History and Culture

Sanya, called Yazhou in ancient times, has a long history and later gained the title of "Tianya Haijiao". From the Han Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, as many as 15 eminent prime ministers, ministers and scholars were banished to Hainan. Ten of them lived in Shuinan Village, Yacheng Town, Sanya, and many of their descendants still live here today. Sanya also boasts abundant and broadly-distributed cultural heritage resources, of which Dachai dances and Yacheng folk songs of the Li Nationality are included in the national intangible cultural heritage protection program, seven items, including the primitive pottery of this ethnic group are included in the provincial intangible cultural heritage protection program, 11 items, including the bow-drill fire making, are included into the city-level intangible heritage protection program.