Haitang Bay Circuit
Location:
Sanya, China
Local Weather & Time
Upcoming at Haitang Bay Circuit
|
Sanya ePrix
Formula E
19 - 20 Jun
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Track Info
Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya, Hainan, China
Tropical waterfront street circuit with two bridge straights, hard-stop hairpins and a resort backdrop unlike anywhere else on the calendar - anti-clockwise - 2.236 km / 1.389 mi with 11 turns - short, sharp and heat-soaked, where surface grip and energy management matter as much as outright speed
First Race
23 Mar 2019
Haitang Bay made its competitive debut on Sanya E-Prix weekend in 2019, with Jean-Eric Vergne winning Formula E's headline race for DS Techeetah.
Circuit Length
2.236 km / 1.389 mi
A compact temporary street layout in the Haitang Bay resort district, with two long straights crossing bridges and a tight technical section wrapped around the paddock area.
Turns
11
Mostly 90-degree corners and hairpins, plus a fast kink and a chicane that break up the rhythm and create several strong regeneration and overtaking zones.
Lap Records
1:09.965 - Jean-Eric Vergne - 2019 (Formula E race lap)
The main official benchmark comes from the circuit's only Formula E race to date. Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy machinery also raced here, with a best race lap of 1:28.357 by Bryan Sellers in 2019.
Opened
2019
Built as a temporary street circuit for Formula E in Sanya. Notable details included a resin-and-sand surface treatment before the first event, an Attack Mode line at Turn 3 and the pit and paddock set in a car park between resort hotels.
When was the track built?
Haitang Bay was created for the 2019 Sanya E-Prix rather than grown over decades like a permanent circuit. That gives it a very modern Formula E identity - part city showcase, part race venue, part tourism postcard. The layout was assembled around Haitang Bay's resort district on Hainan Island, using public roads, bridge sections and a temporary paddock area between major hotels. Even before the first race, organisers had to think carefully about the conditions. After track-surface problems at the previous Formula E round in Santiago, the Sanya roads were specially treated with a resin-and-sand mix to stop the hot tropical surface from breaking up. That little detail says a lot about the place: Haitang Bay looked glamorous, but it was never going to be easy.
When was its first race?
The venue's first race day came on March 23, 2019, when the new circuit hosted the Sanya E-Prix and its support programme. The headline Formula E race was won by Jean-Eric Vergne for DS Techeetah after a dramatic afternoon that included contact, a red flag and a late finish under full-course yellow conditions. It was the first and, so far, only world-championship race held at Haitang Bay, which gives the circuit a short history but a memorable one.
What's the circuit like?
- Classic Formula E shape: Haitang Bay is short, narrow enough to punish mistakes and packed with the kind of stop-start corners that reward late braking, strong regeneration and clean traction off slow exits.
- Two proper passing zones: Turn 5 and Turn 8 are the headline hairpins. Both sit at the end of meaningful straights, both invite late moves, and both can punish drivers who over-commit and compromise the exit.
- Bridge straights give it a unique flow: The run across Fengtang Road and over the bridge sections makes the lap feel more open than its distance suggests. That contrast between broad straights and tight braking corners is where most of the racecraft comes from.
- Turn 3 matters more than it looks: It is not the fastest or most dramatic corner, but with the Attack Mode activation on the outside and the next phase of the lap opening immediately after, it is a strategic point as well as a driving one.
- Heat and humidity change the challenge: Sanya is hot, sticky and hard on concentration. Battery management, tyre temperature and simple cockpit workload all become bigger factors when the tropical weather turns the race into a sweatbox.
- Surface grip is part of the story: With new tarmac, older road sections and temporary preparation work, grip can evolve quickly through the weekend. On a Formula E street circuit that often means the fast line gets better session by session while the dusty offline sections stay risky.
- Final sector is easy to get wrong: The chicane at Turn 10 and the final hairpin at Turn 11 create one last chance to attack, but they also decide the whole run back to the line. A poor exit there leaves you vulnerable immediately.
Lap records and benchmarks
- Formula E - official race lap (2.236 km): 1:09.965 - Jean-Eric Vergne - DS E-Tense FE 19 - 2019.
- Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy - official race lap: 1:28.357 - Bryan Sellers - Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy - 2019.
- Formula E - qualifying reference: Oliver Rowland took pole for the 2019 Sanya E-Prix, underlining how much one-lap precision mattered on such a short and evolving circuit.
- Context: Because Haitang Bay only hosted one race weekend in its original form, the official record book is brief. That makes every benchmark here feel unusually important.
- Why the numbers matter: On a 2.236 km street lap, small mistakes are magnified. Losing momentum out of one hairpin can hurt all the way to the next major braking zone.
Formula E announced Sanya's return for 2026, but with minor circuit modifications expected, any future benchmarks may need to be treated separately from the original 2019 layout.
Why go?
Haitang Bay is the sort of race trip that doubles as a holiday without even trying. You get a waterfront Formula E setting, palm trees and resort hotels all around the circuit, then beaches and warm weather once the on-track action pauses. For fans planning to attend, that is a huge part of the appeal. It is not a remote industrial venue where you watch racing and leave. It is a destination. The other draw is the circuit's atmosphere on race weekend - tight street-track action, electric-car urgency, and the feeling that the whole event is happening inside a tropical postcard. If Sanya stays on the calendar, Haitang Bay has the ingredients to become one of Formula E's most distinctive travel weekends.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Turn 5 hairpin: The best all-round overtaking spot. Cars arrive off the earlier acceleration zone and have to slow the car properly for the tight left, so it is ideal for late-braking moves and switchbacks.
