Evening cruise on Sanya Bay

The city from the sea

By day you look out to sea from the promenade. In the evening the view turns round: the boats head out into Sanya Bay, and the city lies before you as a band of lights — the Coconut Dream Corridor with its illuminated palms, the downtown high-rises and, brightest of all, Phoenix Island with its curving towers, whose façades become giant screens at night.

In Chinese it's simply called yèyóu Sānyàwān, “night trip on Sanya Bay”. Depending on the boat a trip lasts 70 to 90 minutes and passes Phoenix Island as far as Luhuitou hill.

Many boats, one route

There isn't one evening cruise but several operators with their own boats. The biggest are modern excursion ships with three decks, room for a few hundred guests, a snack bar, music and sometimes a small show on board. One operator sails a replica of a Ming-era Chinese treasure ship, modelled on the fleet of the seafarer Zheng He.

Which boat you get depends on the offer you book. Pier and time are in the booking — the piers are at different points around the bay, so read the confirmation carefully.

What to expect

The evening cruise isn't a quiet nature experience but Chinese excursion tourism at its best: loud, colourful and cheerful. On deck people crowd the railing, filming and singing. For the best view, go straight to the upper deck after boarding and find a spot on the land side.

The price is remarkable: simple tickets cost the equivalent of about €11 per person. More expensive packages combine the trip with dinner or transfers — neither is necessary.

The picture at the start

The cruise fits well at the start of the trip. In one evening you see almost everything the following days show in more detail: the promenade, the artificial island, the hill with the deer legend. And you understand at a glance why Sanya is considered a glitter city in China.