Sanya (三亚)

1. Overview

Sanya City (Li language: Dam⁴a⁴; Hainanese Pinyin: Dam¹a¹ Si⁵), abbreviated as Ya, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hainan Province, People's Republic of China, located at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island. It borders Baoting County to the north, Sansha City to the south, and is adjacent to Ledong County and Lingshui County to the northwest and northeast, respectively. The city covers a total area of 1,919.58 square kilometers, with a total population of approximately 1.07 million, of which the Li ethnic group accounts for about 30%. Sanya is a famous tropical coastal tourist city and port. The Municipal People's Government is located on Xinfeng Street, Jiyang District.

2. Etymology Overview

2.1 Li Language Background

• Li language is the indigenous language of Sanya, as the original inhabitants of Sanya are primarily the Li people.
• In the Li language, the term "Sanya" may be related to the Li people's naming conventions for places.
• In the Li language, the word for "paddy field" is pronounced "na²" in the Baoxian dialect, while in other Li dialects it is pronounced "da²." The native Li language near Sanya Village is the Baoxian dialect of the Ha language, which differs from the Hacheng dialect spoken in surrounding areas.

2.2 Characteristics of Place Names

• The characteristics of Sanya's place names reflect the culture and history of the Li people. Li place names are often related to the natural environment, geographical features, or historical events.
• The name "Sanya" may originate from the Li people's description of local geographical features, such as the term "three forks," but this claim has been disproven by Wang Mingkun's paper.

2.3 Cultural Significance

• Sanya's place names are not merely geographical identifiers; they also carry the cultural and historical memories of the Li people. The long-term residence and activities of the Li people in the Sanya region have endowed its place names with profound cultural significance.
• The characteristics of Sanya's place names reflect the harmonious coexistence of the Li people with the natural environment and their deep understanding of local geographical features.

3. History

In the sixth year of the Yuanding era of the Han Dynasty (111 BCE), Emperor Wu of Han conquered the Nanyue Kingdom. In the first year of the Yuanfeng era (110 BCE), the area was incorporated into the Han territory, establishing the Zhuya Commandery and Dan'er Commandery, with government officials and military forces all being Han Chinese. It administered Shendu County, Zhuya County (governed in present-day Haikou City), Gouzhong County (governed within present-day Chengmai County), Zibei County (governed in present-day Wenchang City), Linzhen County (governed in present-day Sanya City), Daimao County (governed in present-day Haikou City), and Shannan County (governed within present-day Lingshui County). During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, Shannan County in Zhuya rebelled, and troops were dispatched to suppress the revolt. Many other counties also rebelled, leading to prolonged instability in the region. Due to natural disasters in Guandong (referring to the capital Chang'an area), the Han Dynasty lacked the resources to send forces south to quell the rebellion. In the third year of the Chuyuan era of Emperor Yuan of Han (46 BCE), the Zhuya Commandery was abolished, and the area was abandoned.

In the fifth year of the Chiwu era of the Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period (242 CE) (the third year of the Zhengshi era of Cao Wei), the Zhuya Commandery was reestablished on the Leizhou Peninsula in present-day Guangdong Province, administering Xuwen County and Zhuguan County, which originally belonged to Hepu Commandery. After the Jin Dynasty conquered Wu, it was merged into Hepu Commandery.

In the eighth year of the Yuanjia era of the Liu Song Dynasty during the Southern Dynasties (431 CE), the Zhuya Commandery was reinstated with its seat in Xuwen but was soon abolished again. Zhuguan and Zhulu were placed under Yuezhou. During the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, the Zhuya Commandery was reestablished in the former territory of Dan'er Commandery.

In the third year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (607 CE), the former Han territory's Yazhou was renamed Zhuya Commandery, with its seat in Yilun County. It administered five counties: Yilun County (governed in present-day northwest Danzhou City, Hainan), Gan'en County (governed in present-day south of Dongfang City), Yanhu County (governed in present-day east of Haikou City), Pishan County (governed in present-day Lingao County), and Ji'an County (governed in present-day north of Dongfang City). During the Tang Dynasty, Zhuya Commandery was renamed Yazhou. In the Song Dynasty, Yazhou was renamed Qiongzhou, and Yazhou was relocated to the southern part of Hainan Island. The ancient city of Yazhou still exists west of present-day Sanya City. From 1267 to 1274, pirate leaders Chen Mingfu and Chen Gongfa established a separatist regime in Linchuan Town, Yazhou.

