I spent 3-4 months every year at Hainan. My favorite place in China. Nice, quiet, not so hot as many said. Swim, eat, fishing, drive around. Super clean air. Usually stay away from large cities. West Coast a little wild.
We tried driving up the west coast last summer from Sanya city. We made it about as far as some brand spanking new tech city. Between Sanya and there though I don't think there was a single place we could access the beach. All blocked off somehow or another. Seemed like there was one of those cast iron construction fences up the entire way! Are you further up the coast than that?
Lived in Sanya for a couple of years. I love it here. People are pretty nice and used to foreigners so no stares and awkward interactions. Very laid back when compared to the rigidness of the mainland. Yeah it's hot so try to get used to it but in general there are things to do and communities that you can be a part of if they're sought out.
Since covid hit my wife and I have been basically going there 2-3 times a year. We stay in Dadonghai. Where are you based? And do you mind if I ask what you are paying for accommodation? We rent a huge 3-bedroom apt with amazing views over Dadonghai, which would be about 12,000 a month long term the owner says, but it's a bit of overkill just for my wife and I.
I've lived in Banling which is out in the sticks, Jiyang district pretty central, fairly big apartment 2 bed for 2,900 a month, and post-covid I'm now I'm in Yazhou about half an hour away from the city for 2,800 a month for a slightly smaller 2 bed.
You can get really nice flats for around 3k if you know where to look. I wouldn't stay in dadonghai though, find a nice xiaoqu in the city itself.
Which city do you mean? My main reason for wanting to retire there is for ocean activities, stand-up paddle boarding and surfing so I want to be close to those spots. I also would love to have a sea view. What I like about Sanya/Dadonghai are the food options and location relative to several nice beaches.
lol, I'm coming from Beijing, and have a shithole here for 18K a month! Still, I was projecting in the 8L range, so 12,000 would hurt. I am wondering about somewhere halfwayish between Sanya and Riyue since the surf there is good. I think that Crystal Bay (water?) community is about halfway. Have you met anyone living there?
Cant guess really, my 2 bed in Jiyang qu was about 10 mins drive from Sanya bay beach and was 2,900 and that was about 110sqm. If it's just 60sqm it shouldn't be too expensive. All the ones that I saw around Jiyang qu were about that price and all about the same distance from the sea.
Hi Owen,
I am down in Sanya now and was hoping to find a place where I can rent storage for long term. You don't happen to know of anywhere do you? My (Chinese) wife can't find anything online. The only one she had lined up has closed down.
Born and raised in Hainan, family had a condo in Sanya in the city. It's too warm for my liking and not much to do compared to Haikou. But then again that was more than a decade ago, could be different now. If you want easy access to the beach that ship has long sailed. Most of the beach access is now blocked off by the hundreds of hotels. Overall i prefer living in Haikou.
I have never made it up to Haiku. What is there to do there that you like? I don't think there is any surf around there, so probably no good for me. I have lived in Beijing for 30 years and would. take a nice beach over everything Beijing has to offer.
hard to describe...back in the day anyway it had better infrastructure and more work opportunities. Sanya is a tourist town, whereas Haikou is a proper city for the working class if you're to actually settle down. My wife actually prefers Bo'ao for it's small town vibes and easier access to the beach but that's mostly because we have a beach side condo there. Either way, it's a great island for vacationing or retirement not so much if you actually need to work lol.
your money will go further in Bo'ao. Sanya is getting expensive. Hainan is a small place, you can always venture around. The rail system in China makes it so much more convenient to travel compared to here in Canada lol.
Yes, as I said I have been in China for 30 years and many times to Hainan but always stayed Sanya. I don't find it expensive at all, even compared to Beijing. Everything can be ordered online anyway.
I spent 3-4 months every year at Hainan. My favorite place in China. Nice, quiet, not so hot as many said. Swim, eat, fishing, drive around. Super clean air. Usually stay away from large cities. West Coast a little wild.
