Sanya Phoenix International Airport lies in a scenic location 11 km (7 miles) to the northwest of Sanya City, with the vast South China Sea to its south and Phoenix Mountain to its north. It is one of only 2 international airports on Hainan Island, able to handle aircraft as large as the Boeing 747-400, and has flights linking Sanya to 63 cities including 38 Chinese cities, 2 regional cities, and 23 international cities.

Sanya Phoenix International Airport was opened in 1994 with Hainan Airlines Group taking over operation of the Airport in 2002. Due to Sanya’s unique geographical location and its growing appeal to travelers as a favorable tropical vacation spot, Sanya’s airport has seen its annual passenger traffic continue to rise at a rate of over 20% on average as the demand for flights rises.

According to its website, “Today’s Sanya Phoenix International Airport, relying on Hainan Airlines Group’s advantageous management, is like a vigorous gigantic bird ready to show its capabilities in international aviation field and in the process of globalization.”

Ground Transportation

Bus: Buses are available to take passengers from the airport to Sanya’s main bus station on Jiefang Lu in downtown Sanya City. The cost is 10 Yuan and the trip takes around 30 minutes. The bus to Dadonghai will cost around 20 Yuan. There will not be many buses as the airport is relatively small, so you can just tell one of the bus attendants where you are going and they will point you in the right direction and tell you the exact price. The last bus leaves the airport 40 minutes after the last flight arrives.

Taxi: Passengers can also take a taxi from Sanya Airport to their final destination. After some negotiation, the taxi fares to Sanya’s four key destinations are approximately as follows: 20 Yuan to Sanya Bay, 30-40 Yuan to Sanya City, 50 Yuan to Dadonghai, and 100 Yuan to Yalong Bay.

Airport Facilities

Airport facilities include free luggage carts, shops, food outlets, lounges, dressing rooms, and a business center. The international terminal has an atrium where passengers can wait for their flights while they lay back on a lawn chair and enjoy the garden style tropical atmosphere under the palm trees overlooking a shallow artistically-designed pool and have a snack or beverage. It is a chance to get a last feel of Sanya’s essence before the flight back home.