In the 31st year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1905), Yazhou was elevated to a directly-administered prefecture, administering Wan'an, Lingshui, Changhua, and Gan'en counties.

In the first year of the Republic of China (1912), the directly-administered prefecture was abolished, and Ya County was established under the Hainan Special Administrative Region.

In 1950, the People's Liberation Army liberated Ya County and established the Ya County People's Government. In 1958, the Ya County government relocated from Yacheng to Sanya. In December 1958, with the approval of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, Ya County, Baoting County, Lingshui County, and the Xinglong Niulou area of Wanning were merged to form Yulin County. However, due to its name being identical to Yulin County in Shaanxi Province, the State Council decided it would still be called Ya County. The Hongliu Commune (Fourth and Fifth Districts, namely Jiusuo District and Huangliu District), originally under Ya County's jurisdiction, was transferred to Ledong County. The reason was that the coastal areas of Jiusuo District and Huangliu District faced persistent issues with water conservancy, suffering from long-term droughts and floods. The upstream of the Wanglou River in Ledong County was constructing the Changmao Reservoir with a capacity of 130 million cubic meters, while downstream, the Xiangshui Hydropower Station and Shimen Reservoir had a capacity of 30 million cubic meters. The total irrigated area (including improvements) exceeded 300,000 mu, with installed power generation capacity of 1,600 kilowatts and annual electricity generation of 7.7 million kilowatt-hours. The irrigated area covered 53.1 square kilometers. Only by merging counties could the irrigation water difficulties in the coastal areas of Hongliu Commune be resolved, fundamentally addressing the contradictions between the administrative management system and the water conservancy beneficiary areas and rationalizing the relationships between higher and lower levels. On November 14, 1959, with the approval of Guangdong Province, Baoting County, which had been merged into Ya County, was restored to its original county boundaries. On January 5, 1961, Ya County and Lingshui County were separated according to their original administrative boundaries, restoring their original structures. The Yaliang Commune of Ledong County was placed under the jurisdiction of Ya County.

In 1984, Ya County was abolished, and the Sanya County-level City was established within the administrative region of Ya County. In 1987, Sanya City was elevated to a prefecture-level city without districts, establishing two sub-district offices (Hedong District and Hexi District) and six towns (Yacheng Town, Tianya Town, Yucai Town, Fenghuang Town, Jiyang Town, and Haitang Bay Town).

In February 2014, the State Council approved the adjustment of Sanya City's administrative divisions, abolishing the original two sub-district offices and six towns, and establishing four municipal districts: Haitang District, Jiyang District, Tianya District, and Yazhou District.

4. Geography

Sanya borders Lingshui County to the east, Baoting County to the north, Ledong County to the west, and the South China Sea to the south. It stretches 91.6 kilometers from east to west and 51 kilometers from north to south. The entire area is backed by mountains to the north and faces the sea to the south, with a coastline of 209.1 kilometers and 19 bays of various sizes. The main ports of Sanya City include Sanya Port, Yulin Port, Nanshan Port, Tielu Port, and Liudao Port. The main bays are Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Yazhou Bay, Dadonghai Bay, and Moon Bay. There are 40 islands of various sizes, with 10 being the main ones.

Sanya City is located at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, between 18°09′34″N to 18°37′27″N and 108°56′30″E to 109°48′28″E. It borders Lingshui County to the east, Baoting County to the north, Ledong County to the west, and the South China Sea to the south. Backed by mountains to the north and facing the sea to the south, the terrain gradually slopes from north to south, forming a narrow, elongated polygon. The coastline within the city is 258.65 kilometers long, with 19 bays of various sizes. The main ports include Sanya Port, Yulin Port, Nanshan Port, Tielu Port, and Liudao Port. The main bays are Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Yazhou Bay, Dadonghai Bay, and Moon Bay. There are 40 islands of various sizes, with 10 being the main ones.

Sanya has jurisdiction over two million square kilometers of the South China Sea, with its own coastline length being 209 kilometers. The administered sea area covers 5,000 square kilometers, and the land area is 1,919.6 square kilometers. Within the urban area, Dadonghai, Xiaodonghai, and Sanya Bay are most closely related to the daily lives of residents.

