Dongtian Park, Sanya

Dongtian Park, Sanya

三亚大小洞天景区 (dà xiǎo dòng tiān)

Situated at the foothills of Nanshan Mountain and 40 km west of Sanya city, Dongtian Park was built in 1187 during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It is the oldest park in Hainan province and reputed as "the No 1 scenic spot of Hainan Island over the past 800 years" for its unique mixture of ancient history, coastal scenery, folk customs and recreational activities.

Growing in the foothills area are 30,000 ancient pine trees, some of which have lived for at least 6,000 years. They intertwine with each other like the elderly sitting cross-legged. Those living fossils from the Cretaceous period, together with the historic Taoism traces in Dongtian Park, fully express the best wishes: to live as long as the old pines of Nanshan Mountain.

Nestling beside the sea and against a turtle-shaped mountain, Little Moon Bay (or "Small Dongtian") is like a crescent moon extending along the coast with intact natural vegetation. It is a natural oxygen bar with an aero-anion concentration of 8,000-10,000 per cubic centimeter. The resort consists of a beach bar, wooden cottages and tents, which are available for accommodation, honeymoons, wedding photography, camping training, and many more activities.

The Sanya Natural History Museum, another of the park's selling points, is the only nature museum in China's southernmost island province. The museum depicts the remains of ancient life from 140 million years ago, mainly dinosaur fossils. Over 2,000 specimens, including 800 national high-quality ones, are displayed in the pavilions.

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Add: 40 km west of Sanya city, Hainan province

Ideal Sightseeing Season: from November to the following May

Opening Hours: 7:30 am-6 pm

Ticket Price: 130 yuan ($19) during peak season and 108 yuan during off season

Web: http://en.sanyapark.com/

Tel: +86 0898-86675013

Notes:

1. Take provincial express bus from Haikou city to downtown Sanya. Then change to regular bus No 25 (11 yuanper person) and get off at Dongtian Park Station.

2. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and bring along rain gear in advance.