A holiday destination where summer never ends

Two children play on a beach in Sanya. — Xinhua

Crystal clear seawater, fine white-sand beaches, azure skies, tropical fruit, seafood — that's what we want in a tropical holiday.

In Sanya, the southernmost city in Hainan Island, there's all that, plus romance. There are sunset dinners on the beach, mountain-top views of land and sea, wedding pictures on the beach and total privacy in exclusive luxury hotels with secluded bungalows.

"Sanya is the only place in China without winter," said Tang Sixian, deputy director of the Sanya Tourism Development Commission.

True, Sanya is the only place with bright sunshine and tropical breezes, so you don't have to take a long flight to Hawaii, Bali or the Maldives. And in winter you'll see many people from icy northeastern China or Russia sunbathing.

On average there are seven hours a day of sunshine in Sanya and in Hainan, and the average temperature is 25.4 degrees Celsius all year. Almost every day is a sunny day.

After a three-hour plane flight from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to Sanya Phoenix International Airport, you step off the plane to a warm salty breeze, Hawaiian shirts and coconut palms.

Locals enjoy a slow pace of life, lingering over tea in the morning and napping after lunch.

Sanya has many pleasures for lovers and newlyweds.

For romance, weddings and honeymoons, Banyan Tree Sanya is ideal, cradled in enchanting Luhuitou Bay. Its 49 villas on pools, streams and lagoons are scattered throughout tropical forest. The resort offers magnificent vistas of sea and sky. Dining on the beach is unforgettable.

Mushrooming hotels

Resorts and hotels are mushrooming in Sanya so visitors have many options: beachside resort hotels, hot spring hotels, mountain forest hotels, golf resort hotels and resort villas.

Sanya is also family-friendly and hotels welcome children and the elderly.

Yalong Bay, a major resort area, and Dadonghai, Sanya and Haitang bays, have coral reefs teeming with marine life. They are popular for ocean sports and seafood feasts.

Yalong Bay is often called China's top beach. Dadonghai is among tops for beach volleyball, swimming and bars. Haitang Bay is famous for hot springs and shopping centers. Xiaodonghai is a very secluded retreat where privacy is guaranteed.

Watching the sunrise or sunset from the top of Tropical Heaven Forest Park is an unforgettable experience. The rain forest park in the southeastern part of the city is filled with stunning scenery. From the pagoda on the highest mountain, you have a panoramic view of Yalong, Sanya and Haitang bays.

The 1,506-hectare park contains 1,500 varieties of plants and almost 200 animal species. Luxury houses can be rented on the top of the mountain where visitors can enjoy the natural habitat with all its sounds, as well as refreshing, mood-lifting negative ions.

Guojianglong Rope Bridge is the island's highest and longest suspension bridge. It's narrow and one-way and as you walk you can feel the ropes trembling as the wind blows. When you reach the middle, you feel suspended in the air, with the trees spread out below.

The bridge is 168 meters long and 40 meters above the bottom of the valley. Looking over the South China Sea to your right, you feel as though you are walking between sky and sea.

Also known as Lovers' Bridge, legend has it then when couples cross the bridge hand in hand, they will be together forever.

Soaking in hot springs is also romantic. At Nantian Farm in Haitangwan Town, a large thermal area is considered among the top hot springs in China. The water in many pools is filled with beneficial minerals.

"Kissing fish" therapy is famous. Tiny fish less than 2cm long nibble and suck away dead skin and bacteria, stimulating blood circulation.

The spa service is delightful.

Sanya's night sky is famous, appreciated from the beach, forest and mountains.

Its night life is famous as well. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, night clubs with live music and dancing. Outdoor bars and restaurants along Dadonghai Bay are a real treat where you can enjoy the freshest seafood and drinks in the tropical breeze.