Multibillion-dollar investments: infrastructure projects bolster Sanya’s position as top destination for business and leisure
A surging number of tourists are visiting this coastal district, many arriving by cruise ship, to enjoy the luxury resorts, world-class facilities and shopping malls
It’s all happening in Sanya, which is undergoing a major transformation. In addition to its luxury resorts, a number of projects are being built to support the development of Sanya as a holiday destination. These include several large-scale retail centres; meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) facilities; mixed-use developments; and the expansion of its international cruise terminal.
Construction of the Sunshine Insurance Financial Plaza is slated for completion next year. The flagship mixed-use development for Sunshine Insurance Group is located at the southern tip of the island, in Sanya Bay. The project consists of a hotel, a multitier retail podium, and the 105,000-square-metre, 157-metre tall office and hotel tower. The project architect is Woods Bagot.
The plaza’s initial master plan was inspired by the “string-of-pearls” concept. The overall design features a series of lush tropical gardens, water elements and open gathering spaces strung together along with retail islands and the singular iconic office and hotel tower, according to a spokesman for Woods Bagot. “The main axis of the project features pedestrian paths that connect and integrate the retail and office experience with the plaza. Lavishly landscaped public plazas, interconnecting breezeways, screened balconies with dramatic views, green-roof terraces and workplace garden atriums all connect life, work and play in a dynamic setting that infuses the needs of urban experience with the beauty of nature.”
The mixed-use tower comprises 18 levels of grade-A offices, a 270-room luxury hotel and an exclusive members-only club occupying the top floors of the building. Blending grade-A office space with a deluxe boutique hotel, the tower seamlessly transitions among various functions and uses the club facilities to integrate the building’s versatile functions.
On completion, the plaza’s office tower is expected to be the city’s landmark, closely integrated with Hainan Island’s local culture and climatic conditions. The plaza’s unique building façades and surrounding landscape gardens have been designed and crafted to redefine Sanya’s skyline and create a sustainable, community-focused lifestyle destination.
Leveraging Sanya’s growing popularity among well-off tourists from the mainland and overseas, the Sanya Haitang Bay International Shopping Centre aims to attract holidaymakers looking to enjoy affordable luxury in a beautiful setting. The centre’s developer is the CITS Group and its operator is the China Duty Free Group. The architect for this project was Valode & Pistre, based in Paris. The interior designer was Hassell, which also provided retail planning advice to help deliver a world-class shopping experience.
The main axis of the [Sunshine Insurance Financial Plaza] project features pedestrian paths that connect and integrate the retail and office experience with the plaza
The shopping centre comprises two buildings, each with two major atriums, and a 250-space basement car park servicing both buildings. Several sunken water gardens connect the three-storey buildings. The overall landscape design scheme was inspired by the nearby Haitang Bay’s coastline.
The spaciousness of the shopping centre helps optimise the circulation of shoppers around the atriums.
It also adds to the overall vibe of luxury. Each building features a ring to help with the circulation of people, with central landscaped gardens and passageways connecting the two buildings at ground level. A third-floor footbridge also links up the two buildings. The circulation plan also defines the shop-front line and the central open cafe/exhibition area, enabling shoppers to navigate through the space with ease.
Sanya’s infrastructure has also undergone significant expansion. The first phase of the Sanya Phoenix Island International Cruise Terminal, near downtown Sanya in Sanya Bay, was opened in 2006 to cater for the surging number of tourists arriving by cruise ship. To meet rising demand for use of its facilities, the terminal embarked on a major expansion in April 2014. Total investment is estimated to be over 18 billion yuan (HK$21 billion).
Construction of its second phase is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
Phase two of the cruise terminal will feature a new artificial island, one berth for ships of 100,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT), two berths for 150,000 DWT ships, and another berth for 225,000 DWT ships.
Among the projects opened in recent years, the Sanya Beauty Crown complex in downtown Sanya City has caught the attention of most tourists and become a favourite photographic backdrop with its unconventional exterior design and massive scale.
With a design concept inspired by “nine beautiful trees”, the hotel’s expansive lush greenery grounds are surrounded by rivers, streams and dense mangrove areas. The hotel’s nine towers and its sprawling landscape gardens and outdoor areas occupy a plot totalling 500 acres. With a gross floor area of 600,000 square metres, the towers include a “seven-star” hotel, several five-star hotels and serviced apartment blocks.
It’s the venue for the Miss World final, and its other MICE facilities include the Beauty Crown Exhibition Centre and the Art and Culture Centre.
