Destinations
Tropical beaches and Hainan's southern medical hub
Sanya, on the southern tip of Hainan Island, is China's best-known tropical beach city. Its 7.5 km crescent of Yalong Bay, the clear waters around Wuzhizhou Island, the 108 m Guanyin statue at Nanshan and the 'edge of the sky' rocks of Tianya Haijiao make it an easy mix of rest and sightseeing. Under Hainan's Free Trade Port policies, citizens of 61 countries including South Korea can currently enter visa-free for 30 days, and medical treatment is a permitted purpose. Public hospitals such as Sanya Central Hospital and PLA General Hospital Hainan offer comprehensive care and health checks, with international clinics available in several Sanya hospitals. With warm winters and flat beachfront walks, Sanya suits check-ups, short treatments and gentle recovery.
Leading hospitals in Sanya that welcome international patients.
General hospitalSanya
Sanya Central Hospital (Hainan Provincial Third People's Hospital) was founded in 1962 as the Hainan Agricultural Reclamation Sanya Hospital and has been a Grade 3A hospital since 1996. It has 1,800 authorised beds, about 1,286 of them open, and around 1,730 staff. Hainan provincial first-class key specialties include neurosurgery, gastroenterology, neonatology and radiology, and cardiovascular medicine and cardiothoracic surgery are also leading departments. It is a National Advanced Stroke Center, a national chest pain center and an International SOS network hospital, with a foreign-related medical service department, a VIP center and a health-check center. Its International Medical Clinic, reported in July 2026, focuses on stroke and Parkinson's disease.
General hospitalSanya
PLA General Hospital Hainan Hospital is located in Haitang Bay, Sanya. It opened on 9 June 2012 as the only whole-unit general hospital that PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) has built outside Beijing, to Grade 3A standards, and was renamed in November 2018. It is also the Sanya clinical college of Hainan Medical University. It hosts three academician workstations and four provincial clinical medicine centers, and is Hainan's ENT head-and-neck clinical research center. Reported strengths include ENT head and neck, orthopaedics and sports rehabilitation, geriatrics, respiratory medicine, nephrology and burns and plastic surgery. No international department has been confirmed and it is not on Hainan's official international-clinic list; foreign patients are seen self-pay with a passport, and a third-party guide says interpreters are not provided, so bring a Chinese-speaking companion or arrange a medical interpreter.
Easy, well-known places to enjoy before or after treatment.
LeisureEasy on recoveryYalong Bay is Sanya's most famous beach: a 7.5 km crescent of soft sand and clear water lined with resorts. The public beaches are free, making it an easy place for walks, swimming and sunsets during a recovery stay.
Recovery fit: Flat promenade and sandy beach with shade and many resort rest areas; easy for gentle walks. Avoid midday sun, check lifeguard zones and sea conditions before swimming.
CultureModerate effortA Buddhist cultural park on Hainan's southern coast, dominated by the 108 m Guanyin of Nanshan standing on the sea. Paths, temples and gardens make it a calm place for reflection, and shuttle buses connect the main areas.
Recovery fit: Large park with long distances; shuttle buses reduce walking, but approaching the Guanyin statue involves steps. Moderate; suitable with rest breaks, shade and water.
LandmarkModerate effortTianya Haijiao ('edge of the sky, corner of the sea') is a coastal park of granite boulders on a long beach, with the famous 'Nantian Yizhu' rock. Once a place of exile, it is now a symbol of China's far south.
Recovery fit: Mostly flat coastal paths with some uneven rocky stretches and little shade at midday. Moderate; visit in the morning or late afternoon and bring water and sun protection.
LeisureModerate effortWuzhizhou is a small island with coral reefs off Haitang Bay, known for clear water, snorkelling, diving and sea sports. Visitors take a boat from the pier and can walk around the island on easy paths.
Recovery fit: Needs a boat transfer, and heat and sun exposure are strong; diving and some water sports have health restrictions. Better after recovery; ask your doctor before diving or water sports.
Sources: ws.sanya.gov.cn, ws.sanya.gov.cn, 301hn.cn, en.wikipedia.org
Attraction details such as opening hours and tickets can change. Please confirm with our coordinators before you travel.
