9am
A good breakfast means a good and energetic day. Walk to the No. 16 bus station not far from the shop and head up to Nanshan Temple, which is named after a popular Buddhist expression — “Good fortune is as grand as the East Sea; longevity is as high as Nanshan.”
As China’s southernmost mountain, Nanshan Mountain is regarded as a place with blessings and good luck.
A Chinese monk called Jianzhen tried to propagate Buddhism in Japan but failed five times during the Tang Dyansty (AD 618-907). Then his ship was blown off course and he ended up at Nanshan Mountain. He stayed there for half a year and finally reached Japan. Therefore, Nanshan Mountain has a close connection with Buddhist culture.
10am
At 108 meters high, Nanshan Guanyin Statue is the tallest statue of Guanyin in the world. Guanyin is the bodhisattva, or goddess, associated with compassion. The statue is 15 meters higher than the Statue of Liberty in the United States.
The statue has one side, or aspect, facing inland and the other two facing the South Sea. One side depicts Guanyin cradling a sutra, or scroll, in the left hand and on the right hand, showing the Vitarka Mudra, a hand gesture that evokes wisdom.
The second has her palms crossed, holding a string of prayer beads that means mercy. The third aspect holds a lotus in her right hand meaning peace.
The statue was enshrined on April 24, 2005, after six years of construction, with the participation of 108 eminent monks from various Buddhist groups on China’s mainland and tens of thousands of pilgrims.
Its delicate craftsmanship, design and engraving are awe-inspiring. There is a saying that after the statue of Guanyin was built in 2005, many typhoons changed their direction instead of landing at Hainan.
Since you will be able to see only one side of the statue while on land, don’t forget to see the other two sides when you are leaving Hainan through the plane windows.
Day 3 Fruit and vegetables
11:30am
One of the must-try cuisines in Hainan is the vegetarian meal in Nanshan Mountain. There is an award-winning vegetarian set meal for lunch. Many items, however, are designed to look like meat dishes and even given names familiar to carnivores, despite the fact they are made with fresh vegetables and fungus and bean products. The signature dishes are “pork” with pickled vegetables and long-life noodles, which are long noodles said to ensure a long life. As for desserts, the peach-shaped steamed bun is a good choice.
1pm
Don’t leave Sanya without trying the tropical fruit — Hainan is known as the “fruit basket of God.” Located in the center of Dadonghai, Honggang Market is the most popular wholesale and retail fruit market in Sanya. Pineapple, Australian mango, dragon fruit, papaya, jackfruit, carambola and mangosteen are in season.
You will be dazzled by so much colorful, sweet-smelling fruit. First, here are some tips: The fruit that should be eaten within a day is more expensive than the fruit that can last one or two days. Remember to bargain with the street vendors and keep your eyes on their scales to keep them honest. You may want to bring your own scale or a 500 milliliter bottle of water (0.5 kilograms) to test theirs. If you want your fruit packed for travel, keep an eye on your purchase to keep vendors from switching your box.
We recommend:
Special Coverage:
Print
Save