What’s the current weather in Sanya China? How do I get around the island? Where are the best beaches? All the answers to your FAQ’s are here in this post! (And I’ve been there 5 times…so I’ve got ya covered!)
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What’s the Current Weather in Sanya China?
So I’m neither a prophet nor a weather app…but believe it or not, your trusty smartphone’s built in weather app can probably tell you specifically what the weather is like in Sanya, China. Just type “Sanya” in the search box!
But if you want generals (for future trip planning purposes), I’ve got you covered!
In short, you can go to Sanya at ANY time of the year, and have beach-friendly weather! There was only one winter when I was there, and we had a few days that were actually a bit too chilly for the beach.
To expound a bit as I’ve been to Sanya at different times of year during my travels, here’s what I can tell you about the weather from experience!
| Months | Temperatures | Humidity | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January – February | Moderately warm, can have “sweatshirt” weather occasionally | Relatively low, quite comfortable | Very little, if any. Winter months are the “dry” season. |
| March – April | Very warm, midday sun can be quite hot. | Rising humidity, still not unbearable, but “tropically humid”. | A bit more rain than usual. |
| May – August | Extremely hot. Midday sun can be brutal, avoid sun during 12-2pm. | VERY humid! Full-on tropical humidity. | Rain is more common, but not at all daily. It usually passes quickly. |
| September – October | Very warm, midday sun is quite hot. | Humidity levels are dropping, but are still moderately high. | The most rainfall happens during this period, typhoon season. |
| November – December | Moderately warm, very comfortable for beach. | Relatively low, quite comfortable | Very little rain during these months. |
As I said earlier, you’ll have good beach weather no matter what time of year you go to Sanya! The biggest thing about the timing is actually the people, not the weather. The crowds in Jan/Feb get BIG due to Lunar New Year.
Which Sanya China Beach Should I Stay At?
Glad you asked! This post I wrote goes over the four major beaches in Sanya, and can give you more details!
I’ve been to each of those four beaches, and love them all for different reasons. They all have their own vibe and reasons to be visited. Personally though, I felt that Dadonghai Bay had the best of everything.
Cozy beach vibes, tons of restaurants and hotels, and party vibes at night (with lots of other foreign tourists) makes Dadonghai the most balanced beach area, in my opinion.
Houhai Bay is the party beach, Yalong Bay is the quite, more natural beach, and Sanya Bay is the canonical beach which runs along the city center. Dadonghai is in between all of them, and has elements of each.
How Do I Get Around Sanya?
Sanya is SUPER easy to navigate! Here are the main tourist-friendly ways to get around:
- Rental bike via Alipay or WeChat
- Rental e-bike (like a Vespa type vehicle)
- Cab hailing
- Public bus
Rental Bike
I LOVE a bike ride in beachy weather! Seriously, biking along palm tree lined streets is my therapy.
If you can get Alipay set up prior to coming, you can use their Hello Bike mini app to scan blue rental bikes for just about 30¢ USD (¥1.5 RMB) for every 15 minutes!
WeChat bikes are green in color, and work the same way. Also quite cheap! With all kinds of rental bikes, you scan a QR code on the bike to unlock it, and then simply slide the tire lock into place when you arrive. Easy!
Rent an Ebike/Moped/Vespa
China is BIG into its electric bikes/mopeds. In Sanya, they’re easy to rent, and very easy to drive!
Rental will cost you anywhere from $8-15 USD for the day (¥50-100 RMB), so this option is also quite affordable!
To rent, you’ll just find a vendor, find a bike that looks good (usually the newer ones that get better mileage per battery charge cost a bit more), pay in cash or via WeChat/Alipay, and you’re off!
I just want to note that you will be required to pay a deposit, which is usually anywhere from $50-100 USD (¥300-600 RMB). They’ll pay this deposit back when you return the ebike, just be back before they close!
Also, it’s a law in Sanya that ALL riders, whether driver or passenger, must wear a helmet at all times. This is strictly followed by locals, and the rental company will provide you with helmets. Be sure to wear them!
