Sanya's Top 10 WeChat Groups

By Vanessa Jencks, April 9, 2021

Sanya might be one of the only places in China where an expat local is really considered a ‘local’ in comparison to tourists.

Expat locals know where the best spots are to snorkel, swim, dine and relax. Some even have secrets they’re not willing to share with other expat locals.

Just like any other Chinese city, it’s WeChat that keeps everyone informed and together. So, if you’re looking to get insider tips and meet an expat local, make sure to join the best of the best of Sanya’s WeChat groups.

Here are our picks of groups open to both tourists and locals.

1. English Teachers Sanya
Ready to take the plunge and move to Sanya? This is the group for you. Just be aware that the demand for jobs is high, but salaries are often lower than the Chinese mainland.

Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

2. Surf 海南, 万宁, 后海, 三亚

Look no further than this group to make you drool over the swell you’ll find up and down the southern half of the island.

Add WeChat ID KevinRSA to request this group.

3. SANYA EXPATS

The admin works hard to keep this group legal and clean for a happy WeChat sharing space.

Add WeChat ID worldtradecentre to request this group.

4. Sanya Resource Group
This is an anything-goes type of group as long as it’s legal and related to Sanya, feel free to post.

Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

READ MORE: Is Sanya's Night Market Worth It?

5. 三亚半岛故事salsa party

Every Saturday night you can head to Sanya Peninsula Story for a free night of salsa. This group will keep you updated about the event plus the colorful and vivacious owner. On Halloween weekend in 2020, he dressed up in a dinosaur suit to dance in the conga line with all of the guests. You could say he’s the life of his own party.

Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

The ITC group spun off from this foreign talent informational event in Yazhou Bay. Image via ITC国际人才社区.

6. ITC国际人才社区

If you’re an international talent or business owner who’d like to stay up to date about what’s going on with Sanya government’s international initiatives and recruitment, this is the group for you.

Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

7. 51give Sanya Love 三亚大爱
If you’ve got a big heart, you’ll definitely want to join the beach cleanups with 51Give. This group organizes both official and unofficial cleanups around the city. Who says you can’t volunteer and give back to a holiday destination?

Add WeChat ID yangwei1464 to request this group.

8. Events ONLY Hainan
The Events ONLY Hainan group is what it sounds like. Promoters, organizers, clubs, bars and business owners should only post events. Chats should only be questions about the events.
Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

9. PIZZA DATO Sanya
Regarded as the best pizza in town by many, PIZZA DATO will deliver to you in Sanya city. They release information about mini-program joinings, discounts and more in this group. You can always just ask a question, too. We need to mention, they can’t deliver to the airport, Yalong Bay or Haitang bay.

Add WeChat ID pizza_dato to request this group.

10. Uzbek Food Sanya
As the chefs of Uzbek Food move from one location to another, it’s important to keep up with them in this group. Just keep in mind that it’s a bit of an anything-goes type of group as all sorts of videos and chats are shared here.
Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

Bonus: Selective Groups Open Only to Expat Locals

We’re throwing these in here simply because if you’re moving to Sanya, you’ll want to join these two groups.

Sanya Classifieds
This group is a buy and sell group typically only open to long-term expat locals. The group administrator is a well-known expat who sings at Dolphin Sports Bar & Grill.
Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

Hainan, Naturally
Originally named Sanya, Naturally, this group transformed to focus on the whole island when expats from Haikou began to join. It’s a serious nature-loving group and is selective in who they let join. Hainan’s biodiversity is impressive, so if you’re a local who loves nature, get in touch.

Add WeChat ID vanessajencks to request this group.

[Cover image via Pixabay]

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