Hi, I’m Alex Chen, a travel writer focused on practical independent travel in China. Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) is about 11 km from downtown Sanya. For a lower-cost transfer, the airport bus costs CNY 25 and takes about 50 minutes; a taxi is about CNY 50 and ride-hailing about CNY 30, with both usually taking around 30 minutes to downtown. This guide covers the T1, T2, T3 and International Terminal layout, transport to downtown Sanya, Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay, plus tax refunds, luggage storage, Wi-Fi, currency exchange, restaurants and overnight options.

Summary

Sanya Phoenix International Airport Overview

  • Airport Code: SYX
  • Location: Tianya District, Airport Road, Sanya (Apple Maps/Amap)
  • Distance from Downtown: Approximately 11 km
  • Terminal Information
    • T1 Terminal: Serves domestic flights. Marked as “T1.” Opened in 2006 and covers 58,300 sqm.
    • T2 Terminal: Serves domestic flights. Marked as “T2.” Opened in 2015 and covers 20,000 sqm.
    • T3 Terminal: Serves domestic flights. Marked as “T3.” Opened in 2026 and covers 124,300 sqm.
    • International Terminal: Dedicated to international flights. Marked as “I.” Opened in 2007 and covers 16,300 sqm.
    • VIP Terminal: The airport also has a separate VIP terminal covering 13,000 sqm.
Sanya Phoenix International Airport terminal exterior

Sanya Airport to Downtown: 3 Best Ways

1. Airport Shuttle Bus to Downtown

  • Fare: CNY 25 per person
  • Bus Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes to downtown Sanya
  • Line: Airport Bus Line 1: Sanya Phoenix Airport ↔ Yalong Bay
  • Airport Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00, 00:00, 01:00, 02:00 (last departure), 18 departures per day
  • Stops: Airport → Sanya Guoguang Howard Johnson Resort → Haiyue Square → China Everbright Bank → Sanya Bus Terminal → Sanya Municipal Party Committee → Dadonghai → Hongsha Community → Jiyang Town → Yalong Bay Intersection → hotels in Yalong Bay
  • T1/T2 Boarding Point: Opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals, on the first floor of Complex C. After leaving T1/T2, you can walk directly to the boarding point.
  • T3 Boarding Point: Take the terminal shuttle from Gate 2 of the T3 Transfer Center to T1/T2 first. The shuttle ride takes about 15 minutes. Then walk to the airport bus boarding point opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals on the first floor of Complex C.

Tickets can be purchased at the airport bus ticket counter. Cash, WeChat Pay and Alipay are accepted.

Airport bus service counter at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

2. Taxi to Downtown

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 50
  • Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Use the taxi lane opposite Gates 4 and 5 of the T1 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.
  • T3 Pick-up: Use the taxi lane outside Gate 01 of the T3 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.
Taxi pick-up point at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

3. Ride-Hailing to Downtown

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 30
  • Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Go to the 1st-floor Domestic Arrivals Hall opposite Gates 2 and 3, enter through the East or West ride-hailing entrance, then cross the zebra crossing to the pick-up area.
  • T3 Pick-up: Follow the ride-hailing signs inside T3 to the current designated pick-up area. Because the T3 pick-up point has changed several times since the terminal opened, I recommend waiting until you physically reach the pick-up area before requesting a car. This lets you send the driver the correct current pick-up point.
Ride-hailing pick-up point at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

Sanya Airport to Yalong Bay: 3 Best Ways

1. Airport Shuttle Bus

  • Fare: CNY 25 per person
  • Bus Travel Time: Approximately 60 minutes
  • Line: Airport Bus Line 1: Sanya Phoenix Airport ↔ Yalong Bay
  • Airport Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00, 00:00, 01:00, 02:00 (last departure), 18 departures per day
  • Stops: Airport → Sanya Guoguang Howard Johnson Resort → Haiyue Square → China Everbright Bank → Sanya Bus Terminal → Sanya Municipal Party Committee → Dadonghai → Hongsha Community → Jiyang Town → Yalong Bay Intersection → hotels in Yalong Bay
  • T1/T2 Boarding Point: Opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals, on the first floor of Complex C. You can walk directly there after leaving T1/T2.
  • T3 Boarding Point: Take the terminal shuttle from Gate 2 of the T3 Transfer Center to T1/T2 first. The shuttle takes about 15 minutes. Then walk to the airport bus boarding point opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals on the first floor of Complex C.

