Yazhou Bay

Yazhou Bay is located in the southwest of Sanya City, Hainan Province, with the Ningyuan River flowing into the bay at its top. At the estuary, there is Yacheng, which was under the jurisdiction of ancient Yazhou, hence the name of the bay.

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Yazhou Bay boasts a profound historical heritage and is an important ancient cultural site in Hainan. Over the course of nearly 2000 years, it has been a key commercial port in the southernmost part of China and a vital harbor for departure and resupply on the ancient Maritime Silk Road. During the Han Dynasty, Generals Lu Bode and Ma Yuan, known as the ‘Two Fubo’ generals, traveled to Yazhou Bay to pacify Zhuya and Jiaozhi (present-day northern Vietnam), establishing cities and erecting the ‘Bronze Pillar at the Southernmost’ as a territorial marker in Yazhou Bay.

In the Tang Dynasty, the eminent monk Jianzhen, on his fifth voyage to Japan, was stranded in a typhoon for over a month and eventually landed in Yazhou Bay. He dried his seawater-soaked scriptures on the coastal slope of Yazhou Bay, which has since been known by the locals as ‘Sutra-Drying Slope’. The rice fields he passed through are also referred to as ‘Monk’s Fields’.

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Today, Yazhou Bay still retains its pristine beach appearance, echoing with the historical tales of ancient celebrities. Strolling along Yazhou Bay, one can enjoy the relatively natural seaside scenery and walk to Yazhou Fishing Port to appreciate the beautiful scene of fishing songs at dusk and the bustling and noisy seafood market. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the day’s opening conditions.

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