Nanshan – Sanya 南山三亚市

As the Chinese saying goes: “May your age be as Mount Nanshan.” This saying is frequently used greeting for an elderly person. And Mount Nanshan has long been regarded as a symbol of longevity. That might be one of the most important reasons why Mount Nanshan keeps attracting an increasing number of tourists from all over China who are in search for longevity.

Located at the southern end of Hainan Province, Sanya (population 460,000) is a famous tourist city in China. Called Yazhou in ancient times, the history of Sanya dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Because the territory is far from China’s political centers, it was also called Tianya Haijiao 天涯海角(the edge of the sky and the end of the sea) for thousands of years. Because of the name of the place reminds one of a famous oath of love, it is an ideal wedding tourist area in China. A famous oath of love in China goes: “I’ll be with you even when you are in Tianya Haijiao, and I’ll love you until the sea is dry and the rock has turned to mud.”

Encompassing 1,887 square kilometers, Sanya has a population of 460,000. Located in the southern part of Hainan Province, and adjacent to the South China Sea, Mount Nanshan boasts mild climate, ample sunshine, and a well-preserved forest and environment. The area is regarded as one of the ideal places to live in China.

Situated in the tropical zone, the average annual temperature in Sanya is 25.4℃and the average annual rainfall is 1,279 millimeters. The city is renowned for its clean air and water. In 1999 it ranked second among 158 cities in 45 countries in terms of air quality. Brilliant sunshine, clean seawater, sandy beaches, dense rain forest, many species of animals, hot springs, mysterious caverns, serene farms and rich historical and ethnic cultures have made the city one of the most charming places in China. Among the major scenic spots in Sanya is Yalong Bay, renowned for its clean seawater and white sand beaches. The bay has earned Sanya the name of “Oriental Hawaii.”The Nanshan Cultural Tour Area has been appraised by Hainan Province as a demonstration project in terms of ecological recovery and protection. It is also famous for its history of Buddhism and Taoism. The Tianya Haijiao Resort is the oldest resort in Sanya and also a landmark resort in Hainan Province. The Luhuitou Hill-Top Park is the only one in Hainan open to the tourist at night. It is the best place to enjoy a full view of Sanya.

Sanya has also been referred to as “China’s advanced city in environmental protection,” “China’s garden-like city,” “China’s model city in ecology,” and “national advanced city in sanitation.”

The average lifespan around the Nanshan area is just under 80, much higher than China’s average of 72. The mountain is also fit for a slew of tourists due to the ecotourist resort taking shape there. “Longevity Balley” and “Immortal Pines” are now open to the public.

Located at the eastern foot of Mount Nanshan, “Longevity Valley” stretches over 2 kilometers, and is a realm untouched by the complexities and bustle of modern life . Along the winding path up to the mountain, grotesque rocks catch tourists’ attention. Different styles of the Chinese character shou (longevity) are inscribed on the rocks. On top of the valley stands a 1.8-meter bronze statuary “Longevity Buddha,” flanded by two deer statues. Taking a path down the mountain, tourists can find their way to the beach, where they can find colourful shells. Other tourists may prefer to squeeze into a huge crack of a rock, called “Little Sky Cave” which literally means “habitat of god.” A serpentine path behind the cave leads up to another scenic spot—“Immortal Pines.” Legend has it that the reason Mount Nanshan is tied to longevity is because it is covered by the 30,000 dracaena cambodiana, referred to locally as “immortal pines.” Some of them are more than 6,000 years old. Since the species is on the verge of extinction, local people also refer to the trees as “dinosaur trees.” Each tree looks like a unique bonsai (the art of growing dwarfed, ornamentally shaped trees or shrubs in small, shallow pots), with sword-like leaves clustering on top of the branch and an odd-shaped trunk twisting like a snake. These trees are just a few of the must-see sights for those tourists in search of longevity at Mount Nanshan. Hawaii-style wooden houses built on trees along the beach provide tourists with a unique choice for accommodations. All these wooden houses, fixed by ropes rather than nails, windows, are decorated with screen instead of glass, and no electric lights are installed inside.

