72 hours in Sanya (4)

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By Jiang Xinhua (Shanghai Daily) 09:03, September 22, 2013

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Day 3 Tallest Guanyin statue

7:30am

Start a day of living as a local Hainanese with a bowl of Baoluo vermicelli, which are rice noodles and the most popular breakfast option in Sanya. Located at the southernmost point in China, Sanya is famed as having the best rice because of the warm weather and rich soil.

Most Hainanese live on rice. The Baoluo vermicelli is named after Baoluo County in Wenchang City in Hainan.

The quality of the vermicelli and flavor of the soup make the dish. The soup is elaborately cooked with pig or ox bones for more than half a day.

The cook should skim off the residue continually to keep the soup clear enough to see the bottom.

The vermicelli should be semitransparent, chewy at first. Food aficionados can choose from more than 20 kinds of toppings and sauces like fried peanuts, sesame, beef, bamboo shoots, pickled cabbage and the famous Xinglong pepper sauce, which is made from yellow lantern peppers from Xinglong County.

According to local people’s recommendations, Xiaozheng vermicelli shop on Hexi Road is the hottest spot for diners.

9am

A good breakfast means a good and energetic day. Walk to the No. 16 bus station not far from the shop and head up to Nanshan Temple, which is named after a popular Buddhist expression — “Good fortune is as grand as the East Sea; longevity is as high as Nanshan.”

As China’s southernmost mountain, Nanshan Mountain is regarded as a place with blessings and good luck.

A Chinese monk called Jianzhen tried to propagate Buddhism in Japan but failed five times during the Tang Dyansty (AD 618-907). Then his ship was blown off course and he ended up at Nanshan Mountain. He stayed there for half a year and finally reached Japan. Therefore, Nanshan Mountain has a close connection with Buddhist culture.

10am

At 108 meters high, Nanshan Guanyin Statue is the tallest statue of Guanyin in the world. Guanyin is the bodhisattva, or goddess, associated with compassion. The statue is 15 meters higher than the Statue of Liberty in the United States.

The statue has one side, or aspect, facing inland and the other two facing the South Sea. One side depicts Guanyin cradling a sutra, or scroll, in the left hand and on the right hand, showing the Vitarka Mudra, a hand gesture that evokes wisdom.

The second has her palms crossed, holding a string of prayer beads that means mercy. The third aspect holds a lotus in her right hand meaning peace.

The statue was enshrined on April 24, 2005, after six years of construction, with the participation of 108 eminent monks from various Buddhist groups on China’s mainland and tens of thousands of pilgrims.

Its delicate craftsmanship, design and engraving are awe-inspiring. There is a saying that after the statue of Guanyin was built in 2005, many typhoons changed their direction instead of landing at Hainan.

Since you will be able to see only one side of the statue while on land, don’t forget to see the other two sides when you are leaving Hainan through the plane windows.

Day 3 Fruit and vegetables

11:30am

One of the must-try cuisines in Hainan is the vegetarian meal in Nanshan Mountain. There is an award-winning vegetarian set meal for lunch. Many items, however, are designed to look like meat dishes and even given names familiar to carnivores, despite the fact they are made with fresh vegetables and fungus and bean products. The signature dishes are “pork” with pickled vegetables and long-life noodles, which are long noodles said to ensure a long life. As for desserts, the peach-shaped steamed bun is a good choice.

1pm

Don’t leave Sanya without trying the tropical fruit — Hainan is known as the “fruit basket of God.” Located in the center of Dadonghai, Honggang Market is the most popular wholesale and retail fruit market in Sanya. Pineapple, Australian mango, dragon fruit, papaya, jackfruit, carambola and mangosteen are in season.

You will be dazzled by so much colorful, sweet-smelling fruit. First, here are some tips: The fruit that should be eaten within a day is more expensive than the fruit that can last one or two days. Remember to bargain with the street vendors and keep your eyes on their scales to keep them honest. You may want to bring your own scale or a 500 milliliter bottle of water (0.5 kilograms) to test theirs. If you want your fruit packed for travel, keep an eye on your purchase to keep vendors from switching your box.

3pm

Drinking so-called Daddy Tea is a tradition for Hainanese. You can see groups of three and four people sitting near the street with some dishes on a table under an areca tree. Daddy Tea gets it name from those who enjoy it, many of whom are middle-aged men. The tea is just common green tea or chrysanthemum tea. In the afternoon, people in the street greet each other by saying, “Go for a tea?” The tea stall is like a small version of social media and an important part of local life. If you want to learn more about Hainan, just go drink Daddy Tea.

6pm

As the sun sets, it’s time to enjoy the nightlife at Dadonghai’s bars, which include romantic bars with marine decor, live music bars or bars decorated like forests or with other themes. It’s a favorite place for local young people and expats looking for freshly brewed ales and dark beer. Live singers and performers and grilled seafood stalls keep things going late into the night.