Sanya's popularity soars as hit destination for children

June 1 is International Children's Day — the UN-recognized day being celebrated across China — and it comes at a time when the trend of family travel across the nation continues to grow.

The latest statistics from Qunar and Tongcheng Travel, two popular travel platforms, indicate that China's southernmost Hainan province has become a hit choice for family vacations — with the resort coastal city of Sanya ranking as the fourth most popular flight destination for kids.

Data from Qunar, a popular travel platform, shows that Sanya ranks as a popular flight destination for children. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Travel is increasingly becoming a key part of childhood experiences in China. According to a report by Qunar, the proportion of child passengers grew from about one percent of the total number of flight passengers in 2010 to nearly 10 percent this year.

The report notes that the cities of Sanya and Haikou are among the top destinations for young travelers.

The coastal destinations are proving to be tremendously popular with family vacations because of their appealing tropical climate and top family-friendly amenities.

Tongcheng Travel's 2026 International Children's Day Family Travel Insight Report also shows a similar trend.

The report indicates that since the start of 2026, family travel bookings on its platform have surged by 70 percent compared with the previous year.

Sanya has ranked among the top 10 family travel destinations nationwide — making it a favorite for summer getaways and ocean exploration trips.

Data from Tongcheng Travel indicates that Sanya ranks among the top 10 popular destinations for family trips in 2026. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

During this year's International Children's Day travel period in China on May 29-June 1, there was reportedly a notable increase in bookings for family trips in and around Sanya, which surged by 57 percent.

Reservations for top family-friendly resorts in Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay — as well as "hotels + attractions" packages — saw a 68 percent increase.

The report by Tongcheng Travel also shows that young parents are shifting their focus from just entertaining the kids to learning with the little ones.

In Hainan, there's growing interest in experiences like rainforest nature tours, cultural heritage workshops and nature crafts at resorts.

Ticket sales for attractions such as Atlantis Sanya and Sanya Haichang Fantasy Town have surged by over 62 percent.

Meanwhile, nostalgic family trips are gaining in popularity, especially among "big kids" from the post-90s and post-00s generations. It's widely said that these trips emphasize both gratitude and quality family time.

Tongcheng Travel data shows a 25 percent year-on-year increase in customized tours and family packages to Sanya, booked by those "big kids" for their parents.

Revisiting city landmarks and taking multigenerational family photos along the Coconut Dream Corridor are becoming popular ways to show love to family members.

The Tongcheng Research Institute suggests that as spring break policies are gradually adopted and family travel concepts evolve, offerings that blend tropical nature, marine culture and local heritage will continue to set market trends. Overall, it's thought that the outlook for family travel in Hainan is extremely promising.