Hainan sits at the same latitude as Hawaii, has genuine white-sand beaches and coral, and functions as China's domestic tropical resort. It also has something no other Chinese province has: its own 30-day visa-free entry scheme for 59 nationalities arriving directly at Haikou or Sanya, entirely separate from the mainland schemes.
That makes it the easiest part of China to visit on short notice — and, for the same reason, an odd first impression of the country, since Sanya's resort strip resembles Sanya far more than it resembles China.
Visa-free entry#
Nationals of 59 countries — most of Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Russia and others — may enter Hainan visa-free for 30 days when arriving directly at Haikou Meilan or Sanya Phoenix airports for tourism.
The limitation that matters: the permission covers Hainan province only. Travelling on to the mainland under this scheme requires a visa or separate visa-free eligibility.
What has changed, and what most guidance still gets wrong, is that this is no longer Hainan's only route in. The December 2024 revision added Hainan to the 24 areas open to 240-hour visa-free transit, so a traveller who qualifies for that scheme can now reach the island under it and move on to the mainland within the permitted zone — something the provincial scheme has never allowed. Which route suits you depends on your passport, your onward ticket and where else you are going; the visa guide sets out both, and the entry-route tool has a Hainan-only option that decides between them for you.
Confirm details with your local Chinese embassy before booking anything non-refundable.
Sanya#
The resort city on the southern coast, with three main bays:
Yalong Bay — the best beach, the cleanest water, and a wall of international five-star resorts (Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, St Regis). Quiet, expensive, and slightly isolated from anything else.
Dadonghai — mid-range, walkable, lots of restaurants, and the most convenient base if you do not want to be resort-bound. Historically the Russian-tourist district, with menus and signage to match.
Sanya Bay — long, urban, cheapest, and the water is less good.
Haitang Bay — the newest resort strip, and home to the CDF Mall, the largest duty-free shopping complex in the world. Duty-free shopping is a genuine phenomenon here: Chinese travellers fly to Hainan specifically to buy cosmetics, watches and luxury goods under the island's generous allowance. It is a domestic allowance rather than a route around your own customs, and what the numbers on a Chinese cosmetics box actually mean is worth two minutes before you join the queue.
Wuzhizhou Island — snorkelling and diving, heavily developed and busy but with real coral. Diving is on the national catalogue of activities a venue needs its own licence and certified staff to sell.
Nanshan Temple — a large modern Buddhist complex with a 108 m statue of Guanyin standing in the sea. Impressive at the scale it is going for.
The rest of the island#
Almost nobody who flies to Sanya sees this, and it is the more interesting half.
Wuzhishan and the interior — mountains, rainforest, waterfalls and the villages of the Li and Miao peoples, Hainan's indigenous populations. Cooler than the coast and green year-round.
Boao — a quiet coastal town on a river mouth, known for the annual Boao Forum.
Wanning and Riyue Bay — China's surfing centre, with a genuine small surf scene and consistent waves from October to March.
Haikou — the provincial capital in the north, with an atmospheric old town of colonial arcade buildings on Qilou Old Street, volcanic craters nearby, and prices roughly half those of Sanya. Underrated.
Wenchang — coconut plantations and the Chinese space launch site, which is open to visitors on launch days.
Practicalities#
- Season: November to April is dry, sunny and warm (24–28°C) and is peak season. May to October is hot, humid and wet; September and October carry real typhoon risk. On an island that matters more than on the mainland, because ferries and boat trips are suspended before the city itself closes — what each warning colour actually stops is worth reading before you build a day around the water. Chinese New Year is the single most expensive week of the year here — resort rates can quadruple.
- Getting there: direct flights from most Chinese cities and a growing number of international ones. A high-speed rail loop circles the island, connecting Haikou and Sanya in about 90 minutes.
- Days needed: four nights for a beach stay, a week to include the interior.
- Food: Wenchang chicken, Hele crab, Dongshan mutton and Jiaji duck are the "four famous dishes". Coconut everything. Excellent, cheap seafood at the night markets — pick your fish and pay for the cooking.
- Prices: Sanya is one of the more expensive places in China. Haikou is not.
Frequently asked questions#
Can I visit Hainan without a visa?#
Yes, if you hold a passport from one of 59 eligible countries and arrive directly at Haikou or Sanya. The permission allows 30 days for tourism within Hainan province only — travelling on to mainland China requires a visa or separate visa-free eligibility.
When is the best time to visit Hainan?#
November to April, the dry season, with temperatures of 24–28°C and low rainfall. Avoid September and October for typhoon risk, and Chinese New Year, when resort prices can quadruple.
Is Sanya worth visiting?#
For a beach holiday, yes — Yalong Bay has genuinely good sand and water, and the resort standard is high. As a way of seeing China, no: Sanya is a resort strip that could be almost anywhere. Pair it with Hainan's interior or Haikou for something more interesting.
Is Hainan expensive?#
Sanya is one of the more expensive destinations in China, particularly in the resort bays and during Chinese New Year. Haikou and the island's interior are considerably cheaper, often at roughly half Sanya's prices.
Can you surf in China?#
Yes — Riyue Bay near Wanning on Hainan's east coast is China's main surfing centre, with a small local scene, board rental, schools and consistent waves from October to March.