Yanoda Rainforest, Sanya

呀諾達(dá)雨林文化旅游區(qū) (yǎ nuò dá yǚ lín)

Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Zone, about 35 kilometers from downtown Sanya, is home to Hainan Island's five tropical rainforests. The name "Yanoda" means "one, two, three" in local dialect and implies the meaning of "hello". By coincidence, the zone happens to consist of three major attractions: Rainforest Valley, Sandao (three roads) Valley and Dream Valley.

Rainforest Valley is straight out of an ecological fairy tale, with lianas that extend about 100 meters long, clinging from one tree to another. Large banyan trees anchor onto the rocks to give tourists a pristine look at the lush treasures of a tropical rainforest. The valley is also covered with a carpet of various grass types that are crisscrossed by brooks and streams. It is a unique huge natural oxygen bar and negative oxygen ion generator, where the average annual temperature is 24 C. The 3.5-km-long tour channels are comprised of a wooden plank, rustic stone steps and a drawbridge to meet the needs of various tourists.

Sandao Valley is about 3 km long, with a water depth of 30 m and width of 30 to 40 m. Waterfalls, rocks, giant trees and springs form over 10 unique landscapes. There are peculiar geological landforms and an abundance of medicinal resources. Some of the stones are seemingly fetched from the lunar surface, while some are like the creations of maestros.

Dream Valley features a spectacular waterfall. The 1.2-m deep and 200-m high tropical rainforest valley encloses the Yingbin, Tianmen and Lianen waterfalls. The magnificent and colorful scenery, together with the giant trees, rocks and streams, form a mysterious and dreamy picture.

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Address: Baoting Li and Miao autonomous county, Sanya city, Hainan province

Opening Hours: 8 am-5:30 pm

Ticket Price: 158 yuan ($23), including entrance, sightseeing bus and an electronic map

Web: http://www.yanoda.com/

Tel: +86-898-83883333

Notes:

1. Dial 400-046-3888 to make reservations for featured rainforest hotels (including a five-star one) whose services include round-trip buses from downtown Sanya to the major attractions in the area.

2. Take the bus from Sanya Coach Station to Baoting or Wuzhishan, and get off atSandao Nongchang Road. The bus departs every 25 minutes and costs 13 yuan.