The urban area of Sanya is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Baopo Ridge to the north, Dahui Ridge, Hubaoling, and Gouling to the east, Nanbian Ridge to the south, and the highest peak, Liudao Ridge, with an elevation of about 420 meters to the southeast, forming an encircling embrace. The mountain ranges undulate with distinct layers, and their extensions divide the urban area into several spaces enclosed by green hills, providing unique spatial landscape environments for different parts of the city.

The urban area of Sanya is situated in a beautiful natural environment characterized by mountains, sea, and rivers. Urban construction pays attention to the harmonious relationship between the city and the natural landscape and ecological environment. The clever combination of "mountains, sea, rivers, and city" blends seamlessly, forming the unique environmental characteristics of Sanya's urban area.

Sanya is located at a low latitude and has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). It is relatively hot year-round, with strong monsoon influences, so it is classified as a tropical monsoon climate in the Zhou Shuzhen climate classification system. There is a relatively long rainy season and a distinct dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to October, and the dry season from November to April of the following year. The annual average temperature is 26.5°C, with the hottest month being June, averaging 29.5°C, and the coldest month being January, averaging 22.3°C. Unlike most other parts of China, the hottest month is June, with an average temperature of 29.5°C (85.1°F). The annual sunshine duration is 2,534 hours, and the average annual precipitation is 1,453.2 mm. It is known as the "natural greenhouse."

Sanya City Meteorological Data (Extreme Data as of 2010) | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 30.4 | 31 | 33.2 | 34.5 | 35.4 | 35.9 | 34.5 | 34.3 | 35.5 | 33.7 | 32.6 | 31.9 | 35.9 | | | (86.7)| (87.8)| (91.8)| (94.1)| (95.7)| (96.6)| (94.1)| (93.7)| (95.9)| (92.7) | (90.7)| (89.4)| (96.6) | | Average high °C (°F) | 26.6 | 27.3 | 29.1 | 31.1 | 32.4 | 32.5 | 32 | 31.9 | 31.7 | 30.9 | 29.6 | 27.3 | 30.2 | | | (79.9)| (81.1)| (84.4)| (88) | (90.3)| (90.5)| (89.6)| (89.4)| (89.1)| (87.6) | (85.3)| (81.1)| (86.4) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.3 | 23.1 | 25.2 | 27.4 | 29.1 | 29.5 | 28.9 | 28.6 | 28 | 27 | 25.4 | 23.1 | 26.5 | | | (72.1)| (73.6)| (77.4)| (81.3)| (84.4)| (85.1)| (84) | (83.5)| (82.4)| (80.6) | (77.7)| (73.6)| (79.7) | | Average low °C (°F) | 19.6 | 20.6 | 22.8 | 25 | 26.5 | 26.9 | 26.5 | 26.2 | 25.4 | 24.2 | 22.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 | | | (67.3)| (69.1)| (73) | (77) | (79.7)| (80.4)| (79.7)| (79.2)| (77.7)| (75.6) | (72.9)| (68.7)| (75) | | Record low °C (°F) | 5.1 | 11 | 10.5 | 19.1 | 19.8 | 21.3 | 22.1 | 21.8 | 20.1 | 14.7 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 5.1 | | | (41.2)| (51.8)| (50.9)| (66.4)| (67.6)| (70.3)| (71.8)| (71.2)| (68.2)| (58.5) | (46.2)| (44.8)| (41.2) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 6.5 | 13 | 21.4 | 52.3 | 132.8 | 173.5 | 212.6 | 234.9 | 251 | 268.6 | 71 | 15.6 | 1,453.20 | | | (0.26)| (0.51)| (0.84)| (2.06)| (5.23)| (6.83)| (8.37)| (9.25)| (9.88)| (10.57)| (2.8) | (0.61)| (57.21) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 10 | 14 | 13.8 | 16 | 17 | 13.5 | 6.6 | 3.7 | 111.1 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 84.3 | 85.8 | 83.9 | 80.4 | 76 | 73.8 | 72 | 73.5 | 79.5 | 81.8 | 82 | 82.8 | 79.6 | | Average UV Index | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 | Data Source: China Weather Network, Weather Atlas Website

