Nanwan Monkey Island
Nanwan Monkey Island
4
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
About
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
173 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
58
Average
28
Poor
11
Terrible
15
Sightseers_11
Visby, Sweden232 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
So if your traveling from Sanya it will be about 1:30 minutes to get to the ticket office. I suggest you hire a local guide to get you there. Usually can find one through your hotel tour office.
Also arrive early otherwise you can wait in a long cue to get to the island. The cable car over to monkey island is actually the longest cable car ride in Asia!
Ensure you don’t bring any type of plastic bags with foods or drinks in it as the monkeys will rob you upon arrival! We were not on island for more than a minute when we saw this happen!
From the moment you get on the cable car have your camera ready you will capture some great photos on this trip.
On the island itself you will spend probably a couple hours at most. If traveling from Sanya expect this trip to take you half a day.
Also arrive early otherwise you can wait in a long cue to get to the island. The cable car over to monkey island is actually the longest cable car ride in Asia!
Ensure you don’t bring any type of plastic bags with foods or drinks in it as the monkeys will rob you upon arrival! We were not on island for more than a minute when we saw this happen!
From the moment you get on the cable car have your camera ready you will capture some great photos on this trip.
On the island itself you will spend probably a couple hours at most. If traveling from Sanya expect this trip to take you half a day.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina64,765 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
We saw lots of monkeys, which seem to be everywhere on Monkey Island. Many seem very friendly, inquisitive, and hoping to get some food.
Written January 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael_WorldWanders
Waikoloa, HI905 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
Despite mixed reviews and talk of animal cruelty here and elsewhere, I decided to take my chances and explore Monkey Island ...and I'm glad I did.
Roads leading into this part of Lingshui are rough, but once you get to Xincun Town, the area is quite nice: it's like a fishing village meets a tourist attraction.
I opted for a round-trip cable car ride...so for roughly $30US, you get a beautiful ride up/down the mountain that the monkeys are on... and you get to explore an interesting monkey habitat.
The cable car ride was smooth & enjoyable, providing sweeping views of the countryside...of the floating fishing village below...and down the coast towards Sanya. I enjoyed the ride that lasted a few minutes.
You then land inside the park and there's monkeys everywhere!
There's signs that explain what you're looking at...and zoo-keeper-like staff scattered around the island. The monkeys mind their own business and swing from the trees or walk on the sidewalks. But if it looks like you have a bag of food or food in your pockets, they go in for an attack. My brother reached into his pocket to get his camera...and suddenly a monkey jumped on him, trying to get at whatever was in his pocket. He was able to shake it off...and a park employee came by to further spook the monkey away. The park person said never reach into your pockets in view of the monkey. My brother was unharmed...but definitely shaken up a bit.
Otherwise, it was great to see the monkeys out and about, playing and simply living. I did see some monkeys jump on people with food, but they were warned not to have food out or bags that could easily be grabbed.
Most monkeys are out and about, free to roam the park. There are a handful though on leashes, but I never saw them whipped or beaten. While I was bracing myself for all sorts of animal cruelty scenes, I saw none. There were a few monkeys within a large enclosure labeled "Monkey Jail", but I wasn't sure what their story was. The monkeys inside there seemed to be mean and were hissing at passerbys. If seeing a dog on a leash makes you cringe, you should avoid this place. But if you want an up-close experience with monkeys, this place is for you.
In addition to roaming about the wildlife preserve, the monkeys perform in two outdoor theaters, with shows in each lasting about 15-20 minutes long. One was "comedy" themed, with some monkeys fooling around with a performer. The other was "circus" themed, and included a goat and a pony doing stunts with the monkeys. I thought both shows, while narrated in Mandarin, were enjoyable....even if I didn't know what was being said.
Including the shows, I spent just over 2 hours at the park before taking the cable car back down. I enjoyed myself and think most others would too.
Tips:
-Don't bring in any food/drink! The monkeys will try to steal it from you.
-Don't act foolish around the monkeys --they're probably smarter than you and could harm you.
-Don't bring small children. I think this place is best served for kids 6+.
Roads leading into this part of Lingshui are rough, but once you get to Xincun Town, the area is quite nice: it's like a fishing village meets a tourist attraction.
I opted for a round-trip cable car ride...so for roughly $30US, you get a beautiful ride up/down the mountain that the monkeys are on... and you get to explore an interesting monkey habitat.