2. Taxi

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 80–100
  • Travel Time: Approximately 40 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Taxi lane opposite Gates 4 and 5 of the T1 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.
  • T3 Pick-up: Taxi lane outside Gate 01 of the T3 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.

3. Ride-Hailing

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 60–80
  • Travel Time: Approximately 40 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Go to the 1st-floor Domestic Arrivals Hall opposite Gates 2 and 3, enter through the East or West ride-hailing entrance, then cross the zebra crossing to the pick-up area.
  • T3 Pick-up: Follow the ride-hailing signs to the current T3 pick-up area and request your car only after you reach it. The T3 pick-up point has changed several times, so booking after you arrive at the pick-up area makes it easier to send the driver the correct location.

Sanya Airport to Yalong Bay Railway Station: 3 Best Ways

1. High-Speed Rail

  • Fare: CNY 9 per person
  • Train Travel Time: Approximately 23 minutes
  • T1/T2 Access: Walk to Phoenix Airport Railway Station. The main entrance is west of T1. Take the train directly to Yalong Bay Railway Station.
  • T3 Access: Take the terminal shuttle from Gate 2 of the T3 Transfer Center to T1/T2 first. The shuttle takes about 15 minutes. Then walk to Phoenix Airport Railway Station and take the train directly to Yalong Bay Railway Station.

2. Taxi

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 50–70
  • Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Taxi lane opposite Gates 4 and 5 of the T1 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.
  • T3 Pick-up: Taxi lane outside Gate 01 of the T3 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.

3. Ride-Hailing

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 40–60
  • Travel Time: Approximately 30 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Go to the 1st-floor Domestic Arrivals Hall opposite Gates 2 and 3, enter through the East or West ride-hailing entrance, then cross the zebra crossing to the pick-up area.
  • T3 Pick-up: Follow the T3 ride-hailing signs to the current pick-up area and request your car after you arrive there. This makes it easier to send the driver the correct current pick-up point.

Sanya Airport to Haitang Bay Duty-Free Mall: 3 Best Ways

1. Airport Shuttle Bus

  • Fare: CNY 25 per person
  • Bus Travel Time: Approximately 1.5 hours
  • Line: Airport Bus Line 2: Sanya Phoenix Airport ↔ Haitang Bay Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex
  • Airport Departures: 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00, 20:30, 22:00, 9 departures per day
  • Stops: Airport → Phoenix Airport Expressway Interchange → Hainan Ring Expressway → Haitang Bay (Linwang) Interchange → Haitang Bay 301 Hospital → hotels in Haitang Bay → Haitang District Passenger Transport Center (Haichang Fantasy Town) → Haitang Bay Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex
  • T1/T2 Boarding Point: Opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals, on the first floor of Complex C. You can walk directly there after leaving T1/T2.
  • T3 Boarding Point: Take the terminal shuttle from Gate 2 of the T3 Transfer Center to T1/T2 first, about 15 minutes, then walk to the airport bus boarding point opposite Gate 5 of Domestic Arrivals on the first floor of Complex C.

2. Taxi

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 120–150
  • Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Taxi lane opposite Gates 4 and 5 of the T1 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.
  • T3 Pick-up: Taxi lane outside Gate 01 of the T3 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor.

3. Ride-Hailing

  • Fare: Approximately CNY 100–120
  • Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes
  • T1/T2 Pick-up: Go to the 1st-floor Domestic Arrivals Hall opposite Gates 2 and 3, enter through the East or West ride-hailing entrance, then cross the zebra crossing to the pick-up area.
  • T3 Pick-up: Follow the T3 ride-hailing signs to the current pick-up area and request the car only after you arrive there.

Guide to Sanya Phoenix International Airport

Tax Refund Services

  • Eligibility for Tax Refunds:
    • Purchases by the same eligible overseas traveler at the same tax-refund store on the same day must total at least CNY 200.
    • The goods must leave China within 90 days (inclusive) of purchase, the traveler’s departure date must be no more than 183 days after entry, and the goods must be unused or unconsumed when leaving China.
  • Refund Amount:
    • For goods subject to a 13% VAT rate, the tax-refund rate is 11%; for goods subject to a 9% VAT rate, the tax-refund rate is 8%. The refund agency deducts a 2% handling fee from the invoice amount including VAT, so the net refund is generally 9% or 6% of the invoice amount, respectively.
  • Refund Process:
    • Before security: Customs will verify your items and confirm eligibility. Follow the signage for directions.
    • After security: Refunds are processed in the departure hall of the International Terminal.
  • For more detailed information on tax refunds, visit our China Tax Refund Guide.

