Vacationers also sought out the thrill of diving in the resort city, which boasts crystalline seas.

"The wake surfing here was very exciting, and diving into clear water to explore the marine environment, all the lively, colorful fish and beautiful coral, was an unforgettable experience," said Ding Longqiang, a visitor from North China's Shanxi province.

"We came for the sea, and my family especially enjoyed the water sports."

The superb sea and year-round mild climate have made Sanya an ideal place to develop cruise and yacht tourism, industry insiders said.

"Sailboats and yachts used to be luxuries for people with extravagant lifestyles, but in recent years, the cruise and yacht industry has developed rapidly in Sanya, and sailing has become something that most people can afford and would enjoy," said Chen Xiaoyu, a manager at the Sanya Banshan Peninsula Sailing Port.

The landmark port has served as a stopover for notable international ocean races, including the Volvo Ocean Race and the Clipper Round the World Race.

The city has more than 900 registered yachts, accounting for more than half of the island's total. In 2021, 300 new boats were registered, more than double that of 2020.

Also last year, over 1 million passengers took cruises in Sanya, accounting for more than 90 percent of all cruises in Hainan, according to the local yacht association.

Being part of the central government's master plan to build Hainan into a globally influential free trade port by the middle of the century, the development of a yachting industry lies at the top of the province's agenda. To that end, a slew of promotional policies and measures have been introduced, creating unprecedented opportunities for domestic and foreign investors, according to local officials.