The cable car ride was smooth & enjoyable, providing sweeping views of the countryside...of the floating fishing village below...and down the coast towards Sanya. I enjoyed the ride that lasted a few minutes.
You then land inside the park and there's monkeys everywhere!
There's signs that explain what you're looking at...and zoo-keeper-like staff scattered around the island. The monkeys mind their own business and swing from the trees or walk on the sidewalks. But if it looks like you have a bag of food or food in your pockets, they go in for an attack. My brother reached into his pocket to get his camera...and suddenly a monkey jumped on him, trying to get at whatever was in his pocket. He was able to shake it off...and a park employee came by to further spook the monkey away. The park person said never reach into your pockets in view of the monkey. My brother was unharmed...but definitely shaken up a bit.
Otherwise, it was great to see the monkeys out and about, playing and simply living. I did see some monkeys jump on people with food, but they were warned not to have food out or bags that could easily be grabbed.
Most monkeys are out and about, free to roam the park. There are a handful though on leashes, but I never saw them whipped or beaten. While I was bracing myself for all sorts of animal cruelty scenes, I saw none. There were a few monkeys within a large enclosure labeled "Monkey Jail", but I wasn't sure what their story was. The monkeys inside there seemed to be mean and were hissing at passerbys. If seeing a dog on a leash makes you cringe, you should avoid this place. But if you want an up-close experience with monkeys, this place is for you.
In addition to roaming about the wildlife preserve, the monkeys perform in two outdoor theaters, with shows in each lasting about 15-20 minutes long. One was "comedy" themed, with some monkeys fooling around with a performer. The other was "circus" themed, and included a goat and a pony doing stunts with the monkeys. I thought both shows, while narrated in Mandarin, were enjoyable....even if I didn't know what was being said.
Including the shows, I spent just over 2 hours at the park before taking the cable car back down. I enjoyed myself and think most others would too.
Tips:
-Don't bring in any food/drink! The monkeys will try to steal it from you.
-Don't act foolish around the monkeys --they're probably smarter than you and could harm you.
-Don't bring small children. I think this place is best served for kids 6+.
Written September 24, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rohit B
3 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
A really disgusting place. Had to queue for 2 hours just to get on a damn cable car. The island could be a nice place but is ruined by blaring microphones of all the tour guides. But that isn't the worst thing. Seeing monkey forced to do tricks for humans makes it the most sickening. DO NOT go to this place.
Written January 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexandriaFin
7 contributions
Sep 2015 • Family
A terrible place we were tricked into visiting by our hired driver...
We planned for the day to go to an island off of Hainan to do water sports when we passed signs for Monkey Island and our driver pointed asking if we wanted to go. Both my sister and I said no, we didn't want to go because of bad reviews we heard on it. But our dad insisted on going, so the driver took us there.
We were shoved by some rude man to take pictures with the Monkey King and then after the gondola ride asked to pay for the pictures.
When you first walk in there are a few free monkeys. Then when you go to the "Monkey Guards of Honor" there are monkeys chained by the neck holding flags. They all looked so sad and miserable and sitting in their own feces.
Our driver pushed us along to a show to watch. It was supposed to be funny but I found nothing humourus about it. The man was holding a whip and even full on smacked one of the monkeys.
Then when that was over our driver pushed us along to the next show. They dragged out a little pony that had one of the saddest expressions I've ever seen on an animal. Heartbreaking.
Then, the worst part of this whole place was when they brought out a baby Asiatic Bear and made it stand on his hind legs in the hot sun. He had a chain around his neck and a tight muzzle on, he was so small and innocent looking, but his eyes were full of misery. This was when my eyes began to water.
This place was dirty, ugly, abusive to its animals and idiotic. A tourist trap and Im sure our driver was in on it.
After about 15 minutes of watching the poor baby bear I turned to my dad and told him I was leaving. Everyone stared at me as I got up and left the room looking at me like there was something on my face but it is beyond me how people could sit and laugh and enjoy the stupid circus that was going on in front of them and Im bewildered when I read good reviews on this place because in my eyes there was nothing positive about this place.
THEN our driver charged us an extra 200 yuen for driving us there! Because it was "out of his driving district"! I couldnt get off of that island fast enough. And it absolutely breaks my heart knowing that the animals I left back there on that island arent as fortunate as I am to be able to leave as easily as me.
