Guanyin of Nanshan Monument

Address: Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone, Sanya, Hainan, China

Website: http://www.nanshantour.com/

Hours: Daily 8am-6pm (approx.; parts of the site may have separate hours)

Admission: Ticketed (varies by access zone; public spaces free)

The Guanyin of Nanshan is a large statue of the bodhisattva Guanyin located in the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone on Hainan Island, China; the statue is 108 metres tall and was completed in 2005. It is a major Buddhist landmark in the Sanya area.

The monument is visited both for religious reasons and for tourism; the statue’s scale and sea-facing position make it a focal point for photography and pilgrimage. The site includes walkways and viewing platforms that give visitors close views of the statue and coastal panoramas of the South China Sea.

The statue was constructed as part of the Nanshan Buddhist cultural development and was opened to the public in 2005. It is part of a wider complex that includes temples, halls and landscaped areas established to promote Buddhist practice and tourism in the region.

It sits in the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone near Sanya on Hainan Island, on a small island-like platform at the coast and connected to the mainland by visitor walkways; the complex lies to the west of central Sanya.

• Height and completion: The statue measures 108 metres in height and was completed and unveiled in 2005.
• Three aspects: The sculpture has three aspects facing different directions, designed to face both the inland and the sea.

What to See#

• Statue island and walkways: The statue itself stands on a small man-made island within the Nanshan Buddhist cultural zone and is connected to the mainland by walkways and viewing platforms used by visitors.
• Nanshan Temple and cultural park: Nanshan Temple and the surrounding cultural park form the broader complex that includes the statue, with gardens, halls and religious displays used by tourists and pilgrims alike.

Nanshan is about 40 km west of Sanya city centre. Buses and tourist shuttles run from Sanya; many tour operators include the site in day-trip packages. Taxis and private car hire are common options.

• Visit early to avoid crowds at the popular viewpoints; some areas with gardens are ticketed and can get busy in high season.
• Combine a trip to Nanshan with time in Sanya for beaches and local Hainan cuisine.
• Respect local dress codes if entering temple areas associated with the site.