Sanya is not only one of the best tropical retreats in China for relaxing and soaking up the sun beneath blue skies and on golden sands, but the city is also a shopping paradise; Sanya boasts an abundance of top class malls, shops and markets for picking up anything from local specialties like pearls and coffee, to luxury clothing and accessories. And now that the government has reduced VAT on products, shopping in Sanya has never been more appealing than now (see more details here). Here’s your guide to uncovering the best shopping spots on sunny Sanya.
But before we shop, let’s take a look at the local specialties Sanya has to offer:
1) Coffee: Sanya’s climate is perfect for coffee growing and the area has been producing high-grade coffee beans for about 70 years already. You can easily pick up ground coffee, charcoal roasted coffee, roast coffee and instant coffee with milk powder and sugar already added.
2) Specialty alcohol: Hainan has a wide selection of local alcohols made using locally grown, natural ingredients. Look out for the various jars and bottles in stores and tourist shops.
3) Specialty teas: Black and green teas are the most common teas found in Hainan, but the island also brags its own unique teas like Shuiman tea (水满茶), Xianglan Tea (香兰茶) and coconut tea.
4) Coconut products: You’ll find coconuts and coconut products everywhere on the island. Coconuts sell for around 5-10 RMB at tourist spots but can be cought for much cheaper (3.5-4 RMB) at stalls further away from tourist hot spots.
5) Tropical fruit (especially dried fruit products): Dragon fruit, pineapples, melons, passion fruit, mangoes, durian… you’ll find these and more in abundance on the island.
6) Dried seafood and marine products: You’ll find a huge variety of fish and marine products here, such as octopus, snakehead fish, gurnard, dried seahorses, dried snail mussels etc.
7) Pearls: considered one of the treasures of Hainan, this is the place to go to buy genuine, precious pearls. Besides jewellery, the pearls are also used in beauty and health products.
1) Crystal: natural crystal is found here which is polished and carved into beautiful bracelets, necklaces, earrings, glasses and accessories.
8) Shells: there’s no shortage of beautiful shells in Sanya, but if you’re not having much luck finding them on the beach, you’ll find plenty of them re-worked into arts and crafts in shops, street stalls etc. Normally, 10 RMB gets you a nug bag of shells.
9) Coconut carvings – coconut shells are carved into beautiful little statues and handicrafts – the perfect little souvenir for friends back home. You’ll find these in most shops and sold on the streets.
10) Li minority textiles: Li textiles are the oldest known textiles in China, dating back to 3000 years ago. Rich in colour and precise in detail, Li textiles are commonly used for clothing, interior décor etc.
Where to go shopping in Sanya:
1) Summer Mall 夏日百货View In Map
This is the most up-scale shopping mall in Sanya to date, mainly selling international brands and top quality products from the mainland. You’ll find a good selection of make-up, perfumes, watches, jewellery, clothing, shoes, silk and golf equipment here.
Add: Yuya Road, Dongdahai, Sanya
地址:三亚市大东海风景区榆亚路
Tel: 0898 8822 3333
Website: http://www.sanyasummermall.com/
Opening hours: 09:00-23:30
Getting there: take bus no. 2, 4, 8, 17, 18 or 19
2) Mingzhu Square 明珠广场View In Map
This is one of Sanya’s largest and most comprehensive shopping malls. It sells a wide range of high-class make-up and clothing, as well as local specialty products. A cinema is also found here.
Add: Jiefang Sanlu, Sanya
地址:三亚市解放三路
Tel: 0898 8836 9855
Opening hours: 9:00 – 24:00
3) Jiefang Road Pedestrian Street 解放路步行街 & International Shopping Center 国际购物中心View In Map
A popular shopping destination, the first to third floors of this shopping emporium sell leather goods, food and drink, clothes, accessories, hair and beauty products and services etc. There’s also an arts & crafts street with souvenirs and tourist products, a KTV parlor, hotel etc. It’s basically everything you need in one venue.
Add: Jiefang Erlu, Sanya
地址:三亚市解放儿路
Opening hours: 9:00 – 22:30
4) Baihuagu Shopping Center 百花谷购物中心View In Map
Baihuagu is an upscale hotel and shopping mall in Yalong Bay. You’ll find lots of dining, entertainment and recreation options rolled into one here.
Add: Yalong Bay, Sanya
地址:三亚市亚龙湾百花谷
Tel: 0898-8856 6588
Opening hours: 11:00 – 22:00
For more shopping venues see our listings here, or feel free to comment below.
Warning:The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.
Keywords: where to go shopping Sanya Shopping Sanya upscale shopping local specialties Sanya local products Sanya
All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.
Please login to add a comment. Click here to login immediately.
I lived in Sanya for some time. I can advise "First Market" (第一市场), there you can buy cheap pearl and souvenirs.
Mar 01, 2015 21:51 Report Abuse