- Turn 8 hairpin: Another prime passing zone, this time after the long bridge straight. If you want to watch drivers attack the brakes at the end of the fastest section, this is the place.
- Turn 3 and the Attack Mode area: A smart tactical viewing point, especially in Formula E. You can watch drivers balance race position against energy strategy while still trying to protect the inside line.
- Turn 10 chicane into Turn 11: Great for seeing who keeps the car tidy through the final technical section and who gives away the run back to the start-finish line.
- Bridge-side straights: Best for appreciating the visual identity of the circuit itself - cars charging over the bridge with the resort skyline and bay atmosphere in the background.
Not just one series - headline events at Haitang Bay Circuit
Formula E: The Sanya E-Prix gave Haitang Bay its place on the global map in 2019, and Formula E has since confirmed a return to Sanya for the 2025-26 season, bringing the circuit back into the championship story after a long break.
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy: Formula E's former support series also raced at Haitang Bay in 2019, adding a second all-electric category and helping establish the venue as an EV-focused street-racing stage rather than a one-race curiosity.
The bigger picture: Haitang Bay does not have the multi-decade, multi-series history of older tracks, but that is part of its character. Its reputation is tied to modern electric racing, tropical conditions and a layout built to create overtakes and visual drama in a compact space.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya, Hainan, China
Best options are flying into Sanya Phoenix and using a direct taxi or airport bus to Haitang Bay, or arriving by high-speed rail to Sanya/Phoenix Airport/Yalong Bay and finishing by road. This is a temporary street circuit in a resort district, not a permanent walk-up race venue, so the final gate, parking and spectator-circulation plan should be treated as event-specific until Formula E publishes the full 2026 track guide.
Current event anchor
THE ISLAND, No. 128 Haitang North Road, Haitang District, Sanya, 572000
Formula E’s current 2026 Sanya E-Prix ticket listing uses this Haitang Bay address; exact gate and parking instructions may still change once the full event guide is published.
Useful permanent landmark
Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue
A practical fixed landmark in the middle of Haitang Bay, and one of the airport-bus stops published for the bay.
Airport
Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX)
Sanya Tourism Board says it is the most convenient arrival point for the city, and Haitang Bay is about 40 minutes away by taxi.
Airport bus
Direct airport-bus service to Haitang Bay
The airport’s English page lists a Haitang Bay line via Linwang Town, 301 Hospital, Haitang hotels, Haichang Fantasy Town and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
Rail reality
No railway station in Haitang Bay itself
Sanya Tourism Board lists the city’s four main stations as Sanya, Phoenix Airport, Yalong Bay and Yazhou, so this is a road-transfer venue rather than a station walk.
Local mobility
Hotel shuttles, taxis and DiDi are the practical last mile
Sanya Tourism Board says many Haitang Bay hotels offer free shuttles, and taxis / ride-hailing are widely used around the city.
Public transport - workable, but not a station-to-gate venue
- Airport bus: Sanya Phoenix Airport’s official English page lists a direct Haitang Bay line with 9 departures daily, fare ¥25, stopping via Linwang Town junction, 301 Hospital, various hotels in Haitang Bay, Haitang District Tourist Distribution Center (Haichang Fantasy Town) and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
- City buses: Sanya Tourism Board says the city has a well-developed bus network with 132 routes, with most trips costing RMB 2-12 and core operating hours of 06:00-23:00. That helps for getting around Sanya, but it is still not the same as having a rail or metro stop at the circuit.
- Hotel shuttles: many upscale hotels in Haitang Bay offer complimentary shuttle buses, which is especially useful if the final Formula E gate map ends up splitting arrivals across different sides of the temporary course.
- Race-week warning: Formula E’s official 2026 Sanya circuit page still says “Track map coming soon”, so do not assume today’s everyday bus stop pattern will match the final spectator entry plan.
Driving - straightforward once you are in Haitang Bay
- Best sat-nav plan: use either the current Formula E event anchor at No. 128 Haitang North Road or the fixed landmark Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue, then follow any race-week traffic signs for the temporary street circuit perimeter.
- Self-drive is normal here: Sanya Tourism Board says car-rental pick-up and drop-off are easily arranged at the airport, railway stations and major Haitang Bay resort hotels, which is a good fit for a bay-area venue with limited fixed public transport at the final destination.
- Road style: Haitang Bay is part of Sanya’s coastal resort corridor rather than the compact old city, and the tourism board’s own self-drive guide treats the bay as a natural starting point for coastal driving.
- Most important caveat: because this is a temporary street circuit, the final approach roads, security filters and one-way traffic plan are likely to be race-specific rather than permanent. Wait for the published Formula E event map before deciding exactly where to drive in.
Parking
- Current status: there is not yet a published permanent parking guide on Formula E’s 2026 Sanya pages; the official circuit page is still at the “Track map coming soon” stage.
- What that means: treat parking as event-specific. Haitang Bay itself is well set up for resort and attraction access, but race-day lots, credentials and traffic management for a street circuit can be very different from ordinary hotel parking.
- Low-risk approach: if you are staying in Haitang Bay, using your hotel as the parking base and then transferring by shuttle or taxi is likely to be easier than committing to a speculative day-trip parking plan before the official event guide lands.
