Known as Yazhou in ancient times and situated at the south tip of Hainan Island, Sanya has been called the Edge of Heaven and Corner of Sea. It is one of the four prefecture-level cities without districts designated in the country. With 19 large or small bays, Sanya is an important foreign trade port at the south tip of the coastline of southeast China. It is one of China’s gateways to the world. In 2008, Sanya’s GDP totaled RMB 13.232 billion, with a per capita GDP of RMB 13,409. The population of permanent residents of Sanya amounts to 565,000.

As the south gateway of the motherland, Sanya has a special location advantage in global economic relations. The aggregate investment in social fixed assets amounts to RMB 15.158 billion, and the total retail sales of consumer goods RMB 3.877 billion. In 2006, the total production value of agricultural, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery industries amounted to RMB 3.871 billion. Sanya has developed highway, railway, and harbor and aviation transportation with Sanya Phenix International Airport as one of the biggest freight transportation airports in the country. Sanya is unique in tourism resources, comprising the 10 elements of scenery resources, namely: sunshine, sea water, sand beach, amiable climate, forest, animal, hot spring, grotto, garden and folk custom. It is called the Oriental Hawaii.