This is a relevant excerpt from the TIMATIC for China, from earlier in 2011, and it pertains to issuance of Visa on Arrival for Hainan. This is not the same thing legally as visa-exempt or a visa-waiver. The first clause is for the 3 "favored nations." Note number of people and stay allowed on this type of visa-on-arrival:

- On arrival: if required, to nationals of Germany, Korea (Rep.) and Russian Fed. holding normal passports, arriving at Haikou Meilan or Sanya Phoenix International Airports, travelling as part of a tourist group (2 or more people) to Hainan Province for a max. stay of 21 days, organized by a travel agent registererd in Hainan Province and approved by the Natonal Tourism of China.

Then there is the second clause for some other nations including the USA. Note differences in minimum number of people required and duration of stay:

- On arrival: if required, to those arriving at Haikou Meilan or Sanya Phoenix International Airports, travelling as part of a tourist group (5 or more people) to Hainan Province for a max. stay of 15 days, organized by a travel agent registererd in Hainan Province and approved by the Natonal Tourism of China. Available to nationals of Australia, Austria,Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, USA and Ukraine holding normal passports. Available to holders of British normal passports endorsed British Citizen .


Also note that in both clauses, the requirement for a group tour set up by an approved travel agent.

Colin, I don't think you will find an "on point" answer from someone with direct experience on this forum, as most FT'ers not doing an international transit, will be traveling on a Chinese visa obtained in advance. I would be surprised if any of our proferred information has changed radically as pertains to USA passport holders on this matter. But collectively, we are trying to tell you that this rosy tourist board info--which is at odds with both the Chinese Embassy and TIMATIC database information--is perhaps overly optimistic, and if you want to visit Sanya as an independent-travelling couple, to get Chinese visas.

If you do check it out with an approved tourist agent and Sunny Sanya's information is true as presented, and the Embassy and TIMATIC are not up to speed, then let us know, as it will be useful new data to add to the stewpot of Chinese visa lore.