We planned for the day to go to an island off of Hainan to do water sports when we passed signs for Monkey Island and our driver pointed asking if we wanted to go. Both my sister and I said no, we didn't want to go because of bad reviews we heard on it. But our dad insisted on going, so the driver took us there.
We were shoved by some rude man to take pictures with the Monkey King and then after the gondola ride asked to pay for the pictures.
When you first walk in there are a few free monkeys. Then when you go to the "Monkey Guards of Honor" there are monkeys chained by the neck holding flags. They all looked so sad and miserable and sitting in their own feces.
Our driver pushed us along to a show to watch. It was supposed to be funny but I found nothing humourus about it. The man was holding a whip and even full on smacked one of the monkeys.
Then when that was over our driver pushed us along to the next show. They dragged out a little pony that had one of the saddest expressions I've ever seen on an animal. Heartbreaking.
Then, the worst part of this whole place was when they brought out a baby Asiatic Bear and made it stand on his hind legs in the hot sun. He had a chain around his neck and a tight muzzle on, he was so small and innocent looking, but his eyes were full of misery. This was when my eyes began to water.
This place was dirty, ugly, abusive to its animals and idiotic. A tourist trap and Im sure our driver was in on it.
After about 15 minutes of watching the poor baby bear I turned to my dad and told him I was leaving. Everyone stared at me as I got up and left the room looking at me like there was something on my face but it is beyond me how people could sit and laugh and enjoy the stupid circus that was going on in front of them and Im bewildered when I read good reviews on this place because in my eyes there was nothing positive about this place.
THEN our driver charged us an extra 200 yuen for driving us there! Because it was "out of his driving district"! I couldnt get off of that island fast enough. And it absolutely breaks my heart knowing that the animals I left back there on that island arent as fortunate as I am to be able to leave as easily as me.
Written September 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KSDolfanic
Shanghai, China18 contributions
Feb 2011 • Couples
My wife and I feel sorry that we paid money, and by doing so supported the way monkeys were treated in various parts of the park. We were expecting to see a reserve where all monkeys were free and roaming at their own will. They did have that for some monkeys, though others were on chains and being whipped in shows.
One comedic (but sad) show featured a trainer with 5 monkeys on chains whipping them for cues to do various acts. Some of the acts were to make the monkeys look like they were mad at or fighting the trainer, which often looked to real to be an act.
Another show had a larger audience with animals doing larger circus acts in a old setting. And as a small pony was trying to walk on an elevated tight rope 6 feet tall, it well to the ground and was whipped to attempt it again.
The trip started out with a massive line towards the cable car to the island with 5 people wide all shoving elbows to get ahead. I had to guard my wife for 30 minutes from being crushed. Sadly we had to wait the same tedious line on the way off the island (without the crushing). The line waiting made this a waste of a whole day, when we only expected a 2 hour side trip.
One comedic (but sad) show featured a trainer with 5 monkeys on chains whipping them for cues to do various acts. Some of the acts were to make the monkeys look like they were mad at or fighting the trainer, which often looked to real to be an act.
Another show had a larger audience with animals doing larger circus acts in a old setting. And as a small pony was trying to walk on an elevated tight rope 6 feet tall, it well to the ground and was whipped to attempt it again.
The trip started out with a massive line towards the cable car to the island with 5 people wide all shoving elbows to get ahead. I had to guard my wife for 30 minutes from being crushed. Sadly we had to wait the same tedious line on the way off the island (without the crushing). The line waiting made this a waste of a whole day, when we only expected a 2 hour side trip.
Written August 13, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Berta T
Xi'an, China3 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
If you expect to have a nice day in the countryside, don't go there. If you expect to see free and happy little monkeys, don't go there.
What we saw were animal shows that are a torture for visitors as well as animals, a national park, in which you should never use the hidden tracks, if you don't fancy meeting other cute animals such as rats or just step on a whole lot of garbage, animal "caretakers" that are using catapults to keep the monkeys away from their visitors and as an addition three massive fish swimming in a pool filled with garbage and an inch bigger than themselves.
Please just don't go there, because such places shouldn't be encouraged by lots of visitors!