Sanya Phoenix International Airport (2023 Climate Data)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |--------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------| | Record high °C (°F) | 31 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 35 | | | (87.8)| (87.8)| (86) | (91.4)| (95) | (93.2)| (91.4)| (93.2)| (93.2)| (91.4)| (91.4)| (89.6)| (95) | | Average high °C (°F) | 26.2 | 29.1 | 29.1 | 31.2 | 32.6 | 32.5 | 32.2 | 32.4 | 31.3 | 31.3 | 30.6 | 28.9 | 30.6 | | | (79.2)| (84.4)| (84.4)| (88.2)| (90.7)| (90.5)| (90) | (90.3)| (88.3)| (88.3)| (87.1)| (84) | (87.1)| | Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.2 | 24.3 | 24.9 | 27.9 | 29.4 | 29.6 | 29.6 | 29.6 | 28.3 | 27.7 | 25.9 | 24.3 | 27 | | | (72) | (75.7)| (76.8)| (82.2)| (84.9)| (85.3)| (85.3)| (85.3)| (82.9)| (81.9)| (78.6)| (75.7)| (80.6)| | Average low °C (°F) | 19.4 | 21.4 | 21.9 | 25.6 | 27 | 27.5 | 27.6 | 27.7 | 26.1 | 25.4 | 22.5 | 21.1 | 24.4 | | | (66.9)| (70.5)| (71.4)| (78.1)| (80.6)| (81.5)| (81.7)| (81.9)| (79) | (77.7)| (72.5)| (70) | (76) | | Record low °C (°F) | 13 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 13 | | | (55.4)| (66.2)| (64.4)| (73.4)| (75.2)| (77) | (77) | (77) | (77) | (75.2)| (62.6)| (59) | (55.4)| | Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 70 | 72 | 78 | 79 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 84 | 81 | 73 | 71 | 77 |

Data Source: Weather archive in Sanya Phoenix (Airport), METAR

Since meteorological records began, Sanya's annual average temperature has shown a warming trend with fluctuations. Taking 2023 as an example, the annual average temperature in Sanya was 27.0°C, which is 0.5°C higher than the 1991-2020 average. The coldest month (January) had an average temperature of 22.2°C, and the hottest month (June) had an average temperature of 29.9°C.

5. Administrative Divisions

Sanya City administers 4 municipal districts: Haitang District, Jiyang District, Tianya District, and Yazhou District.

| Division Code | Division Name | Chinese Pinyin | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Communities | Administrative Villages | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------------| | 460200 | Sanya City | Sānyà Shì | 1,910.67 | 1,031,396 | Jiyang District | 572000 | 51 | 92 | | 460202 | Haitang District | Hǎitáng Qū | 251.82 | 113,481 | No. 116 Xinmin Road | 572000 | 3 | 19 | | 460203 | Jiyang District | Jíyáng Qū | 378.09 | 447,322 | No. 483 Yingbin Road | 572000 | 19 | 19 | | 460204 | Tianya District | Tiānyá Qū | 931.78 | 353,698 | No. 319 Fenghuang Road | 572000 | 22 | 30 | | 460205 | Yazhou District | Yázhōu Qū | 348.98 | 116,895 | No. 288 Shuinan Avenue | 572000 | 7 | 24 |

6. Economy

Sanya's economy primarily relies on the real estate market and tourism. According to the "Overall Plan for Tourism Development in Hainan Province" formulated by the World Tourism Organization and the Hainan Provincial Government, by 2020, Hainan will be developed into a world-renowned, first-class international tropical island resort destination in Asia. Sanya City is a key development area within this plan. The Phoenix Island project, a multi-billion-yuan artificial island, is already more than halfway completed. It will feature a large number of villa areas and five-star hotels, and will become the largest cruise homeport and yacht marina in Southeast Asia, comprehensively driving a tourism boom. Around Sanya's four major bays—Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Dadonghai, and Sanya Bay—as well as the less well-known Xiaodonghai Beach, numerous clusters of high-end hotels, surrounding commercial streets, and villa areas have emerged.

7. Transportation

7.1 Highways

Hainan Ring Expressway, National Highway 223, National Highway 224, National Highway 225.

7.2 Railway

Railways cross the Qiongzhou Strait via the Yuehai Railway Ferry and reach Sanya directly through the Hainan Western Ring Railway.

7.3 Aviation

• Sanya Phoenix International Airport: Also serves as the regional control center for the Sanya Flight Information Region.
• Sanya Hongtang Bay Airport: Initially planned to be located in the sea area of Sanya Hongtang Bay, it will be China's first offshore airport project upon completion.

