Wanning万宁

Wanning sits on the southeastern coast of Hainan, offering a long shoreline, tropical rainforest, and a surf culture that is still very much growing. Riyue Bay is among the most iconic surf spots in the country; its consistent waves draw riders from everywhere and have nurtured a relaxed, open beach community. Beyond chasing waves, you can drive along the coastal highway, watch the sunset at Shimei Bay, sample coffee and snacks blending Southeast Asian flavors in Xinglong, or explore the botanical garden to learn about the region's overseas-Chinese heritage. Compared with Sanya, Wanning has less of the crowded mega-resort atmosphere and is better suited to slowing down—moving between bays, fishing villages, and cafés to experience a more natural, everyday side of Hainan.

Culture

From a returnee farm to a surf town

• The Xinglong Overseas Chinese Farm was founded in 1951 to resettle the first wave of Malaysian returnees; returnees from 21 countries and regions followed, totaling nearly ten thousand
• The Xinglong National Tourism Resort still preserves Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai-style villages, complete with their architecture and dance
• Xinglong coffee's planting and roasting techniques were brought back by returnees, making this one of China's few homegrown coffee regions
• Riyue Bay got China's first Olympic-grade artificial wave pool in November 2025, and hosted the National Wave Pool Surfing Open in March 2026

Surf & Untouched Coast

As steady as the surf, as quiet as the sand

• Riyue Bay is widely regarded as one of mainland China's top surf breaks, with year-round swell suited to everything from first-timers to advanced surfers
• Shimei Bay's 6km of untouched coastline was recognized as a national-level tourist resort in June 2024; the uninhabited Jiajing Island offshore is a favorite photo spot
• At just 184 meters, Dongshan Ling has drawn scholars and poets since the Jin dynasty, earning it the nickname "Hainan's first mountain"
• Shanqin Bay, Shenzhou Peninsula and other coves are dotted with golf courses and beach-volleyball courts

Everyday Life

Relaxed in the surf village, lived-in downtown, self-contained resorts

• Riyue Bay's Tianxin village is Wanning's most active surf-and-nomad pocket, with a growing density of guesthouses, light-meal cafés and shared workspaces
• Shimei Bay, Shenzhou Peninsula and Xinglong are mostly resort-hotel clusters, spread apart, so getting between them relies on a taxi or charter car
• The Wancheng old town is where local life actually happens, at noticeably friendlier prices than the resort belts