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LIFES A BEACH: It’s not hard to see why the beach
is Hainan’s main attraction, perfect for long romantic walks or seaside exploration for young adventures but if you get tired of sand between your toes you can take in a round of golf or two.
Best Beaches
Palm-fringed beaches are Hainan’s
main lure and the reason for the island’s (somewhat hyperbolic) nickname, China’s Hawaii. Yalong Bay Beach (admission $10) is Sanya’s star attraction: a nearly five-mile-long stretch of white sands framed by jungle-clad mountains and crystalline waters. Some of the area’s toniest resorts are located here, which means fewer beach vendors.
A 90-minute drive northeast of Sanya, Riyuewan Beach is the island’s premier surfing spot. Amateurs and veterans travel here for the famous left-hand point break. It’s considered an excellent spot for first- timers to learn to ride the waves. Once sleepy, the area is now chockablock with surf shops and backpacker accommodations, but it’s still less hectic than Hainan’s better- known bathing spots.
On the east coast near the town of Bo’ao is Yudai Beach (admission $11.30), a narrow strip between the Wanquan River and the South China Sea (the name means “jade belt”). While its sand is not as fine as that of Yalong, it’s nowhere near as crowded.
Tee Time
Hainan already has more than 29 golf courses, and is fast becoming Asia’s golfing capital. Leading the way is the Mission Hills Resort Haikou, whose 10 courses
lie on top of a chain of dormant volcanoes. Designed by the innovative Schmidt- Curley firm, the courses range from the player-friendly Preserve, which stretches to 6,535 yards, to the rugged, 350-acre Blackstone, built with international tournaments in mind.
If 10 courses sounds overwhelming, consider the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.–designed course at the Yalong Bay Golf Club (yalongbaygolfclub.com), shaped
like a dragon’s claw and covering 168 acres overlooking the sea. Near Haikou, the West Coast Golf Club (www.westgolf.com.cn/ en) has an 18-hole course for all skill levels, also with sea views. Need to work on your swing? There’s a double-level driving range with 60 bays here.
FOOD WITH A VIEW: There are a multitude of eating options in Hainan and a great many of them are on the beachfront, affording great views of the beach and ocean beyond.
18 noVEMBER 2013