Top 5 hot spots to see in Sanya on a Helicopter (to ditch the crowd)

Located in the southern end of Hainan Island in China, Sanya is home to Yalong Bay known for its gorgeous and upscale hotels, beautiful beaches, and turquoise water .... and its crowd. Needless to say, a helicopter is the best way to tour this paradise of islands where you can experience breathtaking views, relaxation and the thrill of water sports to your heart’s content.

In addition to relaxing in luxury hotels or sailing out to sea, you can also experience the lush islands of Sanya touring and visiting them in the comfort of your own helicopter. Check out the following islands of Sanya, and choose your own flight plan!

Phoenix Island

This marvel of an island is entirely man-made from the land to the sand and relaxing resorts like an island in the sea full of beautiful marine-inspired architecture. The island comes with a 360 view of the surrounding seas it is connected by a single cross-sea bridge with a scenic drive. You can truly relax in peace on this isolated island looking into the endless blue seas but also feel inspired facing the prosperous commercial road of Sanya City and its magnificent skyscrapers.

West Island

Also known as the Tortoiseshell Island, Westland is located in the Sanya Bay National reserve with a whopping 2.86 sq km of nature. The island is known for its beautiful soft beach, crystal clear waters and fresh air. It gets its name from its shape which looks like a turtle living in a tropical area.

If you’re into snorkelling or scuba diving you must come here to see the large number of beautiful coral formations surrounding the island. It is home to a vast tropical marine ecosystem and aquatic life, making it one of the best places for diving in Sanya.

Haitang Bay Coastline

The Haitang Bay resort is located in the southern end of Hainan Island, east of Sanya and is a paradise away from the urban areas of Sanya. Rich in natural beauty, facilities for relaxation it's the place to go to kick back and relax and sip on your favourite cup of drink!

With the bay stretching 42.3km long, it is one of the most famous bays in Sanya along with Yalong Bay, Dahonghai, and Yahzhou Bay of Sanya. If you’re into hiking or mountainous scenes, the northwest area is mostly mountains whilst the southeast border is perfect for seaside lovers with coastal plains and flat rivers.

Wuzhizhou Island

Also known as the “Maldives of China”, Wuzhizhou island is a gorgeous butterfly-shaped island where it is home to more than 2000 rare plants and trees making it an ideal place for nature lovers and enthusiasts. Most visitors and divers come for its quality nature attractions and crystal clear water.

However, if you’re looking to sit back and relax, no problem! It sits about 30km away from Sanya city and 38km away from Phoenix airport, which means you can truly sit back, relax, enjoy nature and get a nice tan in peace.

Make sure you snap an aerial view when you fly over Wuzhizhou Island, to capture its distinguishing shape which looks like a butterfly relaxing in the sea!

Nanshan

About 40 km southwest of Sanya City, you can find a massive display of traditional Chinese Buddhist Culture in Nanshan. What’s more, is that it ranks first in air and seawater in the country. Imagine flying in the clear blue sky and sea through jade coloured waters!

The main attractions in Nanshan are the Nanshan Temple, giant Guanyin on the sea, Buddhist Scenic Garden, Shifang Tower and Guigen Garden. Needless to say this showcase of Buddhist culture is a must-see for cultural enthusiasts!

Here are the must-see islands and beaches to experience helicopter island hopping in China

And why island hoping is best done with a helicopter.

Why you should island-hop by helicopter

Island hopping is simply traveling between islands all in one trip, from island A to island B, then onto island C or more! Typically this is done by hiring a boat which is traditionally the most accessible, but this can be quite consuming and you may still have to hike to your destination.

Helicopters, on the other hand, can get you closer to your destination on the island, save time, and it comes with the best views! This means more time to spend on each island, or visiting more islands within the same day. This is also a great way to explore islands for those who are prone to seasickness. Not to mention, the aerial views you get from a helicopter gives you a full view of the entire sea, island and the birds-eye view and stunning photo-ops that will make your friends jealous! With all these benefits, the best way to do island hopping is with helicopters.

There are so many gorgeous islands surrounding the China sea such as Shengsi Island, Shengshan and Gouqi Island, the Flower and Bird Island, and Donji Island.

Shengsi Islands (Sijiao Mountain)

The Sijiao Scenic Area is made up of the main island of Sijao, Huanglong Island, Majishan and surrounding islands, as well the enclaves of Baijie Mountain and Banbian Mountain. This gorgeous area is characterised by long stretches of golden sand. Si Jiao is one of the only places home to so many high quality beaches -14 beaches to be exact!

The most famous are the Jihu and Nanchangtu beach, home to rare large-scale sea and sand baths in China. These are ideal spots for discreet sunbathing, relaxing and for open water activities!

Shengshan Island and Gouqi Island

Shengshan and Gouqi Island are two islands connected by a bridge. This eastern island of the Shengsi Islands is known for its vast beach, mountain scenery and it’s gorgeous shores. The main attraction of ShengShan Island are the naturally formed cliffs of the East Cliff, its uninhabited village and the Xiyang bay.

Known as “Little Greece of China”, Gouqi Island is located in the eastern parts of the Shengsi Islands, the second largest island in the area right after Si Jiao. Residing close to Zhoushan and Shanghai, it is home to the wolfberry beach on the eastern end of the island. There are several gorgeous scenic spots such as Xiaoxitian Mountain, Sea wonders monument, Tiger Stone, the Jiao Long delta, and much more!