Gold Jade Buddha in Sanya 三亚金玉佛

The Gold Jade Buddha of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) in Sanya (population 460,000), South China’s Hainan Province, was officially listed as the world’s first Buddha statue in the Record Book of Shanghai Grand World Guinness in December 1998. The 3.8-meter statue is made of more than 100 kilograms of gold, and over 120 carats of diamonds from South Africa, in addition to several thousand other gemstones, including rubies, emeralds, pearls and coral. The statue, the fruit of the toil of artists from Shenzhen Royal Jewellery Art Corporation Ltd. In Guangdong Province, consists of four parts: gold statue, aureole, the radiant light around the head of the statue; lotus flower base; and sandalwood body seat. The statue, completely hand-made, is special for its extravagant and delicate traditional Chinese fine gold craftsmanship. A panel of 11 specialists from the China Buddhism Association, China Gemstone Association, the Forbidden City and other related departments spoke highly of the statue, saying it is a “precious piece of work.” The moulding of the statue is a sign of a prosperous era, since most of the famous Buddha statues were produced in times of peace and prosperity.

Nanshan Culture Tourism Resort 南山文化旅游胜地

Encompassing 50 square kilometers and a sea area of 10 square kilometers, the Nanshan Cultural Tour Resort is located in the western part of Sanya. Since 1998, the resort has received millions of tourists from home and abroad. It has organized large-scale activities including the First China Nanshan Longevity Festival, the opening ceremony of the Hainan Eco-tour and the new Millennium Celebration. Famous tourist attractions in the area include the Nanshan Buddhist Culture Garden, the Big Heavenly Abode, the Small Heavenly Adobe, the Sanya City Park, the 108-meter-high sculpture of Avalokitesvara (Goddess of Mercy) and the largest ink well in the world. Nanshan is a significant place in China’s history of Buddhism and Taoism. It is said that Jianzhen, a famous Tang-dynasty Buddhist monk made five unsuccessful voyages to Japan to promote Buddhism. It was on the sixth time that be drifted to Nanshan. One and a half years later, he finally got to Japan. Recognized its importance in Buddhist history, Construction of the Nanshan Buddhist Culture Garden within the resort began in November 1995, and it was completed in April 1998. Inside the garden is the Nanshan Buddhist Temple, the biggest one ever built since the founding of the new China in 1949. The Big Heavenly Adobe and the Small Heavenly Adobe are important parts of the Nanshan Taoist Cultural Garden. Featuring green forests, fancy rocks and mysterious caves, the garden is an attractive place for both Taoist believers and tourists at home and abroad.

Remains of Monk Jianzhen's Fifth Time East Sailing 鉴真和尚第五次东渡遗迹

The remains of Monk Jianzhen sailing east for the fifth time is situated at the south of Sanya City, Hainan Island.

Monk Jianzhen (688-763) was an eminent monk in Tang Dynasty (618-907). Originally born in Jiangdu, Jiangsu Province, having accepted the invitation of a Japanese high monk Yong Yue, Monk Jianzhen bought a boat in order to sail east to Japan. Despite his great efforts, he failed as a result of storms. In his fifth attempt, he came across a storm again. His boat finally arrived at the mouth of Ning Yuan River, west of Sanya Port. After be landed there, Jianzhen helped people there to re-decorate the Dayun Temple and also left a pile of books on Buddhism, which has become precious part of cultural heritage of Guyazhou (Sanya used to be the Yaxian County seat, and was renamed Sanya City in May 1984).

In 753, Jianzhen successfully sailed eastward to arrive in Japan in his sixth attempt. He was warmly received by the Japanese people and was specially allowed to reside at Zhaiti Temple. Monk Jianzhen had contributed to the cultural exchange between China and Japan. He passed away in 763 at the age of 77.

Yalong Bay 亚龙湾

Twenty-five kilometers from the city proper, Yalong Bay is a major tourist attraction in Sanya. Under the approval of the State Council, the Yalong Bay National Tourist Resort was established on October 2, 1992. It is China’s only national tourist resort in its tropical regions. The Yalong Bay Development Co Ltd had invested a lot of money in improving facilities. At present, the company has constructed a post office, a satellite TV receiving station, two sewage treatment plants and 15.6 kilometers of roads. With the improvement of the investment environment, many have opened businesses in the day. They have built tourist facilities such as hotels, villas and new scenic spots, to help resort attract more tourists. Of these facilities, the most famous is the Yalong Bay Central Square. Occupying an area of 70,000 square meters, the square is the resort’s central landmark. In its center, there stands a 26.80-meter-high stone totem pole with sculptures of dragons, phoenixes and the gods of the sun, wind and rain. Other places of interest include a shell exhibition hall and a butterfly valley. The resort also provides tourist activities such as scuba diving (the activity provides the tourist with a thrilling experience in the sea), yachting, and surfing.

With a planned area of 18.6 square kilometers the Yalong Bay is a major tourist attraction in Sanya.

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