Beside the seaside

For a look at local life, head for Haipo beach at Sanya Bay and watch the fishermen trawling for their daily catch.Lazy days are spent chilling out at the private coral bay at Mandarin Oriental, Sanya. Here you can enjoy a variety of water sports and even strap on a tank and go scuba diving. Other technicolour coral reefs can be found on nearby Wuzhizhou Island and West Island, while keen surfers should ride the excellent waves at Shimei Bay.

Get active

If water sports fail to inspire, golf is a popular land-based alternative. Enthusiasts will be in their element with 40 courses spread across the island. Start by teeing off at world- class Lu Hui Tou Golf ClubLu Hui Tou Golf Club, a beautiful links course just 15 minutes from Mandarin Oriental, Sanya. Dragon Valley Golf Club is a 72 par course surrounded by tropical forests, lush grass and beautiful lakes, while Forest Valley is a both stunning and challenging mountain course elaborately designed by ADTL. Tennis pros should take a swing at Mandarin Oriental’s two floodlit outdoor courts; cyclists can hire mountain bikes for leisurely rides around Sanya City or a challenging trek through the hills. And the really adventurous should do the two-hour drive to Wuzhi Mountain for a truly one-off experience: bamboo rafting on the fast-flowing Wanquan River valley.

Back to nature

Jianfeng Peak Natural Reserve, which surrounds Jianfeng Peak, is the largest tropical rainforest in China. It is teaming with exotic birds and the natural lake is perfect for cooling off in the afternoon sun. To see a larger species of wildlife, pay a visit to Monkey Island, which is home to 2,000 macaque monkeys. More a peninsula than an island, the forested land is bordered by mountains and the sea. Be sure to pick up some nuts when you arrive ready for feeding time.