Inter-Terminal Transportation: T1, T2, T3, and the International Terminal

T1, T2 and the International Terminal at Sanya Phoenix International Airport are close together, and walking between them usually takes no more than about 10 minutes. T3 is farther away, so use the airport terminal shuttle when traveling between T1/T2 and T3; the ride takes about 15 minutes. The T1/T2 boarding point is diagonally opposite Gate 2 on the first floor of T1, while the T3 boarding point is at Gate 2 of the T3 Transfer Center. From 04:30 to 01:30 the next day, the shuttle runs about every 15 minutes; from 01:30 to 04:30, it runs about every 30 minutes.

Inter-terminal shuttle bus at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

Where to Eat at Sanya Airport: Restaurants & Opening Hours

T1 Terminal, After Security

  • Dicos
    • Location: Near Gate 209
    • Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM
    • Menu: Burgers and snacks

T2 Terminal, After Security

  • 小福王
    • Location: T2 Terminal, airside, beside Gate 216
    • Opening Hours: 06:00–22:30
    • Food: Rice set meals

T3 Terminal, After Security

  • 琼泷序老爸茶
    • Location: T3 Terminal, airside, Level 3, near Gate 334
    • Opening Hours: 06:00–22:30
    • Food: Hainan cuisine, pineapple buns, coconut rice

Duty-Free Shopping Hours

  • CDF Duty-Free Store
    • Location: Restricted area in T1 Terminal, near Gates 206–208, 211, 215–216
    • Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
    • Products Available: Cigarettes, perfumes, and cosmetics

Luggage Storage Services

  • T1/T2 Location: Luggage-storage counter between Doors B and C in the T1 Arrivals Hall on the 1st floor
  • T3 Location: Luggage-storage counter beside check-in counter E20 on Check-in Island E
  • Opening Hours: 06:30–02:00 the next day
    • Small Luggage: CNY 15 per piece/day
    • Medium Luggage: CNY 25 per piece/day
    • Large Luggage: CNY 35 per piece/day
    • Billing Method: Storage of less than 1 day is charged as 1 full day. After the first day, additional time of less than 12 hours is charged as half a day; more than 12 hours but less than 24 hours is charged as 1 full day.
Left luggage service at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

Currency Exchange Services

  • Hainan Tonghui
    • Location: Outside the controlled area of the International Terminal Arrival Hall
    • Opening Hours: 45 minutes before the first inbound flight to the end of flight operations
  • Tianjin Bohai Tonghui
    • Location: Inside the controlled area of the International Terminal Departure Hall
    • Opening Hours: From 2 hours before departure to 45 minutes before departure

Free Wi-Fi at the Airport

Passengers can connect to the airport’s free Wi-Fi by:

  • Entering your mobile phone number and receiving a verification code via SMS.

Note: Accessing websites like Google may require a VPN.

Can You Stay Overnight at Sanya Airport?

Yes. The airport has a dedicated overnight rest area near Exit D in the Arrivals area on the first floor of T2. There are reclining chairs and charging outlets, with a drinking-water dispenser and restrooms nearby. Most airport restaurants close between about 21:00 and 22:00, so if you need food or drinks late at night, there is a 24-hour convenience store in the commercial complex outside the terminal.

Overnight rest area at Sanya Phoenix International Airport

How to plan your Sanya trip

For a first visit, 2 days works well for a short getaway with a tailored route. If you want more time to mix activities—like island trips, rainforest walks, and water sports—consider 4–5 days. Here are our most popular private tour options:

  • Sanya 5-Day Private Tour — Flexible “4 out of 10” activity selection covering islands, yachts, forests, surfing, and cultural spots.
  • Sanya 4-Day Private Tour — Design your ideal island holiday with mix-and-match activities from yacht trips to rainforest walks and water sports.
  • Sanya 2-Day Private Tour — Pick from 11 route options featuring islands, forests, diving, surfing, yachts, and cultural sites for a tailored mini-vacation.

Essential Sanya Travel Resources