky Pillar is approximately 7 meters high. When viewed from the side, it resembles the "twin masts" rising from an ancient ship. Standing alone by the seaside, it has a narrower base and a slightly wider top. According to legend, it is the stone left behind by Nuwa when she mended the sky after Gong Gong furiously crashed into Mount Buzhou, causing the sky to tilt towards the northwest and the earth to sink in the southeast. It is full of mysterious charm.
Imperial Edict Museum
The Imperial Edict Museum covers an area of about 4,000 square meters and houses a large number of imperial edicts, imperial examination papers, plaques and other cultural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Through these precious cultural relics, tourists can learn about China's ancient politics, culture, imperial examination system and other aspects of knowledge and feel the profoundness of history.
Love Square
The Love Square covers an area of about 3,000 square meters and is the love-themed area in the scenic area. There is a huge love stone sculpture in the square, surrounded by various tropical flowers. This is a must-visit check-in place for couples. Many people make love vows here and leave beautiful memories.
Delicacies
Coconut Chicken
Coconut chicken is one of the characteristic delicacies of Sanya, with fresh coconut juice and chicken as the main ingredients. The chicken is stewed in sweet coconut juice. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the fragrance of the coconut juice is integrated into it. It tastes delicious and is rich in nutrition. In the restaurants around the scenic area, a serving of coconut chicken costs about 150 yuan.
Seafood Fried Rice Noodles
Seafood fried rice noodles are made with fresh rice noodles and are stir-fried with seafood ingredients such as shrimps, squids and shellfish. The rice noodles are smooth and slippery, and the seafood is delicious. With the embellishment of scallions, chili peppers and other seasonings, it is full of aroma. A serving of seafood fried rice noodles costs about 30 yuan.
Qingbuliang (Tonic Dessert)
Qingbuliang is a characteristic dessert in Hainan, composed of various ingredients such as coconut milk, sago, red beans, mung beans, coix seeds and taro. On a hot day, having a bowl of Qingbuliang can not only relieve the heat and quench thirst but also replenish the nutrients needed by the body. Qingbuliang around the scenic area costs about 15 yuan per bowl.
Wenchang Chicken
Wenchang chicken is one of the "Four Famous Dishes" in Hainan. The chicken has thin and smooth skin and fat and tender meat. There are usually many cooking methods such as plain boiled and braised in soy sauce. Plain boiled Wenchang chicken can best reflect its original flavor. In the restaurants near the scenic area, half a Wenchang chicken costs about 80 yuan.
Admission Tickets
The admission ticket price for Tianya Haijiao Tourist Area in Sanya City is 81 yuan per adult. Children under 1.2 meters in height, the elderly over 70 years old (with valid identification documents), active-duty military personnel (with valid certificates), disabled people (with disability certificates), etc. can be exempted from the ticket. Children between 1.2 meters (inclusive) and 1.4 meters (inclusive), the elderly between 60 years old (inclusive) and 69 years old (inclusive) (with valid identification documents), full-time undergraduate students and below (with valid student ID cards), etc. can enjoy preferential tickets, and the price is 40 yuan per person.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open throughout the year, from 07:30 to 18:20. Tourists need to enter the scenic area for sightseeing within the opening hours and arrange their time reasonably.
Tour Routes
Recommended tour route: After entering from the scenic area gate, first go to the Love Square to feel the romantic atmosphere and take photos. Then follow the seaside promenade to the Tianya Stone and Haijiao Stone to admire the iconic landscapes. On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful sea view and the scenery of the reefs. Then go to the Southern Sky Pillar to learn about the legends and cultural connotations behind it. Finally, you can go to the Imperial Edict Museum to visit the precious cultural relics and learn about history and culture. If you have enough time, you can also rest on the beach in the scenic area and enjoy the sunshine and the beach.
Transportation
- By Bus: You can take buses such as No. 14, No. 16, No. 25, No. 26 and No. 55 to reach the Tianya Haijiao Tourist Area Station. The first and last bus times are roughly between 06:30 and 20:00, and the fare is between 2 and 10 yuan depending on the route.
- By Taxi/Online Car-hailing: Taking a taxi or online car-hailing from Sanya urban area to Tianya Haijiao Tourist Area costs about 50 to 80 yuan, and the journey takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Self-driving: Starting from Sanya urban area, you can reach the scenic area via Fenghuang Road, Shuijiao Road and other roads. The scenic area has a parking lot, and the parking fee is about 5 to 10 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Tianya Stone: About 10 meters high, 6 meters long and 4 meters wide, it is the iconic landscape of the scenic area. The characters "Tianya" are simple and elegant, carrying historical culture, and it is a must-visit check-in point for tourists.
- Haijiao Stone: About 6 meters high, with a bottom perimeter of about 10 meters, engraved with the characters "Haijiao", standing by the sea, giving people a feeling of being at the end of the world.
- Southern Sky Pillar: About 7 meters high, with a unique shape, full of mysterious legends, symbolizing the spirit of perseverance, it is a landscape that cannot be missed in the scenic area.
- Imperial Edict Museum: Covering an area of about 4,000 square meters, it houses a large number of Ming and Qing cultural relics, allowing tourists to have an in-depth understanding of ancient Chinese history and culture.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to arrive at the scenic area early in the morning to avoid the peak tourist period, so that you can visit each scenic spot more easily and don't have to queue for too long when taking photos.
- Since the scenic area is along the coast, the ultraviolet rays are strong. Remember to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats and other sun protection products to prevent sunburn.
- When dining in the restaurants in the scenic area, you can try the local characteristic delicacies, but pay attention to checking the prices to avoid unnecessary consumption disputes.
- If you want to have an in-depth understanding of the history and culture behind the scenic spots, you can hire a tour guide in the scenic area for explanations, or use the audio guide service provided by the scenic area.
- When participating in sea activities, follow the arrangements of the staff, wear a life jacket and ensure safety.
Precautions
- Do not climb the reefs casually in the scenic area to avoid accidents.
- Take good care of the environment of the scenic area, do not litter everywhere, and keep the scenic area clean.
- Take good care of your personal belongings, especially in crowded places, to prevent the loss of property.
- If you bring children or the elderly, pay attention to their safety at all times to avoid getting lost or having accidents.
- When taking a bus to the scenic area, pay attention to the last bus time and arrange the return time reasonably.