Hailing A Cab
Using apps like Didi, WeChat, or Meituan, you can easily call a cab if you have the address of arrival in your phone.
However, if you’re new to China and don’t have these apps, fear not! There’s no shortage of colorful taxi cabs bustling around, and it’s easy to flag one down.
Just make sure to ONLY get into a taxi cab, and not to get into random non-taxi looking cars with strangers. Usually these “fake taxis” will overcharge you a lot.
Most cars that you can hail via apps will NOT be taxis, and this is OK since the app will take care of the rate meter for you (similar to Uber, where your “cab” is just a normal car).
Other than calling “plain-clothes cabs” over apps, NEVER get into an unmarked taxi!
Public Buses
China’s public transportation system is actually really easy to use! You’ll need small bills though, so you may want to either bring cash or have a shop help you break down a larger bill.
Most smartphone map apps will help you to navigate using public transportation. I’ve always used Apple Maps on my phone without issues!
Just drop in your fare when boarding the bus (usually no more than ¥2-3 RMB) and you’re off!
Which Hotels in Sanya China are Best?
Another question which I’ve already answered in a post! Mainly, it comes down to which beach you want to stay at. There are TONS of great hotels, within all kinds of price ranges!
Hotels in Sanya range from cheap/bare minimum to high-end luxury, and each of the four bays has plenty of each!
So I would say, focus on the location first. Decide which beach to stay at and then determine your budget for your hotel. You’re sure to be able to find something that suits you at that beach!
What Should I Pack for my Trip to Sanya China?
Honestly, you need less than you think! A lot of things (toiletries, sunscreen, etc) can be easily bought there.
Here’s what I brought for a 2-week vacation:
- Shoes (flip flops & going-out shoes)
- 2 swimsuits
- One cover up
- 2 sundresses
- 2 evening outfits for going out
- 1 pair shorts
- 2 t shirts
- A few underwear items (during the day my swimsuit is usually my “underwear”)
- Personal items like deodarant, makeup, etc.
And that’s really it for personal stuff. Sunscreen, aloe gel (a must for sunburns) and other necessities can be bought at shops in Sanya.
Depending on your hotel, they’ll provide you with beach towels and daily toiletries like toothbrushes/shower stuff. So there may not even be a need for that!
Aside from that, there isn’t too much to worry about packing for Sanya! And again, there are SO many shops where you can buy something if you forgot to pack it.
Are there Any Safety Issues in Sanya China?
As with any party destination, drunken people can do drunken things. In China, mainly that involves people getting loud, clumsy, occasionally aggressive…but honestly, compared to other countries, it’s very mild.
In China, they say that if there’s a fight, the loser goes to the hospital, and the winner goes to jail. Drunken brawls really aren’t tolerated here, but thankfully they’re the “worst” of the alcohol-related issues.
Of course, one should always be careful when swimming in the ocean. Sanya has rip-tides and currents, just like any other beach. The seasonal weather in Sanya China can also have an impact on this.
At certain times of the year, the sand fleas and mosquitoes can be awful, and bug spray is even more essential than sunscreen! You can buy it at most shops in Sanya. We would use a bottle in a week during peak bug times!
It’s important to always keep an eye on your belongings, whether out for a party, or at the beach relaxing. China is honestly pretty good when it comes to theft, and it’s minimal. I’ve never had issues with theft in Sanya.
However, things can happen. So if you’re traveling solo, be sure to swim where you can keep an eye on your belongings, and if you’re with friends, just take turns either swimming or watching the stuff.
That’s really it for safety tips! I have a more detailed post on general health precautions to take in China here, as well as some practical advice for preparing for your trip to China here.
So that covers all of the basics, from current weather in Sanya China, to hotels and beaches, even down to packing and safety tips. Still have questions? I’d love to answer them! Drop them in the comments!
You may also like:
Hotels in Sanya China: A Local’s Advice
Sanya China Beach Guide: All You Need To Know