The Only Existing Ancient City in Hainan, Formerly a Government Official Exile Site, Now a Tourist Attraction with Free Admission

Hainan is China's largest and southernmost province, especially the island of Hainan, is a brilliant pearl in the South China Sea. Hainan has abundant tourism resources and possesses China's only tropical coastal tourism resources, particularly Sanya, which is known as 'Orient's Hawaii', attracting countless domestic and international tourists to visit it for its azure seas and beautiful coastal scenery.

In everyone's eyes, Sanya in Hainan is synonymous with blue sky, sea, and sunshine. When traveling here, it's often about island, beach, or tropical rainforest scenery. However, there's actually a well-preserved ancient city here – it's called 'Yaoshui Ancient City'.

Yaoshui Ancient City is located in Yaozhui District, Sanya, about 1 hour's drive from Sanya city, or you can take a train to Yaoshui Station and then take a bus. Yaoshui Ancient City is the southernmost ancient city in China and the only existing ancient city in Hainan. However, the original ancient buildings disappeared in historical dust due to a major fire. The current city is a later restoration. You can see that the city gate is very clean.

Many people may not know that Sanya was formerly known as 'Yaoshui'. Since the Song Dynasty, the provincial, county, and prefectural administrations were all established in what is now Yaoshui Ancient City. During the Tang Dynasty before the Song Dynasty, Yaoshui was in the western part of Hainan, and at that time it was one of the four 'exile places' in ancient China. Many officials who were implicated and persecuted by traitors were exiled here, with more than 14 officials of the rank of Vice Minister of Personnel.

According to historical records, Yaoshui Ancient City before the Song Dynasty was a walled city; it was started to build brick walls in the fourth year of Qiyuan's reign; it was continuously built by the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, forming the largest and most solid city on Hainan Island.

Yaoshui Ancient City has numerous ancient cultural relics, including the southernmost Confucius Temple in China, known as 'The First Sacred Temple at the End of the World'. Yaoshui Academy has a very high status, and officials would dismount and walk in to enter. Yaoshui Academy was built during the 14th year of the Chengli reign of the Northern Song Dynasty, with a history of nearly 1,000 years. It has undergone more than ten relocations and reconstructions, and the latest renovations were in 2000. You can enter through the 'Officials Dismount Here' plaque next to the gate, and you can see the Lingshi Gate and the 'Dao Guan Gu Yin' stele, which describes people with profound knowledge.

The current Yaoshui Academy covers an area of more than 10 acres, with buildings built along the central axis,, The buildings are all renovated later, but they still have the charm of ancient times.

Compared to many attractions in Sanya, there are few people who know about it. When you walk through Yaoshui Academy, you almost don't see tourists, only a few older people are visiting here. It's also a free tourist attraction, and you don't need to buy a ticket.

After passing through the Jichu Bridge, you arrive at a courtyard, and there are long corridors on both sides. The sculptures of two women stand in the corridor – Queen Guan and Huang Dao Po, both of whom made significant contributions to Hainan. Huang Dao Po spread textile techniques here for 40 years, which had a great influence on the economy of Hainan. Guan is 'The First Heroine of Chinese Women', dedicated to maintaining national unity and ethnic solidarity, and established Yaoshui Ancient City in Hainan Island and recovered it.

Walking further ahead is the Great Harmony Hall, which is the core of the entire building group. The hall houses the sage Confucius, which is now renovated and looks very magnificent, similar to the style of royal architecture.

The last hall is the Supreme Harmony Temple, which is a place for primarily sacrificing Confucius' father, Liang. Generally, this hall is not open. It is also like this.

Do you know if you travel to Sanya, Hainan, whether you have heard or been to 'Yaoshui Ancient City'? What impression do you have about it? Welcome to leave a comment.

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