The Shengshan fishing grounds comes with an endless view of the blue sea and sky, with ten thousand boats going out and returning to the port in the morning and sunset. Each morning and night, offering sightings of fishing boats, which looks like a floating forest on the sea.

Flower and Bird Island

Located in the northernmost part of Shengsi Islands in Zhoushan city, Zhejian Province, is the Flower and Bird Island. The island's name comes from it’s seagull-like shape, as well as the abundance of vibrant flowers, grass, and lush forests.

It is also known for the clouds and mists that come and go throughout the year giving it a mystic aura to the island. The main attractions of the island is the Flower and Bird lighthouse, the fluorescent sea and bergamot stone found on the island

The famous lighthouse was built in 1870, which is still considered the second tallest lighthouse in Asia at 17 meters in height! The Flower and Bird Lighthouse has been illuminating the sea for passing ships for over one hundred years.

Dongji Island

Dongji Island was made popular in China from the movie “The Continent” (Hou Hui Wu Qi) which was filmed on the island capturing its calm small town seaside scenic surroundings. In Fact the name of the island was adopted from the novel-inspired movie, as it became so popular amongst the masses.

Dongji Town is surrounded by 28 islands and 108 diversified reef formations scattered in the East China sea. This entire area is commonly referred to as the Dongji Archipelago. Known for its tranquility, there aren’t many people or noisy crowds in the city, and with no commercialised streets, it has become a place where visitors come to enjoy the vast oceanic sea views and sounds of the ocean.

We hope you enjoyed our blog on Island hopping in China. If you’re looking for inspiration for private aviation travels, the ones that your friends and family would be jealous of check out our other blogs on how you can in style here: https://www.flight.yugoplus.com/yugo-media

48 Hours in Hong Kong

Get a taste of the vibrant essence of Hong Kong with a two-day trip that is bound to

leave visitors wanting more.

To the untrained eye, Hong Kong may seem to be all about skyscrapers, business and

finance. However, on the ground the face-paced city is home to an abundance of

unique activities, sights, tastes and sounds waiting to be discovered.

Day One: Morning

Start the day at bustling Tai Ping Shan Street. Meaning. Once lined with gambling

and opium dens, this was the area hardest hit by Hong Kong’s 1894 bubonic plague

epidemic. Today, it’s a laid-back, bohemian hub with a collection of boutique fashion,

ceramics and homeware stores, art galleries and craft cafés.

A must-see site is nearby Man Mo Temple, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most

famous complexes, where parents gather to ask the god of literature to help children

with their education. 

You can sample an array of the dim sum as well as a selection of sweet and savoury Chinese dishes.

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without trying dim sum and there is no shortage of

eateries serving the bite-sized dish. A top place to sample the traditional dish is Dim

Sum Square, where diners can sample an array of the dish as well as a selection of

sweet and savoury Chinese dishes.

Day One: Afternoon

Shopaholics can head to SoHo, a trendy neighbourhood in the Central district that

houses more than 300 hip boutiques, diners, upscale bars and art galleries.

Next, jump aboard a traditional double-decker tram and explore Hong Kong Island.

A great option is TramOrganic Tour, a 1920s-style, open top tram that takes

passengers on a one-hour audio-guided ride around the island. It starts at Western

Market Terminus in Sheung Wan and ends at Causeway Bay.

Jump aboard a traditional double-decker tram and explore Hong Kong Island.

Day One: Evening

Iconic Causeway Bay is the perfect spot to indulge in a delicious dinner. The lively

neighbourhood is packed with restaurants, bars, shops and the island’s largest public

park. We then recommend heading to Lan Kwai Fong, a lively nightlife district where

the party continues until the early hours.

Day Two: Morning

Start the day like a local and tuck into a traditional breakfast at a cha chaan teng, or

tea restaurant. These casual eateries dot the streets and serve a range of classic

westernised Hong Kong dishes, including tasty pork chop buns.

Next, pull on your hiking boots and spend the morning exploring some of the

spectacular trails Hong Kong is home to. Head to Bowen Road to embark on the 30-

minute Peak Circle Walk to the Peak. Teetering at 1,300 feet above sea level, this is

Hong Kong’s highest point and boasts splendid views of the sprawling metropolis

below.

Spend the morning exploring some of the spectacular trails Hong Kong is home to.

Day Two: Afternoon

Take a step back in time and spend the afternoon exploring Kowloon Walled City.

The former military stronghold’s notorious collection of buildings was torn down in

the late-1900s. In its place, a Jiangnan garden-style park was built, boasting

impressive water features and traditional gardens.

Get on the ultimate high in the afternoon and charter a helicopter to take you above

Hong Kong’s speckling on islands as the sun sinks into the sky. Alternatively, there

are plentiful operators offering various helicopter tours that offer spectacular bird’s

eye views of Hong Kong.

Day Two: Evening

Another unmissable attraction is A Symphony of Lights. Every night at 8pm, the 10-

minute multimedia laser show lights up the skyscrapers around Victoria Harbour on

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. An incredible way to experience the show is on

board the Aqualuna. The traditional junk puts on a delicious dinner during the

spectacular.

The perfect way to round out two days in Hong Kong is a trip to its largest night

market at Temple Street in Kowloon. Stalls line the web of streets selling everything

from clothes and accessories, through to household items, jewellery and snacks.