8. Education

8.1 Undergraduate Institutions

• Hainan Tropical Ocean University
• University of Sanya

8.2 Vocational Colleges

• Sanya City Vocational College
• Sanya Institute of Technology
• Sanya Aviation & Tourism College
• Sanya Hospitality Institute

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the city's permanent resident population was 1.0659 million. Among them, the urban population was 765,200, the rural population was 300,700, and the urbanization rate was 71.8%.

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 1,031,396. Compared with the 685,408 people from the Sixth National Population Census, the total increase over the ten years was 345,988 people, a growth of 50.48%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.17%. Among them, the male population was 555,441, accounting for 53.85% of the total population; the female population was 475,955, accounting for 46.15% of the total population. The overall sex ratio (with females as 100) was 116.7. The population aged 0-14 was 182,226, accounting for 17.67% of the total population; the population aged 15-59 was 741,736, accounting for 71.92% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 107,434, accounting for 10.42% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 71,661, accounting for 6.95% of the total population. The population living in urban areas was 724,854, accounting for 70.28% of the total population; the population living in rural areas was 306,542, accounting for 29.72% of the total population.

Among the permanent foreign-born population in Sanya City, those from Northeast China are the majority. In the 1990s, with the wave of layoffs of state-owned enterprise workers, the Hainan real estate boom, and subsequent bankruptcies, a large number of people from Northeast China began moving south to Sanya to make a living. According to statistics from The Paper, as of November 2014, there were nearly 400,000 elderly people from other places living in Sanya for retirement, among whom about 200,000 were from Harbin.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group population was 745,176, accounting for 72.25%; the total population of various ethnic minorities was 286,220, accounting for 27.75%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 291,003 people, a growth of 64.07%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 5.99 percentage points; the total population of ethnic minorities increased by 54,985 people, a growth of 23.78%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 5.99 percentage points. Among them, the Li ethnic group population increased by 34,188 people, a growth of 16.3%, and its proportion of the total population decreased by 6.95 percentage points.

It is a multi-ethnic area, home to more than 20 ethnic groups including Han, Li, Miao, and Hui. The ethnic minority population accounts for 41.5% of the total population, including 184,000 Li people, 3,407 Miao people, and 7,096 Hui people. In the western suburbs near Tianya Haijiao, the Hui villages of Fenghuang Town, Huihui Village and Huixin Village, are home to 8,000 Hui Muslims, which is the main settlement area for the Hui ethnic group in Hainan. Six mosques have been built here.

Ethnic Composition of Sanya City (Seventh National Population Census, 2020) | Ethnic Group | Han | Li | Hui | Zhuang | Miao | Manchu | Bouyei | Tujia | Mongol | Dong | Others | |----------------------|--------------|--------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------| | Population | 745,176 | 243,938 | 11,780 | 8,571 | 6,858 | 3,370 | 1,843 | 1,740 | 1,293 | 1,243 | 5,584 | | % of Total Pop. | 72.25 | 23.65 | 1.14 | 0.83 | 0.66 | 0.33 | 0.18 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.54 | | % of Minority Pop. | － | 85.23 | 4.12 | 2.99 | 2.4 | 1.18 | 0.64 | 0.61 | 0.45 | 0.43 | 1.95 |

10. Geography

Sanya borders Lingshui County to the east, Baoting County to the north, Ledong County to the west, and the South China Sea to the south. It stretches 91.6 kilometers from east to west and 51 kilometers from north to south. The entire area is backed by mountains to the north and faces the sea to the south, with a coastline of 209.1 kilometers and 19 bays of various sizes. The main ports of Sanya City include Sanya Port, Yulin Port, Nanshan Port, Tielu Port, and Liudao Port. The major bays are Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Yazhou Bay, Dadonghai Bay, and Moon Bay. There are 40 islands of various sizes, with 10 being the main ones.

Sanya City is located at the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, between 18°09′34″N to 18°37′27″N and 108°56′30″E to 109°48′28″E. It borders Lingshui County to the east, Baoting County to the north, Ledong County to the west, and the South China Sea to the south. Backed by mountains to the north and facing the sea to the south, the terrain slopes gradually from north to south, forming a narrow, elongated polygon. The coastline within its territory is 258.65 kilometers long, with 19 bays of various sizes. The main ports include Sanya Port, Yulin Port, Nanshan Port, Tielu Port, and Liudao Port. The major bays are Sanya Bay, Haitang Bay, Yalong Bay, Yazhou Bay, Dadonghai Bay, and Moon Bay. There are 40 islands of various sizes, with 10 being the main ones.

