What's on in Sanya (Hainan), China through the year

Peak crowds — Northern China's winter, Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in China

• Holiday

  Spring Festival

  15–23 FebLunar New YearCrowdedBook early

  The single most expensive week in Chinese hospitality happens on these beaches. Resort rates multiply, flights from the north are the priciest domestic seats of the year, and nothing is quiet. Source ↗

Still on: Northern China's winter (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Spring Festival, Northern China's winter

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Spring Festival (15–23 Feb), Northern China's winter (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Northern China's winter

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Spring Festival (15–23 Feb), Northern China's winter (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in April.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Wet half of the year

  15 May – 31 Oct · usuallyMonsoon

  Hainan's rain is concentrated in the warm months and gets heavier towards the end of them, September and October being the wettest. It is also when the island is cheap and half-empty.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Wet half of the year (15 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  15 Jul – 31 Oct · usuallyClosures

  Hainan takes direct hits rather than glancing ones, and the island shuts properly when a warning is up: flights grounded, boats in, resorts moving guests off the beachfront. Source ↗

Still on: Wet half of the year (15 May – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Wet half of the year (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Wet half of the year (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — National Day Golden Week, National Day Golden Week in China

• Holiday

  National Day Golden Week

  1–7 OctCrowdedBook early

  A second peak inside the wet season. The weather is the year's least reliable and the prices are close to February's, which is the worst trade the Chinese calendar offers. Source ↗

Still on: Wet half of the year (15 May – 31 Oct (usually)), Typhoon season (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Northern China's winter

• Season

  Northern China's winter

  1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyWinter-sun seasonCrowdedBook early

  Sanya's high season is the northern winter, and a good part of it is retirees from Harbin and Beijing who rent for the whole of it. Rates run at their year's highest and the good bays are booked out.

Busy — Northern China's winter, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Northern China's winter (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))