What we saw were animal shows that are a torture for visitors as well as animals, a national park, in which you should never use the hidden tracks, if you don't fancy meeting other cute animals such as rats or just step on a whole lot of garbage, animal "caretakers" that are using catapults to keep the monkeys away from their visitors and as an addition three massive fish swimming in a pool filled with garbage and an inch bigger than themselves.
Please just don't go there, because such places shouldn't be encouraged by lots of visitors!
Written January 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
krysiamisia
Guangzhou, China1 contribution
May 2016 • Friends
Me and my friend took a bus to get there. We spent 2,5h one way in crowded and stinky bus for 18 rmb. Entrance is for 152 rmb (113 with Chinese student card) and it includes rope line trip. On the island you can find monkeys only around workers who either are feeding them or beating. Right after entrance there were some poor monkeys bounded to short chains, holding flags to welcome visitors. Monkey's swimming pool was totally empty. Next 'attraction' is square, where visitors can feed monkeys and take photos with them. And in the end... performances. 'Comic theater' we left after 30 seconds, because monkey didn't want to do what guy wanted, so he started to beat it with stick in front of everyone. We couldn't watch it. 'Monkey circus' wasn't better. All animals on short chains 'motivated' by beating them. We spent quite lot of money and for us it was totally unpleasant experience. Don't recommend to anyone...
Written May 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michalz
Bratislava1,366 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
- Bad cable car, dangerously high speed, crosswind
- The animals under stress
- Circus stunts
- Dirty place
- Attraction especially for Chinese people
- Europeans, please choose a different trip (Areca Valley ...) or stay
- The animals under stress
- Circus stunts
- Dirty place
- Attraction especially for Chinese people
- Europeans, please choose a different trip (Areca Valley ...) or stay
Written February 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rasmus A
Sanya, China4 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
I'm a fan of monkeys so I liked walking around with all the free monkeys, but that was it. The place is not very big and there are A LOT of people and every time we saw "trained" monkeys we could only feel sorry for them. All the trained monkeys are kept on a leash and treated horribly. We were unable to buy any solid food inside the park only very little snacks. We spend about 1 hour walking around and then we went to watch 1 of the 2 shows, after which we decided to leave.
If you still want to go, find an alternative to the cable ride if you can. The view is good but we had to wait for 1+ hour both in and out to get on, which was not worth the view.
We took the train from Sanya and then the free shuttle from the train station, to get on the shuttle bus you have to buy a ticket coupon (a laminated paper), which you trade to an entrance + cable ride ticket when you get there. The shuttle bus goes every 1 - 1½ hour. At 17:30 we got on the last shuttle bus back to the train station, which was apparently also a free ride home for all the workers so we had to stop at least 10 times on the way making the ride twice as long.
If you still want to go, find an alternative to the cable ride if you can. The view is good but we had to wait for 1+ hour both in and out to get on, which was not worth the view.
We took the train from Sanya and then the free shuttle from the train station, to get on the shuttle bus you have to buy a ticket coupon (a laminated paper), which you trade to an entrance + cable ride ticket when you get there. The shuttle bus goes every 1 - 1½ hour. At 17:30 we got on the last shuttle bus back to the train station, which was apparently also a free ride home for all the workers so we had to stop at least 10 times on the way making the ride twice as long.
Written February 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yana L
92 contributions
Путешественники, расскажите пожж на полуострове есть песчаный пляж, на него как выйти? И можно ли там позагорать? И через обезьян надо идти или отдельный где-то проход?
Алексей Б
Yekaterinburg, Russia118 contributions
На песчаный пляж так просто не проехать, т.к. вход на него лимитированный. А еще к нему от места, куда пристает паром, нужно ехать минут 10-15. Так что, наверное, его можно посетить только в составе экскурсии.
Nanwan Monkey Island (Lingshui County) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Nanwan Monkey Island
- Nanwan Monkey Island is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 4:50 PM
- We recommend booking Nanwan Monkey Island tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Nanwan Monkey Island tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Nanwan Monkey Island:
- (5.28 mi) Wyndham Hainan Clearwater Bay Resort
- (7.70 mi) Raffles Hainan
- (8.80 mi) Holiday Inn Resort Hainan Clear Water Bay, an IHG hotel
- (2.43 mi) The Westin Blue Bay Resort & Spa
- (2.50 mi) Blue Bay Greentown Resort