Đảo Tây

West Island, known in Chinese as Xidao, is a 2.8-square-kilometer island in the middle of Sanya Bay, and one of Hainan's inhabited tourist islands. Unlike purely recreational islands, West Island supports an indigenous fishing community that has lived on the island for generations, which gives it a distinct character from more manicured resort destinations. For travelers looking for an island day trip from Sanya with both natural beauty and a living cultural backdrop, it is one of the most rewarding options on the coast.

The island is fringed by clear water and sandy beaches, with coral reefs and marine life that support snorkeling and other water-based activities. The beaches on the leeward side are calm enough for swimming through most of the year, and the reef ecosystems just offshore are the main underwater draw, with a range of tropical fish and coral species accessible to snorkelers and divers. The water quality around West Island is among the better near-shore options in Sanya Bay, where mainland beaches can be more affected by run-off and boat traffic.

What sets West Island apart is the fishing community. The island's residents have worked these waters for centuries, and the village on the island preserves elements of traditional Hainan fishing-village life, with narrow lanes, older houses, and working boats at anchor. This is not a recreated folk village but an actual community, and the contrast with the more packaged resort experiences elsewhere in Sanya is part of what makes a visit here feel different. Seafood restaurants in and near the village serve the day's catch, and the pace of life on the back lanes is markedly slower than on the mainland resort strip.

Most visitors combine a few hours on the beach with a snorkeling session and a wander through the village, with the option to rent bicycles or small electric vehicles to explore the island's perimeter. The walking is flat and easy, and the scale of the island means it can be comfortably explored in a half-day or stretched into a full day with time in the water. The island is particularly pleasant in the early morning and late afternoon, when the tour groups thin out and the light on the water is at its best.

Regular ferries connect West Island to the mainland at the western end of Sanya Bay, with the crossing taking a matter of minutes. The mainland terminal is within easy reach of downtown Sanya and the Dadonghai area, which makes the island one of the most accessible day trips from the city. For visitors who want a taste of island Hainan without committing to a longer boat trip, West Island is a practical and rewarding choice.