Splashing Out In Hainan

The tropical island of Hainan is locally known as the Hawaii of China, thanks to sharing the same latitude with the American archipelago, and has long been a top beach destination for Mainland tourists. The island boasts the most blue-sky days in the entire country, and enjoys a lush, tropical climate all year around, especially after the monsoon season, which finished last month, just in time for the Christmas holidays! With an endless supply of the big four – sun, sea, sand and… seafood – it has managed to have enduring appeal as a convenient and enjoyable holiday getaway for many Chinese holidaymakers.

Thanks to the seemingly insatiable appetite from Mainland tourists for extravagant accommodation on the island, a glut of five star international hotels have been opening their doors over the past few years,

specifically in Sanya along the famous Yalong Bay strip. Although Yalong Bay is beautiful in its own right, the beach is now overcrowded with guests spilling out from the back-toback beachside resorts, and it’s hard to walk along the beachfront without unwittingly photo-bombing the selfies of amorous young couples frolicking along the shoreline.

Raffles Hainan, however, has separated itself from the Yalong Bay crowd, and is situated in the newly developed Clearwater Bay area, a convenient 40-minute drive away from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. This location allows for a more secluded holiday experience, with the hotel surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens leading out to powdersoft white sand and the sparkling waters of Clearwater Bay. By no exaggeration, this is probably the best beach we have ever seen in China, surprisingly clean, almost empty, with extremely clear water. There is also an element of authenticity about the place, with groups of locals heading down to the beach in the evenings to relax and small fishing boats bobbing along the horizon trawling for fish before coming into shore.

Raffles Hainan, the Singaporean group’s second property on the Mainland, benefits from the training and experience of the stalwart luxury brand’s operational knowledge and offers nothing but the highest standards of service. The grounds are meticulously sculpted, with an oasisstyle swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and foliage, contributing to the tranquil, relaxing atmosphere, even on a busy pool day. Children will also enjoy splashing about in the water or racing the paddleboats supplied by the hotel.

The resort takes its design cue from Balinese and Hainan ethnic hill tribes, with 299 guest rooms offering breathtaking views of the South China Sea and 32 villas with private landscaped gardens and pools. There are also seven food and beverage outlets, with highlights including exquisite Italian cuisine and fresh seafood under the stars in Sapori Restaurant and the chic Long Bar, which pays homage to its namesake at Raffles Singapore where the legendary Singapore Sling was created.

As Hainan is a domestic destination, expat travellers shouldn’t feel too guilty about purely staying in the resort for much needed rest and relaxation, rather than dashing around trying to soak up the culture, this is still China after all. For those who wish to stay in the resort for the entire length of their stay, the hotel has plenty of activities to keep guests occupied, not to mention the two champion golf courses, the North and South complexes at Clearwater Bay Golf Club, adjacent to the resort. 

There is a big emphasis placed on the entire family at Raffles Hainan, with the complementary daily activity schedule catering to both parents and children. Families can play beach volleyball, join aqua aerobics and attend yoga classes together, or there is also a dedicated Raffles Rascals Kids Club, where children can enjoy cooking classes, magic lessons and much more, away from the eagle-eyed watch of frazzled parents. This then frees up some quality time for mums and dads to indulge in important activities such as taking a cocktail making class poolside at Sing Ken Ken Bar, learning how to create the newly invented Hainan Sling.