Sanya has jurisdiction over two million square kilometers of the South China Sea, with its own coastline length being 209 kilometers. The area under its maritime jurisdiction is 5,000 square kilometers, and its land area is 1,919.6 square kilometers. Within the urban area, Dadonghai, Xiaodonghai, and Sanya Bay are most closely related to the daily lives of residents.

The urban area of Sanya is surrounded by mountains on three sides: Baopo Ridge to the north, Dahui Ridge, Hubaoling, and Gouling to the east, Nanbian Ridge to the south, and Liudao Ridge, the highest peak at about 420 meters above sea level, to the southeast. This forms an encircling embrace, with the mountain ranges undulating and creating distinct layers. At the same time, the extension of these mountains divides the urban area into several spaces enclosed by green hills, providing unique spatial landscape environments for different parts of the city.

The urban area of Sanya is situated in a beautiful natural environment characterized by mountains, sea, and rivers. The city's construction pays attention to the harmonious relationship between the city and its natural landscape and ecological environment. The clever combination of "mountains, sea, rivers, and city" integrates seamlessly, forming the unique environmental characteristics of Sanya's urban area.

Sanya is located at a low latitude and has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). It is relatively hot throughout the year, with strong monsoon influences, so it is classified as a tropical monsoon climate in the Zhou Shuzhen climate classification system. There is a relatively long rainy season and a distinct dry season. The rainy season lasts from May to October, while the dry season is from November to April of the following year. The annual average temperature is 26.5°C, with the hottest month being June, averaging 29.5°C, and the coldest month being January, averaging 22.3°C. Unlike most other parts of China, the hottest month is June, with an average temperature of 29.5°C (85.1°F). The annual sunshine duration is 2,534 hours. The average annual precipitation is 1,453.2 mm. It is known as the "Natural Greenhouse."

Sanya City Meteorological Data (Extreme data up to 2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|--------|-------|-------|----------| | Record high °C (°F) | 30.4 | 31 | 33.2 | 34.5 | 35.4 | 35.9 | 34.5 | 34.3 | 35.5 | 33.7 | 32.6 | 31.9 | 35.9 | | | (86.7)| (87.8)| (91.8)| (94.1)| (95.7)| (96.6)| (94.1)| (93.7)| (95.9)| (92.7) | (90.7)| (89.4)| (96.6) | | Average high °C (°F) | 26.6 | 27.3 | 29.1 | 31.1 | 32.4 | 32.5 | 32 | 31.9 | 31.7 | 30.9 | 29.6 | 27.3 | 30.2 | | | (79.9)| (81.1)| (84.4)| (88) | (90.3)| (90.5)| (89.6)| (89.4)| (89.1)| (87.6) | (85.3)| (81.1)| (86.4) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.3 | 23.1 | 25.2 | 27.4 | 29.1 | 29.5 | 28.9 | 28.6 | 28 | 27 | 25.4 | 23.1 | 26.5 | | | (72.1)| (73.6)| (77.4)| (81.3)| (84.4)| (85.1)| (84) | (83.5)| (82.4)| (80.6) | (77.7)| (73.6)| (79.7) | | Average low °C (°F) | 19.6 | 20.6 | 22.8 | 25 | 26.5 | 26.9 | 26.5 | 26.2 | 25.4 | 24.2 | 22.7 | 20.4 | 23.9 | | | (67.3)| (69.1)| (73) | (77) | (79.7)| (80.4)| (79.7)| (79.2)| (77.7)| (75.6) | (72.9)| (68.7)| (75) | | Record low °C (°F) | 5.1 | 11 | 10.5 | 19.1 | 19.8 | 21.3 | 22.1 | 21.8 | 20.1 | 14.7 | 7.9 | 7.1 | 5.1 | | | (41.2)| (51.8)| (50.9)| (66.4)| (67.6)| (70.3)| (71.8)| (71.2)| (68.2)| (58.5) | (46.2)| (44.8)| (41.2) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 6.5 | 13 | 21.4 | 52.3 | 132.8 | 173.5 | 212.6 | 234.9 | 251 | 268.6 | 71 | 15.6 | 1,453.20 | | | (0.26)| (0.51)| (0.84)| (2.06)| (5.23)| (6.83)| (8.37)| (9.25)| (9.88)| (10.57)| (2.8) | (0.61)| (57.21) | | Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 5.6 | 10 | 14 | 13.8 | 16 | 17 | 13.5 | 6.6 | 3.7 | 111.1 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 84.3 | 85.8 | 83.9 | 80.4 | 76 | 73.8 | 72 | 73.5 | 79.5 | 81.8 | 82 | 82.8 | 79.6 | | Average UV Index | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 11 |

Data sources: China Weather Network, Weather Atlas website

Sanya Phoenix International Airport (2023 Climate Data)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |--------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------| | Record high °C (°F) | 31 | 31 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 35 | | | (87.8) | (87.8) | (86) | (91.4) | (95) | (93.2) | (91.4) | (93.2) | (93.2) | (91.4) | (91.4) | (89.6) | (95) | | Average high °C (°F) | 26.2 | 29.1 | 29.1 | 31.2 | 32.6 | 32.5 | 32.2 | 32.4 | 31.3 | 31.3 | 30.6 | 28.9 | 30.6 | | | (79.2) | (84.4) | (84.4) | (88.2) | (90.7) | (90.5) | (90) | (90.3) | (88.3) | (88.3) | (87.1) | (84) | (87.1) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.2 | 24.3 | 24.9 | 27.9 | 29.4 | 29.6 | 29.6 | 29.6 | 28.3 | 27.7 | 25.9 | 24.3 | 27 | | | (72) | (75.7) | (76.8) | (82.2) | (84.9) | (85.3) | (85.3) | (85.3) | (82.9) | (81.9) | (78.6) | (75.7) | (80.6) | | Average low °C (°F) | 19.4 | 21.4 | 21.9 | 25.6 | 27 | 27.5 | 27.6 | 27.7 | 26.1 | 25.4 | 22.5 | 21.1 | 24.4 | | | (66.9) | (70.5) | (71.4) | (78.1) | (80.6) | (81.5) | (81.7) | (81.9) | (79) | (77.7) | (72.5) | (70) | (76) | | Record low °C (°F) | 13 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 15 | 13 | | | (55.4) | (66.2) | (64.4) | (73.4) | (75.2) | (77) | (77) | (77) | (77) | (75.2) | (62.6) | (59) | (55.4) | | Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 70 | 72 | 78 | 79 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 84 | 81 | 73 | 71 | 77 | Data source: Weather archive in Sanya Phoenix (Airport), METAR

Since meteorological records began, Sanya's annual average temperature has shown a warming trend amidst fluctuations. Taking 2023 as an example, the city's annual average temperature was 27.0°C, which is 0.5°C higher than the 1991-2020 average. The coldest month (January) had an average temperature of 22.2°C, while the hottest month (June) averaged 29.9°C.

11. Culture

11.1 Language

The Li language is the indigenous language of Sanya. The Li language used in the Tianya District headquarters (originally the area of Yanglan Village, Fenghuang Town) and eastward to Tengqiao Village in Haitang District belongs to the Ha Ying sub-dialect of the Ha dialect. The area around Tianya Town in Tianya District was originally called Xinfu Town, and its administrative village, Heitu Village, is a representative point for the Baoxian sub-dialect of the Ha dialect of the Li language. The Baoxian sub-dialect is used in the Xinfu Town area and westward to Yacheng District, the eastern suburbs of Sanya City, and the Yalong Bay area. In most areas of the Li language, syllables with initials b, d, z, g correspond to aspirated initials p, t, c, k in dialects such as the Qiandui sub-dialect of the Qi dialect (while some vocabulary in the Qi dialect, the Nadoulai dialect of Changhua Village, the Yuanmen sub-dialect, and parts of the Meifu dialect also shift to the rising tone). In the Baoxian sub-dialect, these initials are m, n, ny, ng (e.g., "dax" (paddy field) is pronounced as "nax" in the Baoxian sub-dialect). Additionally, syllables with initials g, k, h in other Li languages have the initial r in the Baoxian sub-dialect, and the initial hl in other Li languages becomes an implosive dh in the Baoxian sub-dialect. This gives the Baoxian sub-dialect some similarities with the Zhuang-Dai branch (compare Zhuang "naz") and has been identified by Norquest as the earliest layer to separate from the Li language, with initials closer to his reconstructed "Proto-Li."

Villages such as Longtoucai, Maohou, and Xiepei in northern Haitang District use the Jiamao language. The Jiamao language is recognized as an older language than Li, possessing multiple yet-to-be-studied unknown layers and at least two older Kra-Dai language layers than the Baoxian sub-dialect (e.g., the word for "paddy field" is "dou陽," with Li having a departing tone and Jiamao having a level tone). Norquest did not reference the Jiamao language when reconstructing Proto-Li but later attempted to compare Proto-Li and Jiamao to reconstruct "Pre-Hlai."

The area of Yanglan Village in the former Fenghuang Town, Tianya District, is the location of the Huihui people settlements such as Huihui and Huixin villages (now Huihui and Huixin communities). They are China's only Malayo-Sumbawan language group and the only Austronesian Muslim ethnic group. Due to their small population, they were classified together with Hui people who follow the Hanafi school as the Hui ethnic group during ethnic identification. Additionally, the Huihui language is an extremely rare monosyllabic tonal language within the entire Austronesian language family and the only member belonging to the Mainland Southeast Asia linguistic area, containing a significant number of loanwords from the Li language.

The indigenous people of Sanya originally did not use Chinese. Regarding Han Chinese, the local residents use five branches of Chinese, including Hainanese, Junhua, Maihua, Danzhouhua, and Daanjiayuhua. Besides Chinese branches, there are also minority languages such as Li, Cham (Huihui language), and Miao (Mian language). With the continuous development of Hainan Island, surveys in the early 1990s found that residents from the Cantonese-speaking areas of Guangdong lived in Sanya's urban area and Hongsha Town, making Cantonese widely spoken. Residents of Haisheng Village in Linwang Town, Xin Hong Village in Hongsha Town, and Jianghong Village in Yanglan Town were all immigrants from Chaoshan, so Chaozhou dialect was commonly used in these local communities. Yanglan Town (Fenghuang Town) has a Hakka village where villagers are Hakka immigrants from Guangdong, and they communicate using the Hakka language. In state-owned farm settlements, older-generation military reclamation soldiers still use other dialects such as Sichuanese, Hunanese, and Henanese.

11.2 Traditional Cultural Customs

Legend has it that women in Sanya express their affection for men by twisting their ears, with greater force indicating deeper love. If the man also has feelings for the woman, he will respond by twisting her ears in return.

11.3 Cuisine

As a famous tourist destination, Sanya gathers delicacies from all over Hainan Island, including the renowned Four Great Dishes of Hainan. Local specialties produced in Sanya include Gangmenfen, one of the more famous noodle dishes on Hainan Island.

12. Sister Cities

Domestic Sister Cities

• Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province (Established on May 3, 1991)
• Huangshi City, Hubei Province (Established on June 27, 1994)
• Ezhou City, Hubei Province (Established on January 7, 1995)
• Xuanwu District, Beijing (Established on February 14, 1997)
• Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province (Established on March 8, 1999)
• Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province (Established on May 23, 2007)
• Haikou City, Hainan Province (Established on September 14, 2008)
• Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province (Established on June 6, 2017)
• Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province (Established on July 20, 2017)
• Jingzhou City, Hubei Province (Established on August 21, 2020)

International Sister Cities

• Alhambra, USA (Established on October 5, 1994)
• Lapu-Lapu, Philippines (Established on July 19, 1997)
• Cannes, France (Established on November 7, 1997)
• Seogwipo, South Korea (Established on November 19, 1999)
• Yalta, Ukraine (Established on November 17, 2004)
• Kuusamo, Finland (Established on June 22, 2006)
• Maui, USA (Established on September 15, 2007)
• Espargos, Cape Verde (Established on October 18, 2009)
• Cancún, Mexico (Established on August 10, 2010)
• Khabarovsk, Russia (Established on November 28, 2011)
• Dubrovnik, Croatia (Established on April 21, 2013)
• Viareggio, Italy (Established on November 17, 2015)
• Krasnaya Gora, Russia (Established on August 11, 2016)
• Blackpool, United Kingdom (Established on September 6, 2016)
• Gold Coast, Australia (Established on September 26, 2016)
• Pattaya, Thailand (Established on March 29, 2017)
• Bangalore, India (Established on March 29, 2017)
• George Town, Malaysia (Established on April 12, 2017)
• Mbarara, Uganda (Established on November 27, 2017)

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The transliteration of the Li language term "daxeek" (鹭田) in Hainanese Min dialect.

Jiyang District

Jiyang District

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