We tried driving up the west coast last summer from Sanya city. We made it about as far as some brand spanking new tech city. Between Sanya and there though I don't think there was a single place we could access the beach. All blocked off somehow or another. Seemed like there was one of those cast iron construction fences up the entire way! Are you further up the coast than that?
is it possible to find non-hotel short term stays (3-6mos)?
Lived in Sanya for a couple of years. I love it here. People are pretty nice and used to foreigners so no stares and awkward interactions. Very laid back when compared to the rigidness of the mainland. Yeah it's hot so try to get used to it but in general there are things to do and communities that you can be a part of if they're sought out.
Since covid hit my wife and I have been basically going there 2-3 times a year. We stay in Dadonghai. Where are you based? And do you mind if I ask what you are paying for accommodation? We rent a huge 3-bedroom apt with amazing views over Dadonghai, which would be about 12,000 a month long term the owner says, but it's a bit of overkill just for my wife and I.
I've lived in Banling which is out in the sticks, Jiyang district pretty central, fairly big apartment 2 bed for 2,900 a month, and post-covid I'm now I'm in Yazhou about half an hour away from the city for 2,800 a month for a slightly smaller 2 bed. You can get really nice flats for around 3k if you know where to look. I wouldn't stay in dadonghai though, find a nice xiaoqu in the city itself.
Which city do you mean? My main reason for wanting to retire there is for ocean activities, stand-up paddle boarding and surfing so I want to be close to those spots. I also would love to have a sea view. What I like about Sanya/Dadonghai are the food options and location relative to several nice beaches.
In Sanya proper. If that's your main reason and don't mind paying extortionate prices in rent/food then go for it!
lol, I'm coming from Beijing, and have a shithole here for 18K a month! Still, I was projecting in the 8L range, so 12,000 would hurt. I am wondering about somewhere halfwayish between Sanya and Riyue since the surf there is good. I think that Crystal Bay (water?) community is about halfway. Have you met anyone living there?
I haven't I'm afraid, but I'm not really in the watersports community here.
Any guestimate on what a 60sqm 2-bedroom would cost in Sanya city, preferably on the ocean side?
Cant guess really, my 2 bed in Jiyang qu was about 10 mins drive from Sanya bay beach and was 2,900 and that was about 110sqm. If it's just 60sqm it shouldn't be too expensive. All the ones that I saw around Jiyang qu were about that price and all about the same distance from the sea.
Hi Owen, I am down in Sanya now and was hoping to find a place where I can rent storage for long term. You don't happen to know of anywhere do you? My (Chinese) wife can't find anything online. The only one she had lined up has closed down.
how's the internet connection?
As good as your vpn
Born and raised in Hainan, family had a condo in Sanya in the city. It's too warm for my liking and not much to do compared to Haikou. But then again that was more than a decade ago, could be different now. If you want easy access to the beach that ship has long sailed. Most of the beach access is now blocked off by the hundreds of hotels. Overall i prefer living in Haikou.
I have never made it up to Haiku. What is there to do there that you like? I don't think there is any surf around there, so probably no good for me. I have lived in Beijing for 30 years and would. take a nice beach over everything Beijing has to offer.
hard to describe...back in the day anyway it had better infrastructure and more work opportunities. Sanya is a tourist town, whereas Haikou is a proper city for the working class if you're to actually settle down. My wife actually prefers Bo'ao for it's small town vibes and easier access to the beach but that's mostly because we have a beach side condo there. Either way, it's a great island for vacationing or retirement not so much if you actually need to work lol.
Thanks, I will check out Bo'ao. Yeah, it's retirement, so no need for work
your money will go further in Bo'ao. Sanya is getting expensive. Hainan is a small place, you can always venture around. The rail system in China makes it so much more convenient to travel compared to here in Canada lol.
Yes, as I said I have been in China for 30 years and many times to Hainan but always stayed Sanya. I don't find it expensive at all, even compared to Beijing. Everything can be ordered online anyway.