Wuzhizhou Island, Sanya: How to Plan the Island Day
Wuzhizhou Island (蜈支洲岛) is the small island in Haitang Bay, northeast of Sanya, that has the clearest water and the most developed diving in the city. It lies 2.7 kilometres offshore, covers 1.48 square kilometres, and is reached by a twenty-minute ferry from the Haitang Bay pier. The official adult ticket including the return ferry is 144 yuan, half price for ages 6 to 18, people aged 60 to 69 and students, and free for children 1.2 metres and under. Boats to the island run from 8:30 to 16:00 and back from 9:00 to 19:30. Much of the island can only be toured by electric cart, which is sold separately, and diving and water sports cost extra. Plan a full day, and check sea conditions before you leave. The five-day plan is in the Sanya travel guide.
Tickets, step by step
From the island operator's official ticket page and recent summaries:
- Ticket plus return ferry: 144 yuan for adults. Booking online through the official site or mini-program a day ahead is the usual approach, and some platforms show small early-booking discounts.
- Half price (72 yuan): ages 6 to 18, people aged 60 to 69, and full-time students up to bachelor level, with documents at the counter.
- Free: children 1.2 metres and under or aged 6 and under, plus some other groups with documents. For safety reasons the island turns away some visitors, including people over 70 and pregnant women, according to recent summaries. Check before you go.
- Island cart: separate tickets. Recent summaries put the basic round-island ride at about 60 yuan and a hop-on, hop-off version at about 138 yuan, with bundles combining ferry and cart.
- Seasonal offers: the operator runs promotions, such as a 2026 summer student fare. They come and go, so check the official ticket page.
Bring the ID you booked with. Real-name checks are made at the pier.
Ferry times
The official schedule gives boats to the island from 8:30 to 16:00 and boats back from 9:00 to 19:30. In practice:
- Take an early boat. The water is usually clearer in the morning, the island is less crowded and dive slots are easier to get.
- Note the last return boat and leave a margin. Queues for the return ferry build in the late afternoon.
- Boats stop in rough seas and typhoons. Check the operator's notices the evening before and again in the morning. From June to October, a cancelled crossing is a real possibility.
On the island: why you need the cart
About two-thirds of the island is a protected natural area, and the operator does not allow walking on several stretches of the round-island road for safety reasons. That means the electric cart is not optional if you want to see more than the area near the pier. The hop-on, hop-off cart stops at the main viewpoints, including the lighthouse area and the rocky coast on the far side.
The walkable areas near the pier include the main beaches, restaurants and the start of the water-sports zone. The swimming beaches are open-water areas, and their opening times depend on the weather and sea that day.
Diving and snorkelling
Wuzhizhou is the main diving base in Sanya. The water around the island is clearer than at the mainland beaches and the coral is better preserved. Options range from short beginner dives with an instructor holding you, through snorkelling trips by boat, to sea walking with a helmet.
Some practical advice:
- Book a dive slot early in the day, when visibility is best.
- Compare packages before paying. The pier and island have many sellers; check what is included, how long you are actually in the water and whether photos cost extra.
- Never stand on or touch coral. It is alive, fragile and slow to recover.
- Be honest about your swimming ability. Instructors are used to non-swimmers; tell them.
If diving is suspended because of conditions, there is still the cart loop, the beaches and the viewpoints. Don't buy gear packages you won't use.
Getting to the pier
The Haitang Bay pier is about forty minutes to an hour by taxi or ride-hail from Dadonghai or downtown, and less from Yalong Bay or Haitang Bay hotels. Arrive with time to collect tickets and pass the checks. On the return, the pier fills with people booking cars at the same moment. Book a car before the boat docks, or walk a short way from the pier exit.
What to pack
- A waterproof pouch for your phone and ID.
- Reef-friendly sunscreen, applied before you board, plus a hat with a strap.
- A change of clothes and a towel.
- Motion-sickness tablets if short choppy crossings bother you.
- Water and a light breakfast. Food on the island costs more than in town.
Is it worth it?
Wuzhizhou is worth a full day if diving, snorkelling and clear water are why you came to Sanya. It is commercial, busy and hot, and once you add the cart and an activity the day costs more than the ticket suggests. If you mainly want a long quiet beach, a day at Yalong Bay is better value. If you are short of time, the Sanya guide suggests choosing between Wuzhizhou and Nanshan: Wuzhizhou for the sea, Nanshan for culture.
Keep Tianya Haijiao and Nanshan for a separate western day. Wuzhizhou is in the opposite direction.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Wuzhizhou Island ticket?
The official adult ticket with the return ferry is 144 yuan. Half price is 72 yuan for eligible groups. The island cart and activities cost extra.
What time do the Wuzhizhou ferries run?
Boats to the island run from 8:30 to 16:00 and back from 9:00 to 19:30, subject to weather and sea conditions.
Do I need the electric cart on Wuzhizhou?
Yes, if you want to see the whole island. Walking is not allowed on several stretches of the round-island road.
Is Wuzhizhou good for snorkelling?
It has the clearest water and the best-preserved coral of Sanya's main tourist spots, and it is the main diving base in the city.
Sources
- Wuzhizhou Island official ticket page: https://www.wuzhizhou.com/ticket/
- Wuzhizhou Island official ticket detail and ferry hours, 2026: https://coach.wuzhizhou.com/ticket/detail.html?modelCode=MP2026080416433126364
- Sina, Wuzhizhou ticket summary, August 2026: https://www.sina.cn/gc/article/ninkwem2173820.html
- Wuzhizhou Island, Chinese Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/蜈支洲岛