Crystal-clear waters of Yalong Wan in Sanya, with the best beach in Hainan Province

Wendy Zhang/ Shanghai Daily news

A two-and a half-hour flight took me to China's "Island of the Gods" - Hainan, sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of big-city life.
Hainan Province, China's last-established province, lies at the same latitude as Hawaii, with a tropical climate and charmingly-slow pace of life. Crowned as China's most popular tourist destination, Hainan boasts spectacular scenery including tropical beaches, lush coconut groves, peaceful islands and dense forests.
On the second day of our trip, we headed to Sanya, three-hours by bus from the provincial capital Haikou, on the southernmost tip of the island. Pining for the beach, we rushed to Asian Dragon Bay (Yalong Wan).
Located 25 kilometers east of Sanya city, the beach, which extends for seven kilometers along the crystal-clear waters of the bay, with green palms and hills behind, is regarded as the best on the island.

Beautiful sunset in Yalong Wan

Stepping onto the white sand, kissed by sunshine, I found myself enchanted by the scene. Time paused at that moment, with all worry and memory driven deep beneath the waves. Compared to the sea, everything seems so small, even life and fate.
Lying on a chaise-lounge beneath a coconut-palm-shaped umbrella, I watch the blue sky and listen to the sounds of the sea, immersed in nature.
People run and scream along the beach, chasing each other and playing with sand. 
There is a full range of aquatic activities available around the bay, including swimming, jet-skiing, para-sailing, surfing, and sailing. Many play beach volleyball there.

A couple is wandering along the beach of Yalongwan

A group of four and five-star hotels are located along the beach at Asian Dragon Bay, and visitors enjoy average annual temperatures hovering between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius. Hainan has a wealth of tropical fruit, including coconut, areca, banana, mango, pineapple and winter melon. Seafood is also abundant.