Sanya advances modernization with transformative development

Dynamic Sanya has in recent years made an exponential transition from a small fishing village to a modern coastal city, riding exceptional momentum in its high-quality development.

It now aims to become a high-level international tourist destination and a science and technology innovation hub within the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Since 1986, Sanya has been pursuing the vision of becoming an "international tropical coastal tourism city."

Embracing a dual-cycle development model domestically and internationally, Sanya has been establishing an international yacht center and fostering the growth of offshore duty-free shopping – continuously enhancing the quality of modern tourism services.

On Sept 1, the Sanya International Duty-Free Complex celebrated its 10th anniversary, welcoming over 70 million global visitors in the decade.

With 45 major duty-free categories and more than 900 renowned domestic and international brands, the duty-free complex has facilitated the mass inflow of overseas consumers– benefiting from Hainan's free trade port policies and Sanya's efforts in establishing itself as a leading international tourism consumption hub.

During peak tourism seasons, Sanya witnesses over 700 yachts setting sail each day for sightseeing, with activities like fishing and surfing becoming popular choices for visitors exploring the coastal city.

Traditional attractions such as Luhuitou Park, Tianya Haijiao, and Daxiao Donghai now welcome visitors for free – while new formats like night tours, cultural and sports tours and family-friendly tours continue to emerge.

With 16 overseas routes now opened to international tourists, "Sanya vacations" are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for numerous families.

What's more, Sanya is positioning itself as a developing hub for science and technology innovation within the Hainan FTP. Leveraging the local Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City or YZBSTC, Sanya is focusing on future industries in deep-sea exploration and tropical agriculture.

Annually, around 7,000 agricultural experts from over 800 national research institutes, universities and enterprises travel to Sanya.

Nearly 20,000 new crop varieties – constituting over 70 percent of China's newly developed varieties – have been bred through the "Nanfan Silicon Valley" program.

Within just five years, Sanya's YZBSTC has presided over the operation of four national-level platforms – attracting top research institutions, academician innovation teams and renowned universities, along with a significant increase in high-level talent.

By emphasizing distinctive sectors within its modern service industries, Sanya is said to be tailoring its development to its local advantages, fostering thriving industries like finance and culture.

A sweeping view of Sanya Bay. [Photo provided to english.sanya.gov.cn]