Why choose Wanning
Dense holiday ingredients without Sanya crowds: quality bays, islands, hot springs, rainforest edges, and food culture. It suits travelers who want sea sports, greener day trips, and a slower coastal rhythm between Haikou and Sanya.
Surf & sea sports at Riyue Bay
Riyue (Sun & Moon) Bay is Hainan’s surfing magnet, with nearby bases for yacht days, fishing, and water sports. Clearer coves and small islands also draw divers and beach-club afternoons along the long coastline.
Xinglong gardens & Dongshan Ridge
Xinglong’s tropical gardens and lowland rainforest parks offer shade, plant trails, and overseas-Chinese Southeast Asian cultural flavor. Dongshan Ridge — long billed as a historic “first mountain of Hainan” — adds temples, viewpoints, and short hikes inland from the coast.
Food: Wanning Four Treasures
Try the celebrated Four Treasures — Dongshan goat, Hele crab, Gangbei prawns, and Hou’an mullet — plus street snacks like Hou’an noodles, Hele sticky rice, and Xinglong coffee. Seafood and tropical flavors are the everyday draw.
How to get there
High-speed rail is easiest: about one hour from Haikou and around 40 minutes from Sanya to Wanning station (check live schedules). Coaches and the east expressway also work for island-loop drivers and self-drive itineraries.
The city
Wanning’s coast is 109 km, with 10 bays, five small islands, two inner seas and two peninsulas. Shimei Bay and Riyue Bay are the ones usually named. Jiajing and Zhouzai are the dive islands. Around Xinglong is a lowland tropical rainforest of more than 60,000 mu. The city’s forest cover is above 67.6%, with six nature reserves.
Dongshan Ridge is about 3 km east of Wancheng. Three peaks stand together at 184.4 m. It was also called Penholder Hill and Hainan’s first mountain, known for cliff inscriptions and Buddhist temples. Xinglong is a hometown of people who returned from Southeast Asia, and the Kangle theatre stages that repertoire.
The four local foods are Dongshan goat, Hele crab, Gangbei prawn and Hou’an mullet. Snacks that come up with them are Hou’an rice noodles, Hele zongzi, pumpkin cake, nine-layer cake, rice-noodle rolls and Dongshan pancakes.
FAQ
Is Wanning only for surfers?
No. Surfing is a highlight, but beaches, Xinglong gardens, Dongshan Ridge, and food make it worthwhile even if you never rent a board.
How many nights should I stay?
Two to three nights works for surf plus one inland day. Add more for spa, golf, or a full east-coast loop with Qionghai.
How far is Wanning from Haikou and Sanya?
By HSR, roughly one hour from Haikou and about 40 minutes from Sanya — confirm on the day you travel.
What food should I try?
Start with the Four Treasures (goat, crab, prawns, mullet), then sample Hou’an noodles and Xinglong coffee.