Local Festivals

“March 3rd” is the most important traditional celebration for Hainan’s indigenous Li and Miao peoples, rooted in over 2,000‑year‑old creation myths and tribal harvest traditions, featuring rituals, folk performances and communal feasts. While the main venue is located in Dongfang City, Hainan, Sanya runs parallel city‑wide cultural programmes. Sanya Serenity Marina’s ocean‑front plaza and promenade host high‑quality folk performances open to visitors within Banshan Bandao. Visitors may enjoy intangible‑cultural‑heritage shows including the Li bamboo dance and Miao Panhuang dance. Official‑certified heritage inheritors demonstrate Li brocade weaving and Miao silver craftsmanship, with original hand‑made souvenirs available. Local delicacies such as bamboo rice and Shanlan rice wine can also be sampled.

China’s Cultural & Natural Heritage Day is a nationwide celebration of intangible cultural heritage, observed on the second Saturday of June each year, with month‑long heritage programmes across Hainan. Sanya’s main celebrations take place at Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone, while Sanya Serenity Marina and nearby Luhuitou Park host exclusive heritage‑themed experiences for luxury travellers within Banshan Bandao. Programmes include living folk performances such as Li fishermen’s ballads and Miao communal dances. Small‑scale premium workshops guided by heritage masters cover Li brocade, Li pottery and Miao batik, where guests can create personalised hand‑crafted souvenirs.

Widely recognised as China's premier offshore sailing competition, the Hainan Island International Offshore Regatta is the highlight of Banshan Bandao's annual maritime calendar. Generally held every November, it takes Sanya Serenity Marina as its official starting port, shore-event venue and closing-ceremony site, attracting professional sailors and teams from more than 15 countries and regions worldwide. The marina's sheltered deep-water harbour and state-of-the-art on-shore facilities create ideal conditions for racing and spectator experiences. Guests may access exclusive viewing platforms and waterfront terraces for unobstructed sightlines of dramatic starts, in-shore manoeuvres and triumphant finishes. Within the race village you may meet international athletes, visit sailing-themed exhibitions and savour coastal gourmet cuisine.

As China's only Platinum Five-Star Gold Anchor-certified yacht marina, Sanya Serenity Marina hosts many of the world's most prestigious sailing events, cementing Banshan Bandao's status as a leading hub for luxury maritime sports in China. Since opening, the marina has hosted stop-overs for the Volvo Ocean Race, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Hong Kong-Sanya International Yacht Rally, World Youth Sailing Championships and other international competitions. During event weeks, the waterfront becomes a global gathering for sailing enthusiasts, industry VIPs and elite athletes. Guests can access private viewing zones, attend athlete meet-and-greets and visit yachting-industry exhibitions.