Sanya Phoenix Airport serves China's premier tropical beach destination, on the island of Hainan, often compared to the Chinese Hawaii, about 15 km from the centre.
Sanya is a high-end tourist destination, with numerous luxury resorts along the coast.
How to get to Sanya Phoenix International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to SYX
Parking near Sanya Phoenix International Airport
The official parking area of the airport stands in front of the terminal.
Small cars (up to 12 seats/1 tonne) 8 CNY first hour then 4 CNY/hour, capped at 40 CNY/24h; medium cars 10 CNY then 6 CNY/hour, capped at 50 CNY; large cars 18 CNY then 9 CNY/hour, capped at 60 CNY. Open areas: about 25% cheaper at the same tiers (small car 6 CNY then 3 CNY/hour, capped at 30 CNY).
How to get to Sanya from SYX
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Some car rental companies have a counter in the arrival area.
Most visitors rely on taxis, Didi, or shuttle service organized by the resort.
Hotels near Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Sanya Bay (airport area)
The Novotel is literally next to the terminal, a few minutes' walk; the rest of Sanya Bay stretches for about 11 km along the coast, 20-30 minutes by taxi from the airport.
Best for: Dawn flights, one-night stopovers and anyone who doesn't want to move far from the terminal.
- The shortest possible transfer of all Sanya's tourist areas
- Long beach, less crowded than Dadonghai
- Darker sand and less clear water than at Yalong Bay or Haitang Bay
- Almost no nightlife outside the hotels
Recommended hotels
- Novotel Sanya Phoenix International Airport Literally next to the terminal, among the very few hotels in Sanya reachable on foot from the airport; 119 rooms with a pool, convenient for a dawn flight or a one-night stopover. View availability
- Crowne Plaza Resort Sanya Bay by IHG A resort in European Baroque style across 55,000 sqm along the 'Coconut Dream Corridor' of Sanya Bay, with a private beach and 380 rooms; 20-30 minutes from the terminal. View availability
- Doubletree By Hilton Sanya Bay 299 rooms designed for families, with a water park and a children's pool, on the same bay as the airport. View availability
Dadonghai
About 11 km from the airport, 25 minutes by taxi; the centre of Sanya and the railway station are 10-15 minutes away.
Best for: Those who want the cleanest sea closest to the centre of Sanya, with restaurants and nightlife within walking distance.
- One of the cleanest and most popular beaches in Sanya, at the foot of Mount Luhuitou
- Restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance, more than any other tourist area of the city
- In summer and on Chinese weekends the beach and promenade get very crowded
- The upscale beachfront hotels cost more than at Sanya Bay
Recommended hotels
- JW Marriott Hotel Sanya Dadonghai Bay 435 rooms at the foot of Mount Luhuitou, a 7-minute walk from Dadonghai beach and next to the coral reef nature reserve; 10 event rooms and two outdoor pools. View availability
- Ascott Dadonghai Bay Sanya Serviced residence with studios and one- to three-bedroom apartments 5 minutes from Dadonghai beach, handy for families or longer stays with your own kitchen; 15 minutes from the city centre. View availability
Yalong Bay
About 32 km from the airport, 40 minutes by taxi through the centre of Sanya.
Best for: Those looking for a luxury resort with a private beach, accepting a good half-hour transfer.
- The beach considered Sanya's most beautiful and best preserved, with white sand and clear water
- A concentration of 5-star resorts, with private villas and high-level service
- Further from the airport than any other tourist area of Sanya
- Outside the resorts there is almost nothing: independent restaurants and venues are rare
Recommended hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton Sanya, Yalong Bay 446 rooms in the most secluded corner of the bay, with 33 private poolside villas; the flagship resort of the area, opened in 2008. View availability
- Hilton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa The first beachfront Hilton resort in China, with 492 rooms and 8 pools; the beach is shared with the Ritz-Carlton next door. View availability
- Sheraton Sanya Yalong Bay Resort 511 rooms one kilometre from Yalong Bay's central square, facing the bay's golf club; one of the largest resorts in the area. View availability
Haitang Bay
About 39 km from the airport, 45 minutes by taxi (35 minutes via the G98 expressway).
Best for: Those who want the mix of theme park, aquarium and duty-free shopping without leaving the resort.
- The only area in Sanya with an international-level theme park, the Atlantis aquarium and a duty-free centre of almost 400,000 sqm
- A beach stretching for over 10 km, less built-up than Sanya Bay
- The furthest and least central of Sanya's tourist areas
- Developed from almost nothing in recent years: around the resorts there is still little besides construction sites
Recommended hotels
- Atlantis Sanya 1,324 rooms and suites, including five Underwater Suites overlooking the aquarium; inside the resort there's also the Adventure Waterpark with its eight-storey slide. View availability
- JW Marriott Sanya Haitang Bay Resort & Spa 142 rooms and 18 private villas from 68 to over 650 sqm, with a free shuttle to the airport; smaller and more secluded than the nearby resorts. View availability
- InterContinental Sanya Haitang Bay Resort by IHG 295 rooms right on the beach, with two outdoor pools and the chance to go snorkelling right in front of the resort. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal is appropriately sized for heavy seasonal tourist traffic, peaking during Chinese winter (December–February, when northern visitors escape the cold). Walking from check-in to gate typically takes 15 minutes.
Customs and security checks may take longer than usual during peak times: for international flights, it is recommended to arrive at least 3 hours early.
Map of Sanya Phoenix International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is Sanya called the Chinese Hawaii?
Yes, informally, for its tropical climate and high-end beaches: it's China's leading luxury beach destination.
Q. When is high season in Sanya?
The Chinese winter (December-February), when many visitors from the north of the country escape the cold for Hainan's tropical climate.
Q. Why is Sanya's duty free so large?
Because of the entire island of Hainan's low-tax zone status, which makes purchases of perfume, watches and electronics particularly good value.
Q. Yalong Bay or Dadonghai: which is better in Sanya?
Yalong Bay is more exclusive with luxury resorts; Dadonghai is more central and affordable, with more city life nearby.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights