Hainan Province, which comprises the Hainan Island, and the Xisha, Nansha and Zhongsha Islands on the South China Sea, is the only tropical island province of China under a tropical marine monsoon climate. In 1988, Hainan was designated as the largest special economic zone in China, thereby making the giant leap from an economic backwater to a front-runner in reform and opening up to the outside world.

TALE OF TWO CITIES

Haikou
Haikou is capital of Hainan Province as well as a rising international tropical tourist seaside city. As befitted its reputation as a "Coconut City", the air of Haikou is filled with the aroma of coconuts and the smell of the sea. Haikou also woos visitors from around the world with a myriad scenic spots and places of cultural interest. These include Haikou Park, Five Lords' Temple, Hai Rui's Tomb, Holiday Beach Resort, and amusement Park-on-the-Water, just to mention a few.
Sanya

Lying on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, the city of Sanya is skirted by mountains on three sides, and its 180-km-long coast is covered with whitish fine sand. The sea close by features a flat bottom and gentle waves that are ideal for swimming, scuba experiences, surfing and motorboat racing. Lagoons, islands, coconut tree groves, beaches and caves are trump cards for Sanya to attract visitors. With 300 fine days a year, Sanya is a famed tourist city and wintering resort. Major seaside attractions: Yalong Bay, Tianyahaijiao ("The end of Earth and The Corner of the Ocean"), mirages, the Deer Looking Backward, Nanshan Cultural Tourist Zone, Sunrise Observation Deck, Sanya International Golf Club, and Sanya Tropical marine Zoo.

The beaches of Sanya are also home to some of the World’s best holiday resorts such as The Sheraton and Holiday Inn. All sorts of service facilities are available there, enabling visitors to play ocean sports as well as cliff climbing and golf. Sanya is FEIDA’s gateway to great diving in China including offshore world class dive locations like the Paracel Islands. FEIDA’s Member Service and Operation HQ is located along the Sanya Bay Beachfront.

CHINA'S holiday capital, Sanya is located in the extreme south of Hainan Island looking out on the South China Sea. With clear blue waters and white sand beaches along its south edge, lush green mountains to the north and palm trees just about everywhere, Sanya, made up of Sanya City and its surrounding area, is truly a tropical paradise with seemingly endless sun, fun and exciting activities for visitors of all nationalities, ages and interests. This is a good reason why FEIDA has decided to make its member and operation office here.

Of particular note among a surprising array of attractions in the Sanya area is Yalong Bay National Resort, a pleasant 20-minute drive from Sanya City. Offering superb golf facilities and international holiday resorts overlooking a world-class beach, Yalong Bay is a special pearl in area's crown.

Location
Situated at the southern-most tip of Hainan Island, Sanya lies in the southern valley of the Wuzhi Mountain range. Sanya has a population of about 450,000 and covers an area of about 1,900 sq km, with about 210 km of coastline highlighted by natural beaches, fresh sea breezes and crystal-clear waters. Sanya is located at 18° latitude and 108° longitude and adjoins Tongzha County to the north, Baoting and Lingshui counties to the northeast, and Ledong County to the northwest.

Climate
Located at the same latitude as Hawaii, Sanya enjoys a tropical oceanic monsoon climate with average temperatures of about 25º C in July and 28º C in January. Average annual sunlight is 2,563 hours, while average annual rainfall is 1,279 mm. Expect temperate conditions and fresh spring-like weather most of the year.

History
Human habitation of the Sanya area dates back 10,000 years. Sanya's earliest name is Yazhou and ancient relics have been found in and around Luobi Cave in Lizhigou Town near Sanya City. In addition, groups of ancient Persian tombs are located along the coast. Under Chinese Emperor Qingshihuang (221 BC), three counties were established in the south, one of which was Yazhou, or Xiangjun County. During the Tang Dynasty, emperors banished rebel officers to the area, which became known as the "End of the Earth" due to its remoteness in relation to the nation's capital. Sanya today benefits from central and local government initiatives aimed at developing Hainan Island's vast potential for tourism.

People
Sanya's population of more than 450,000 people takes in some 20 nationalities, including the Han, Li, Miao, and Hui. Increasingly, people from across China and elsewhere in the world are being drawn to Sanya's inviting climate and promising business environment to build a truly multi-cultural city.

Culture
Sanya's long history, traditional Chinese culture and wealth of ethnic minorities have merged and blossomed with a wide variety of enduring and endearing folk culture and art, as evidenced in local handicrafts, clothing and dance. Of special interest are legends and tales, music and sculpture guaranteed to enchant. Visitors to Sanya are well advised to take note of folk weaving techniques and their colorful results. Also of special note is the practice of Buddhism in the area and the introduction of Buddhist teachings and literature during the Tang Dynasty.

Diving Resorts

WUZHIZHOU Island
WUZHIZHOU Isand is located in 2.7 kilometers from the north-east seacoast of SANYA city. It’s a small island with freshwater resource and rich vegetation, which is rare around HAINAN Island. In WUZHIZHOU Island, the climate is mild, cool and the four seasons are joyful all year round, which is the ideal place for diving and many other tour projects. It has a good reputation as calling “China’s First Class of Diving Resort”. The western and northern area of this island is flat, and it is surrounded by silver sand. The sea water around it is very clear, and it riches in producing luminous snail, holothurian, lobster, sierra fish, sea urchin, pomfret and motley tropical fish. The coral reefs are protected well in the sea bottom of Southern, colorful and gorgeous, bizarre shape. There are some scenic spots on the island, such as MAZU temple, Lovers’ Bridge, Viewing Rock and Golden Tortoise Exploring the Sea, etc. Cameramen who have been there always have the plaint that there are so many prefect wide-angel lens view underwater that they have to give up taking close-view photographs.

FENJIEZHOU Island
If you drive in highway for more than 100 kilometers along the east beach line of HAINAN island, you will find FENJIEZHOU Island, which is located just one sea mile in the distance from the XIANGSHUIWAN, the exit of LINGSHUINIULING. The Island has silver sand beach, bluish green wave and odd rock, which seems to be the works of GOD. You can join some funny programs and supernatural excited activities, such as diving exploration for searching treasure, roaming underwater, look around the scene in submarine, etc.

XIAODONGHAI
XIAODONGHAI is one of Nature Protect Areas of coral-reef, sanctioned by State Council, it has large area of coal reef and tropic-fishes. There are many large-scale diving tour companies who run service of scuba diving. The diving projects include: Night-diving, Luminated roaming underwater, etc.

YALONGWAN
YALONGWAN is located in SANYA, where climate is pleasant and the scene is grazioso. The wave is calm in this bay, and the water is so clear to reflect the imaging like a mirror, the sand beach is white like silver. She has gained all tourists’ recognition as “You’ll never admire other seas if you have ever been to SANYA, and all bays are not real bay except YALONGWAN.” YALONGWAN’s water is so clear that you can look clear even more than 10 meters under the water.
YALONGWAN is one of most suitable places for diving in all bays of SANYA.