Shopping is a passion for the residents of Sanya as reflected in the city's well-stocked downtown department stores and shops, hotel boutiques and the wide variety of shops at the international airport. Shopping in Sanya includes picking up special merchandise with a local flavor, jewelry, pearls, crystals, pearl products and crystal wares, butterfly specimens, candies, carved coconut handicrafts, coral , dried tropical fruit and dried seafood in addition to coffee, tea and pepper.
Crystal Crystal from Hainan is arguably the best in China. Chairman Mao's coffin in Beijing was built from Hainan crystal. The luminous natural material is not only made into various kinds of jewels including necklaces, brooches and earrings, but some say it has medicinal benefits!
Coral Coral is commonly known as the "stone flower of the sea" due to the spectacular color and elegant shape of the coral found here. Corals of various color are used together with shells and other natural products following traditional techniques used in Bonzai. Bonzai (contrary to popular western conception) is the arrangement of objects, in this case coral, and not, a type of tree! The Coral Bonzai of Hainan is a good choice to buy as a souvenir.
Seawater Pearls Seawater pearls are famous for their huge size and colorful surface compared to freshwater pearls which are more commonly found throughout China. The biggest seawater pearls have a diameter of 1.5 cm. These unique pearls are not only used to make various jewels including necklaces, rings, brooches and earrings, but also made into beautiful pearl decorations. Pearl powder is traditionally used by Chinese women as a secret treatment to help maintain their youth and beauty.
