Change constant as five-star Haitang develops
Print Edition
THE tourist city of Sanya on tropical Hainan Island is divided by bays that offer distinct features due to its varied locations, sand, coastline as well as hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities.
Yalong Bay developed fast during the early 2000s, and has quickly established a reputation of being the most-renowned location. The area has a mix of restaurants and hotels of different price levels, and its early development and popularity means it is well-equipped to meet visitor demands.
Sanya Bay, close to downtown, has always been where the local islanders enjoy the beach. Prices are lower here, and as a result it is more crowded.
Haitang Bay, the latest to be developed, has garnered a reputation as a high-end section where all five-star hotels are the norm. Currently many hotels and facilities are still unfinished and tourists often find the area lacking dining and entertainment options. But this will change in the next year or so, as Haitang Bay is designed to be an one-stop destination, a complex of accommodation, shopping, parks and entertainment.
“I have been coming to Sanya for vacation since 2000, at least once a year for a few weeks, and I like the fact that it still changes here in Haitang Bay every time I come back,” says Zhao Liang, a 42-year-old private investor from the northeastern Heilongjiang Province. Haitang Bay has become his favorite vacation spot on the island since last year.
In 2015, Sanya welcomed nearly 15 million visitors, and among them, many travelers, like Zhao and his extended family, from northeastern provinces where it can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius in winter. Chinese New Year, usually in January or February, is among the busiest times in Sanya.
“When I first opened the restaurant here two years ago, I was positive about the business development but still unsure whether it will go as smoothly as I expected,” says a barbeque vendor surnamed Huang. “Business has been really good, even in summertime, since many tourists from southern cities travel here. It is still more comfortable than their home cities in summer.”
The majority of Huang’s business comes from supplying take-out meals to hotel guests, since there are at present limited dining options.
More shopping malls and restaurants are planned and some are under construction, but Huang is not worried about his business. “Well, this area is more high-end, and all the hotels and restaurants are quite formal. Fancy, expensive food too, and tourists will always want something local, street and cheap nearby. I think the business will only get better for me,” he says.
More international hotels are under construction. Atlantis Sanya, which is expected to open late next year, has been a hot topic since the project was announced.
Its branch in Dubai has become a favorite of wealthy Chinese tourists, and the one proposed for Sanya is said to present a similar luxurious experience, boosted by a grand water land feature along with other facilities.
“The place is still getting panned out, and I can’t help imagining what it will look like in two or three years, and I look forward to comparing the real site to my imagination then,” says Zhao.
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