The Ancient Yazhou City is today’s Yacheng Town of Sanya, located 40 kilometers west of Sanya, at the foot of Mount Nanshan. Yazhou City was established during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (AD 420-589). During the Tang and Song Dynasties (AD 618-1279), some renowned government officials were demoted to this city of stone. Before the Song Dynasty, it was a city built with the earth. The building of its brick walls started in 1198, and it became a relatively large city on Hainan Island after several expansions over the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The newly renovated south gate is the only remains of ancient Yazhou.

The renovated south gate is arch-shaped and brownish red. The gate and crenels on it are all renovated according to their original pattern. The stone inscription reading “Wen-Ming Gate”, which was carved during the Qing Dynasty on the north gate, is still legible today. From the city gate tower one can see the cloud-surrounded Mount Aoshan 5km away, the emerald bamboo trees along the Ningyuan River below, and all of the “Eight Sights of Yazhou”.