100,000 Tourists to Swarm Into Sanya, Escape Heat

(Source: ECNS)

Sanya in southern Hainan Province has become one of China's top-three tourist destinations as summer heat sweeps the country.

Ctrip.com, China's biggest online travel company, said over 100,000 tourists have booked reservations at the renowned tropical coastal city known for its beautiful landscapes, cool air and abundant recreational choices.

Both individual and group trips since July recorded a monthly increase of 55 percent, with most visitors from Shanghai and Beijing. Among the options, over 28,000 tourists have taken a five-day and four-night journey.

Sanya's temperatures are below 30 degrees centigrade in summer, while Beijing, Shanghai and other cities have reported up to 40 degrees. Hotels with good amenities, especially swimming pools, are nearly booked up in Sanya, according to a Ctrip.com manager.

Ctrip.com predicted the average spending per tourist here is about 3,000 yuan ($444), with about 90 percent of individual tourists preferring to stay in a five-star or equivalent hotel.

Despite the deluge of visitors in summer, the city has managed to keep hotel prices basically stable or reduced in comparison with last year.

The coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province and Dalian in Liaoning Province are also top destinations for summer travelers, many as family groups.