A trip to Tropical Sanya, at the southernmost tip of Hainan island, was once considered a death sentence for hardened convicts. But more recently, it's become a life-affirming holiday retreat, best enjoyed at one of the five-star resorts fringing Yalong Bay (our resort of choice this time was the chic but chilled Hilton). While you could easily spend your entire 24 hours lounging by the poolside, here are some more adventurous options.

 

 

7:30AM: Fuel up on the massive spread of Chinese dim sum and Western-style breakfast items at Hilton's Big Kitchen. Choose an alfresco seat and enjoy the lush tropical garden views and salty breeze from the sea, only a two minutes' stroll from your table.

 

8:30AM: Rent a taxi for the day (some of these destinations are a bit out of the way) and head for the wharf to Wuzhizhou Island.

 

9:30AM: Hop on a ferry to Wuzhizhou Island, which boasts even better sea views than Yalong Bay. The island wasn't developed until the 1990s so it's still a haven of crystal-blue waters and tall Abor trees, framed by steep mountains that seem to pierce the sky. Walk along the seashore or take an electric cart between the main scenic spots.

 

 

9:50AM: Test your courage at Lover Bridge, so named because of the tight hand-holding that occurs as couples cross the swinging chain bridge leading to an old PLA watch tower over the sea.

 

10:30AM: Wuzhizhou Island offers some of the best diving in China. Snorkel alongside shoals of colorful tropical fish among the coral reefs just off shore, or take a boat out to deeper ocean (accompanied by skilled instructors).

 

12:30AM: The seafood plaza on the island is a great lunch stop for a reasonably priced buffet of fresh fish, shrimps, crabs and other tasty creatures of the deep.

 

 

1:30PM: After lunch, take a short walk west of the plaza until you arrive at the Goddess Matsu Temple, the patron saint of fishermen. Pass by Sunrise Rock, the highest lookout point of the island, then skedaddle down the mountain to Lover Island, where two giant stones stand face-to-face weathering a thousand years of ebb and flow. You'll also find a range of high-adrenaline watersports, including waterskiing, paragliding, offshore fishing, motorboating and windsurfing.

 

3PM: Take your taxi to Nantian Hot Springs, where you can soak in pools of different temperatures and functions. There are coconut and coffee flavored pools, waterfall pools, perfume pools, Chinese herbal pools, ice spring pools and, if you dare, a 'fish therapy' pool full of nibbling minnows.

 

 

7PM: Head back to the hotel for an elegant dinner at the Hilton's China Harvest, where you can taste authentic Chinese cuisine from different regions, including local classics like Hainanese chicken rice.

 

9PM: Walk along the beach by starlight, take a late-night dip, or kick back with a glass of wine and live jazz at .IZE bar, enjoying the resort-like atmosphere, but also the knowledge of what lies beyond the hotel lobby.

 

 

TRAVEL PACK

 

Eat

Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa

Location: Yalong Bay National Resort District

Tel: 86 898 8858 8888

sanya@hilton.com

 

Play

Wuzhizhou Island

Location: Haitang Bay Town, Sanya

Tel: 86 898 88751258

 

(That's Shanghai by Rita Ma July 6, 2007)