Camping
- No published event camping: there is currently no official Formula E camping information on the 2026 Sanya pages that I could verify, and the tourism-board material for Haitang Bay is built around resort hotels, shuttles and bay-area attractions rather than trackside camping.
- Practical alternative: plan on Haitang Bay accommodation rather than campsite-style race lodging. That suits this venue better anyway, because the bay is a hotel district with internal shuttle movement already baked in.
Taxis and rideshare
- Taxi: Sanya Tourism Board says taxis start at RMB 10 or RMB 11 depending on vehicle category, including the first 2.5 km, with a 20% night surcharge from 23:00 to 06:00.
- Ride-hailing: the same guide says DiDi is often easier for international visitors because destinations can be entered in both Chinese and English and estimated fares appear in advance.
- Best use case here: for Haitang Bay Circuit, taxi or DiDi is the cleanest last-mile option from Sanya Station, Phoenix Airport Station, Yalong Bay Station or directly from the airport.
- Hotel pickup help: Sanya Tourism Board specifically recommends asking your hotel front desk to help call a taxi and explain the destination clearly, which is sensible at a venue whose exact race-week access roads may shift.
Walking - only really good if you are already in the bay
- Not a rail walk-up: Sanya’s four main railway stations are Sanya, Phoenix Airport, Yalong Bay and Yazhou; none is in Haitang Bay, so you should not plan on a station-to-circuit walk.
- From nearby hotels: walking becomes much more realistic if you are staying in Haitang Bay itself, especially near Haitang North Road, Coastal Avenue or the Haichang Fantasy Town / duty-free area.
- Don’t over-assume: because the 2026 Formula E track map is still unpublished, exact gate walking times and the “best side” of the course are not fixed yet.
Accessibility
- Airport assistance: Sanya Phoenix Airport publishes special-passenger services for wheelchair users and other travellers needing assistance, with service counters near V1 security in T1 and D1 check-in in T2, plus hotline 0898-9612333.
- Security channels: the airport also says its wheelchair-accessible passages are available as green channels for passengers with special needs.
- Venue-side details: for the circuit itself, wait for the final Formula E event guide. A temporary street layout can change accessible entrances, viewing points and drop-off patterns right up to the published track map.
Airports & longer trips
- Best airport: Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) is the natural arrival point. Sanya Tourism Board calls it the most convenient airport for the city, and Haitang Bay itself is about 40 minutes by taxi.
- Airport by bus: the most useful budget transfer is the airport’s official Haitang Bay line to 301 Hospital, Haitang hotels, Haichang Fantasy Town and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
- Airport by rail: Phoenix Airport is directly linked to Phoenix Airport Station by a covered walkway, so you can land, transfer to Hainan’s high-speed rail network, and then continue by road depending on where you are staying.
- From elsewhere on Hainan: Sanya Tourism Board says Haikou Meilan Airport is connected to high-speed rail and reaches Sanya in about 1 hour 40 minutes, while Boao Airport can reach Sanya by rail in about 1 hour. From Sanya, you still transfer onward to Haitang Bay by road.
- Rail users: for mainland arrivals, Sanya Tourism Board says Sanya Station is the main city transport hub, while Yalong Bay Station is the station aimed at resort access. Both still require a final road transfer to Haitang Bay.
About the venue
- What it is: Haitang Bay Circuit is the temporary street-circuit venue for Formula E’s return to Sanya on 20 June 2026. Formula E says this is the championship’s first visit back to the city since Season 5.
- Venue style: this is a bay-area street circuit in a modern resort district, not a permanent autodrome, which is why everyday travel relies on airport buses, hotels, taxis and road access more than fixed rail at the venue itself.
- Current publication status: Formula E’s official 2026 circuit page still says “Track map coming soon”, so it is worth treating all fine-detail access planning as provisional until that page is updated.
Quick guide - what is nearest
- Best event address right now: THE ISLAND, No. 128 Haitang North Road, Haitang District, Sanya.
- Best fixed landmark: Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue.
- Best airport transfer: SYX then taxi, or the airport’s direct Haitang Bay bus line.
- Nearest rail reality: there is no station in Haitang Bay itself; use Sanya Station, Phoenix Airport Station or Yalong Bay Station and finish by road.
- Best local last mile: hotel shuttle, taxi or DiDi.
- Parking: not yet something to assume; wait for the final Formula E event plan.
For Haitang Bay, the biggest mistake is treating it like a normal city-centre street race. Get yourself into Haitang Bay first - preferably by airport transfer, hotel shuttle or taxi - and only then worry about the final circuit gate once Formula E publishes the detailed map.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya - Hainan - China
Whether you are here for Formula E, support-race action and a tropical street-circuit weekend, Haitang Bay gives you a very different motorsport backdrop from the usual city race - think resort beaches, island boat trips, rainforest scenery, seafood, duty-free shopping and easy escapes across Sanya’s coast.
Motorsport at Haitang Bay Circuit
Formula E street-race setting
The circuit is tied to the Sanya E-Prix, giving the venue an electric single-seater identity with a modern resort-district backdrop rather than a conventional permanent-track feel.
Typical peak window
March - June
Expect warm, humid tropical conditions, strong sun, sticky afternoons and the chance of showers or thunderstorms, especially as summer builds.
Nearby hubs
Haitang Bay resorts 5 - 15 min • Wuzhizhou Island pier 15 - 25 min • central Sanya 35 - 45 min
The circuit sits on Sanya’s north-eastern coast, so resort hotels, beaches and headline visitor sights are closer than the historic heart of the city.
Event impact
Resort-zone traffic and access tighten
Temporary road management, security checks, hotel demand and slower transfers are all likely around headline sessions, particularly where beach traffic and race traffic overlap.
Family friendly highlights near the circuit
- Atlantis Sanya and the waterpark zone: The most obvious family add-on in Haitang Bay, with slides, aquarium-style attractions and enough on-site entertainment to fill a full non-race day. Dated tickets, height restrictions and seasonal operating patterns can matter.
- Haitang Bay beach time: Best for a slower family morning with sand, sea air and a gentler pace before heading back for afternoon sessions. Sea conditions can vary, so treat this more as a beach-and-resort stop than a guaranteed swimming plan.
- Wuzhizhou Island: A strong family favourite for boat transfers, clear-water scenery and activity options ranging from beach time to marine excursions. Weather, sea state and daily capacity can affect sailings.
- Sanya Duty Free shopping complex: Surprisingly practical with children if you want an indoor, air-conditioned break that still feels specific to Haitang Bay rather than a generic mall stop.
- Sanya Romance Park and evening entertainment options: Worth considering if your family enjoys performance-led attractions, though schedules are show-based and can shift by season or holiday period.
Culture hits and rainy day winners
- Sanya duty-free and resort interiors: Not high culture in the museum sense, but extremely useful when tropical weather turns heavy and you want a comfortable indoor block close to the circuit zone.
- Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone: The strongest larger-scale cultural outing in the wider Sanya area, combining temples, sea views and a more reflective atmosphere than the resort-heavy bay districts.
- Yazhou Ancient City area: Better for travellers extending their stay and wanting a deeper sense of Hainan’s history beyond the beachfront image, though it works more as a half-day cultural detour than a quick circuit-side stop.
- Hotel-based spas, tea lounges and covered resort programming: Very practical in this destination, especially on humid or rainy afternoons when you do not want to commit to a long drive.
- Central Sanya evening strolls: Useful if the weather is mixed rather than fully wet, giving you markets, waterfront atmosphere and a more everyday city feel away from the polished resort strip.
Eat and drink like a local
- Hainanese seafood: This is the obvious lane - look for fresh fish, prawns, crab, shellfish and lighter coastal cooking rather than defaulting to imported steakhouse menus every night.
- Local specialities: Hainan chicken rice, tropical fruit, coconut-based drinks and simple noodle dishes all make sense here, especially at lunch when you want something practical in the heat.
- Haitang Bay resort dining: Best for polished dinners, sea views and easier logistics after a long race day, though prices are usually higher and reservations matter on peak weekends.
- Sanya city restaurants and seafood markets: Better if you want a broader spread of regional Chinese food and a livelier local atmosphere than the resort enclaves usually provide.
- Race week tip: Book dinner close to your hotel or within Haitang Bay if you are staying in the resort zone, keep lunch flexible and avoid relying on cross-city transfers straight after the main event. Morning slots help if you plan to return for afternoon sessions.
Active outdoors between sessions
- Beach walks along Haitang Bay: The easiest low-effort reset, particularly early or late in the day when the sun is softer and the coastline feels at its best.
- Water sports around Wuzhizhou Island: Snorkelling, boat trips and marine activities are one of the area’s strongest draws, though all are weather dependent and best booked with a little flexibility.
- Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park: A worthwhile contrast to the coast, with elevated viewpoints, greener scenery and a more dramatic sense of landscape than the resort frontage alone suggests.
- Hotel pools and resort fitness facilities: In a humid tropical destination, these are not a compromise - they are often the smartest between-session option if you want activity without overexposing yourself to midday heat.
- Heat logic matters: Start early, pace yourself and do not underestimate humidity. Even a light coastal walk can feel much heavier by midday than the distance suggests.
Easy day trips if you are extending your stay
- Wuzhizhou Island: Allow around 15 - 25 minutes to the pier and additional boat-transfer time. It is the easiest headline add-on for beach scenery, marine activities and an unmistakably tropical feel.
- Yalong Bay: Usually 25 - 35 minutes by road for another polished beach district, with resort dining, bay views and a slightly different rhythm from Haitang Bay.
- Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park: Around 35 - 45 minutes each way by car for canopy viewpoints, greener inland scenery and a good half-day contrast to the waterfront.
- Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone: Commonly 60 - 80 minutes each way by road for temple architecture, coastal panoramas and one of Sanya’s most recognisable cultural landmarks.
- Tianya Haijiao: About 60 - 75 minutes by car for classic seafront scenery and one of the island’s best-known sightseeing names, especially if you want a traditional postcard stop.
- Wanning - Riyue Bay side trips: Roughly 90 minutes - 2 hours by road depending on exactly where you go, with surf scenery and a more laid-back east-coast feel for travellers adding serious extra time.
Times are approximate and rise on race weekends, public holidays and wet-weather days. Boat schedules, island capacity, resort traffic and attraction entry systems can all affect the plan, so leave early for timed bookings and do not overload race Sunday with a long cross-island return.
When to go and what to expect
- Race-season feel: Expect warm air, bright light and a distinctly tropical rhythm, with outdoor plans easiest in the morning and resort-style pacing making more sense than an all-day city-sprint approach.
- Drier, more comfortable months: Winter into early spring is usually the easiest window for mixing sightseeing, beach time and longer outdoor plans without the full weight of summer humidity.
- Summer trade-off: Late spring into summer can be lush and attractive, but it also brings stronger humidity, a greater storm risk and more need for indoor fallbacks and flexible timing.
- Peak-holiday pressure: Chinese public-holiday periods can tighten hotel availability, raise prices and make headline attractions feel more reservation-led, particularly in a resort destination like Sanya.
- Seasonal operating logic: Boat trips, water activities, show schedules, resort programmes and certain attraction hours can all change with weather, school holidays or demand levels.
Practical notes during race weeks
- Stay close if race logistics matter most: Haitang Bay hotels make the weekend much easier than basing yourself deep in central Sanya and commuting back and forth through resort traffic.
- Use heat-smart planning: Breakfast, sightseeing and beach walks work best earlier in the day, while the hottest hours are better for the circuit, lunch indoors or pool and spa downtime.
- Book headline extras ahead: Island boats, water activities, better resort restaurants and popular attraction slots can all tighten quickly once a major event overlaps with leisure travel.
- Family packing list: Pack sunscreen, a hat, breathable layers and a light rain shell, plus ear protection for children, refillable water bottles, insect repellent, swimwear and a power bank for long days out.
- Expect event-week changes: Road access, shuttle points, hotel entry patterns, security procedures and local attraction timings can all shift around the race, while marine activities remain especially weather dependent.
Opening hours, seasonal programs, ticketing and event week operations can change - check official circuit and attraction sites for your exact dates.
Hotels & Accommodation
Location:
Sanya, China
Track Info
Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya, Hainan, China
Tropical waterfront street circuit with two bridge straights, hard-stop hairpins and a resort backdrop unlike anywhere else on the calendar - anti-clockwise - 2.236 km / 1.389 mi with 11 turns - short, sharp and heat-soaked, where surface grip and energy management matter as much as outright speed
First Race
23 Mar 2019
Haitang Bay made its competitive debut on Sanya E-Prix weekend in 2019, with Jean-Eric Vergne winning Formula E's headline race for DS Techeetah.
Circuit Length
2.236 km / 1.389 mi
A compact temporary street layout in the Haitang Bay resort district, with two long straights crossing bridges and a tight technical section wrapped around the paddock area.
Turns
11
Mostly 90-degree corners and hairpins, plus a fast kink and a chicane that break up the rhythm and create several strong regeneration and overtaking zones.
Lap Records
1:09.965 - Jean-Eric Vergne - 2019 (Formula E race lap)
The main official benchmark comes from the circuit's only Formula E race to date. Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy machinery also raced here, with a best race lap of 1:28.357 by Bryan Sellers in 2019.
Opened
2019
Built as a temporary street circuit for Formula E in Sanya. Notable details included a resin-and-sand surface treatment before the first event, an Attack Mode line at Turn 3 and the pit and paddock set in a car park between resort hotels.
When was the track built?
Haitang Bay was created for the 2019 Sanya E-Prix rather than grown over decades like a permanent circuit. That gives it a very modern Formula E identity - part city showcase, part race venue, part tourism postcard. The layout was assembled around Haitang Bay's resort district on Hainan Island, using public roads, bridge sections and a temporary paddock area between major hotels. Even before the first race, organisers had to think carefully about the conditions. After track-surface problems at the previous Formula E round in Santiago, the Sanya roads were specially treated with a resin-and-sand mix to stop the hot tropical surface from breaking up. That little detail says a lot about the place: Haitang Bay looked glamorous, but it was never going to be easy.
When was its first race?
The venue's first race day came on March 23, 2019, when the new circuit hosted the Sanya E-Prix and its support programme. The headline Formula E race was won by Jean-Eric Vergne for DS Techeetah after a dramatic afternoon that included contact, a red flag and a late finish under full-course yellow conditions. It was the first and, so far, only world-championship race held at Haitang Bay, which gives the circuit a short history but a memorable one.
What's the circuit like?
- Classic Formula E shape: Haitang Bay is short, narrow enough to punish mistakes and packed with the kind of stop-start corners that reward late braking, strong regeneration and clean traction off slow exits.
- Two proper passing zones: Turn 5 and Turn 8 are the headline hairpins. Both sit at the end of meaningful straights, both invite late moves, and both can punish drivers who over-commit and compromise the exit.
- Bridge straights give it a unique flow: The run across Fengtang Road and over the bridge sections makes the lap feel more open than its distance suggests. That contrast between broad straights and tight braking corners is where most of the racecraft comes from.
- Turn 3 matters more than it looks: It is not the fastest or most dramatic corner, but with the Attack Mode activation on the outside and the next phase of the lap opening immediately after, it is a strategic point as well as a driving one.
- Heat and humidity change the challenge: Sanya is hot, sticky and hard on concentration. Battery management, tyre temperature and simple cockpit workload all become bigger factors when the tropical weather turns the race into a sweatbox.
- Surface grip is part of the story: With new tarmac, older road sections and temporary preparation work, grip can evolve quickly through the weekend. On a Formula E street circuit that often means the fast line gets better session by session while the dusty offline sections stay risky.
- Final sector is easy to get wrong: The chicane at Turn 10 and the final hairpin at Turn 11 create one last chance to attack, but they also decide the whole run back to the line. A poor exit there leaves you vulnerable immediately.
Lap records and benchmarks
- Formula E - official race lap (2.236 km): 1:09.965 - Jean-Eric Vergne - DS E-Tense FE 19 - 2019.
- Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy - official race lap: 1:28.357 - Bryan Sellers - Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy - 2019.
- Formula E - qualifying reference: Oliver Rowland took pole for the 2019 Sanya E-Prix, underlining how much one-lap precision mattered on such a short and evolving circuit.
- Context: Because Haitang Bay only hosted one race weekend in its original form, the official record book is brief. That makes every benchmark here feel unusually important.
- Why the numbers matter: On a 2.236 km street lap, small mistakes are magnified. Losing momentum out of one hairpin can hurt all the way to the next major braking zone.
Formula E announced Sanya's return for 2026, but with minor circuit modifications expected, any future benchmarks may need to be treated separately from the original 2019 layout.
Why go?
Haitang Bay is the sort of race trip that doubles as a holiday without even trying. You get a waterfront Formula E setting, palm trees and resort hotels all around the circuit, then beaches and warm weather once the on-track action pauses. For fans planning to attend, that is a huge part of the appeal. It is not a remote industrial venue where you watch racing and leave. It is a destination. The other draw is the circuit's atmosphere on race weekend - tight street-track action, electric-car urgency, and the feeling that the whole event is happening inside a tropical postcard. If Sanya stays on the calendar, Haitang Bay has the ingredients to become one of Formula E's most distinctive travel weekends.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Turn 5 hairpin: The best all-round overtaking spot. Cars arrive off the earlier acceleration zone and have to slow the car properly for the tight left, so it is ideal for late-braking moves and switchbacks.
- Turn 8 hairpin: Another prime passing zone, this time after the long bridge straight. If you want to watch drivers attack the brakes at the end of the fastest section, this is the place.
- Turn 3 and the Attack Mode area: A smart tactical viewing point, especially in Formula E. You can watch drivers balance race position against energy strategy while still trying to protect the inside line.
- Turn 10 chicane into Turn 11: Great for seeing who keeps the car tidy through the final technical section and who gives away the run back to the start-finish line.
- Bridge-side straights: Best for appreciating the visual identity of the circuit itself - cars charging over the bridge with the resort skyline and bay atmosphere in the background.
Not just one series - headline events at Haitang Bay Circuit
Formula E: The Sanya E-Prix gave Haitang Bay its place on the global map in 2019, and Formula E has since confirmed a return to Sanya for the 2025-26 season, bringing the circuit back into the championship story after a long break.
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy: Formula E's former support series also raced at Haitang Bay in 2019, adding a second all-electric category and helping establish the venue as an EV-focused street-racing stage rather than a one-race curiosity.
The bigger picture: Haitang Bay does not have the multi-decade, multi-series history of older tracks, but that is part of its character. Its reputation is tied to modern electric racing, tropical conditions and a layout built to create overtakes and visual drama in a compact space.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya, Hainan, China
Best options are flying into Sanya Phoenix and using a direct taxi or airport bus to Haitang Bay, or arriving by high-speed rail to Sanya/Phoenix Airport/Yalong Bay and finishing by road. This is a temporary street circuit in a resort district, not a permanent walk-up race venue, so the final gate, parking and spectator-circulation plan should be treated as event-specific until Formula E publishes the full 2026 track guide.
Current event anchor
THE ISLAND, No. 128 Haitang North Road, Haitang District, Sanya, 572000
Formula E’s current 2026 Sanya E-Prix ticket listing uses this Haitang Bay address; exact gate and parking instructions may still change once the full event guide is published.
Useful permanent landmark
Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue
A practical fixed landmark in the middle of Haitang Bay, and one of the airport-bus stops published for the bay.
Airport
Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX)
Sanya Tourism Board says it is the most convenient arrival point for the city, and Haitang Bay is about 40 minutes away by taxi.
Airport bus
Direct airport-bus service to Haitang Bay
The airport’s English page lists a Haitang Bay line via Linwang Town, 301 Hospital, Haitang hotels, Haichang Fantasy Town and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
Rail reality
No railway station in Haitang Bay itself
Sanya Tourism Board lists the city’s four main stations as Sanya, Phoenix Airport, Yalong Bay and Yazhou, so this is a road-transfer venue rather than a station walk.
Local mobility
Hotel shuttles, taxis and DiDi are the practical last mile
Sanya Tourism Board says many Haitang Bay hotels offer free shuttles, and taxis / ride-hailing are widely used around the city.
Public transport - workable, but not a station-to-gate venue
- Airport bus: Sanya Phoenix Airport’s official English page lists a direct Haitang Bay line with 9 departures daily, fare ¥25, stopping via Linwang Town junction, 301 Hospital, various hotels in Haitang Bay, Haitang District Tourist Distribution Center (Haichang Fantasy Town) and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
- City buses: Sanya Tourism Board says the city has a well-developed bus network with 132 routes, with most trips costing RMB 2-12 and core operating hours of 06:00-23:00. That helps for getting around Sanya, but it is still not the same as having a rail or metro stop at the circuit.
- Hotel shuttles: many upscale hotels in Haitang Bay offer complimentary shuttle buses, which is especially useful if the final Formula E gate map ends up splitting arrivals across different sides of the temporary course.
- Race-week warning: Formula E’s official 2026 Sanya circuit page still says “Track map coming soon”, so do not assume today’s everyday bus stop pattern will match the final spectator entry plan.
Driving - straightforward once you are in Haitang Bay
- Best sat-nav plan: use either the current Formula E event anchor at No. 128 Haitang North Road or the fixed landmark Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue, then follow any race-week traffic signs for the temporary street circuit perimeter.
- Self-drive is normal here: Sanya Tourism Board says car-rental pick-up and drop-off are easily arranged at the airport, railway stations and major Haitang Bay resort hotels, which is a good fit for a bay-area venue with limited fixed public transport at the final destination.
- Road style: Haitang Bay is part of Sanya’s coastal resort corridor rather than the compact old city, and the tourism board’s own self-drive guide treats the bay as a natural starting point for coastal driving.
- Most important caveat: because this is a temporary street circuit, the final approach roads, security filters and one-way traffic plan are likely to be race-specific rather than permanent. Wait for the published Formula E event map before deciding exactly where to drive in.
Parking
- Current status: there is not yet a published permanent parking guide on Formula E’s 2026 Sanya pages; the official circuit page is still at the “Track map coming soon” stage.
- What that means: treat parking as event-specific. Haitang Bay itself is well set up for resort and attraction access, but race-day lots, credentials and traffic management for a street circuit can be very different from ordinary hotel parking.
- Low-risk approach: if you are staying in Haitang Bay, using your hotel as the parking base and then transferring by shuttle or taxi is likely to be easier than committing to a speculative day-trip parking plan before the official event guide lands.
Camping
- No published event camping: there is currently no official Formula E camping information on the 2026 Sanya pages that I could verify, and the tourism-board material for Haitang Bay is built around resort hotels, shuttles and bay-area attractions rather than trackside camping.
- Practical alternative: plan on Haitang Bay accommodation rather than campsite-style race lodging. That suits this venue better anyway, because the bay is a hotel district with internal shuttle movement already baked in.
Taxis and rideshare
- Taxi: Sanya Tourism Board says taxis start at RMB 10 or RMB 11 depending on vehicle category, including the first 2.5 km, with a 20% night surcharge from 23:00 to 06:00.
- Ride-hailing: the same guide says DiDi is often easier for international visitors because destinations can be entered in both Chinese and English and estimated fares appear in advance.
- Best use case here: for Haitang Bay Circuit, taxi or DiDi is the cleanest last-mile option from Sanya Station, Phoenix Airport Station, Yalong Bay Station or directly from the airport.
- Hotel pickup help: Sanya Tourism Board specifically recommends asking your hotel front desk to help call a taxi and explain the destination clearly, which is sensible at a venue whose exact race-week access roads may shift.
Walking - only really good if you are already in the bay
- Not a rail walk-up: Sanya’s four main railway stations are Sanya, Phoenix Airport, Yalong Bay and Yazhou; none is in Haitang Bay, so you should not plan on a station-to-circuit walk.
- From nearby hotels: walking becomes much more realistic if you are staying in Haitang Bay itself, especially near Haitang North Road, Coastal Avenue or the Haichang Fantasy Town / duty-free area.
- Don’t over-assume: because the 2026 Formula E track map is still unpublished, exact gate walking times and the “best side” of the course are not fixed yet.
Accessibility
- Airport assistance: Sanya Phoenix Airport publishes special-passenger services for wheelchair users and other travellers needing assistance, with service counters near V1 security in T1 and D1 check-in in T2, plus hotline 0898-9612333.
- Security channels: the airport also says its wheelchair-accessible passages are available as green channels for passengers with special needs.
- Venue-side details: for the circuit itself, wait for the final Formula E event guide. A temporary street layout can change accessible entrances, viewing points and drop-off patterns right up to the published track map.
Airports & longer trips
- Best airport: Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) is the natural arrival point. Sanya Tourism Board calls it the most convenient airport for the city, and Haitang Bay itself is about 40 minutes by taxi.
- Airport by bus: the most useful budget transfer is the airport’s official Haitang Bay line to 301 Hospital, Haitang hotels, Haichang Fantasy Town and Sanya International Duty-Free City.
- Airport by rail: Phoenix Airport is directly linked to Phoenix Airport Station by a covered walkway, so you can land, transfer to Hainan’s high-speed rail network, and then continue by road depending on where you are staying.
- From elsewhere on Hainan: Sanya Tourism Board says Haikou Meilan Airport is connected to high-speed rail and reaches Sanya in about 1 hour 40 minutes, while Boao Airport can reach Sanya by rail in about 1 hour. From Sanya, you still transfer onward to Haitang Bay by road.
- Rail users: for mainland arrivals, Sanya Tourism Board says Sanya Station is the main city transport hub, while Yalong Bay Station is the station aimed at resort access. Both still require a final road transfer to Haitang Bay.
About the venue
- What it is: Haitang Bay Circuit is the temporary street-circuit venue for Formula E’s return to Sanya on 20 June 2026. Formula E says this is the championship’s first visit back to the city since Season 5.
- Venue style: this is a bay-area street circuit in a modern resort district, not a permanent autodrome, which is why everyday travel relies on airport buses, hotels, taxis and road access more than fixed rail at the venue itself.
- Current publication status: Formula E’s official 2026 circuit page still says “Track map coming soon”, so it is worth treating all fine-detail access planning as provisional until that page is updated.
Quick guide - what is nearest
- Best event address right now: THE ISLAND, No. 128 Haitang North Road, Haitang District, Sanya.
- Best fixed landmark: Haichang Fantasy Town, No. 168 Coastal Avenue.
- Best airport transfer: SYX then taxi, or the airport’s direct Haitang Bay bus line.
- Nearest rail reality: there is no station in Haitang Bay itself; use Sanya Station, Phoenix Airport Station or Yalong Bay Station and finish by road.
- Best local last mile: hotel shuttle, taxi or DiDi.
- Parking: not yet something to assume; wait for the final Formula E event plan.
For Haitang Bay, the biggest mistake is treating it like a normal city-centre street race. Get yourself into Haitang Bay first - preferably by airport transfer, hotel shuttle or taxi - and only then worry about the final circuit gate once Formula E publishes the detailed map.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Haitang Bay Circuit - Sanya - Hainan - China
Whether you are here for Formula E, support-race action and a tropical street-circuit weekend, Haitang Bay gives you a very different motorsport backdrop from the usual city race - think resort beaches, island boat trips, rainforest scenery, seafood, duty-free shopping and easy escapes across Sanya’s coast.
Motorsport at Haitang Bay Circuit
Formula E street-race setting
The circuit is tied to the Sanya E-Prix, giving the venue an electric single-seater identity with a modern resort-district backdrop rather than a conventional permanent-track feel.
Typical peak window
March - June
Expect warm, humid tropical conditions, strong sun, sticky afternoons and the chance of showers or thunderstorms, especially as summer builds.
Nearby hubs
Haitang Bay resorts 5 - 15 min • Wuzhizhou Island pier 15 - 25 min • central Sanya 35 - 45 min
The circuit sits on Sanya’s north-eastern coast, so resort hotels, beaches and headline visitor sights are closer than the historic heart of the city.
Event impact
Resort-zone traffic and access tighten
Temporary road management, security checks, hotel demand and slower transfers are all likely around headline sessions, particularly where beach traffic and race traffic overlap.
Family friendly highlights near the circuit
- Atlantis Sanya and the waterpark zone: The most obvious family add-on in Haitang Bay, with slides, aquarium-style attractions and enough on-site entertainment to fill a full non-race day. Dated tickets, height restrictions and seasonal operating patterns can matter.
- Haitang Bay beach time: Best for a slower family morning with sand, sea air and a gentler pace before heading back for afternoon sessions. Sea conditions can vary, so treat this more as a beach-and-resort stop than a guaranteed swimming plan.
- Wuzhizhou Island: A strong family favourite for boat transfers, clear-water scenery and activity options ranging from beach time to marine excursions. Weather, sea state and daily capacity can affect sailings.
- Sanya Duty Free shopping complex: Surprisingly practical with children if you want an indoor, air-conditioned break that still feels specific to Haitang Bay rather than a generic mall stop.
- Sanya Romance Park and evening entertainment options: Worth considering if your family enjoys performance-led attractions, though schedules are show-based and can shift by season or holiday period.
Culture hits and rainy day winners
- Sanya duty-free and resort interiors: Not high culture in the museum sense, but extremely useful when tropical weather turns heavy and you want a comfortable indoor block close to the circuit zone.
- Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone: The strongest larger-scale cultural outing in the wider Sanya area, combining temples, sea views and a more reflective atmosphere than the resort-heavy bay districts.
- Yazhou Ancient City area: Better for travellers extending their stay and wanting a deeper sense of Hainan’s history beyond the beachfront image, though it works more as a half-day cultural detour than a quick circuit-side stop.
- Hotel-based spas, tea lounges and covered resort programming: Very practical in this destination, especially on humid or rainy afternoons when you do not want to commit to a long drive.
- Central Sanya evening strolls: Useful if the weather is mixed rather than fully wet, giving you markets, waterfront atmosphere and a more everyday city feel away from the polished resort strip.
Eat and drink like a local
- Hainanese seafood: This is the obvious lane - look for fresh fish, prawns, crab, shellfish and lighter coastal cooking rather than defaulting to imported steakhouse menus every night.
- Local specialities: Hainan chicken rice, tropical fruit, coconut-based drinks and simple noodle dishes all make sense here, especially at lunch when you want something practical in the heat.
- Haitang Bay resort dining: Best for polished dinners, sea views and easier logistics after a long race day, though prices are usually higher and reservations matter on peak weekends.
- Sanya city restaurants and seafood markets: Better if you want a broader spread of regional Chinese food and a livelier local atmosphere than the resort enclaves usually provide.
- Race week tip: Book dinner close to your hotel or within Haitang Bay if you are staying in the resort zone, keep lunch flexible and avoid relying on cross-city transfers straight after the main event. Morning slots help if you plan to return for afternoon sessions.
Active outdoors between sessions
- Beach walks along Haitang Bay: The easiest low-effort reset, particularly early or late in the day when the sun is softer and the coastline feels at its best.
- Water sports around Wuzhizhou Island: Snorkelling, boat trips and marine activities are one of the area’s strongest draws, though all are weather dependent and best booked with a little flexibility.
- Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park: A worthwhile contrast to the coast, with elevated viewpoints, greener scenery and a more dramatic sense of landscape than the resort frontage alone suggests.
- Hotel pools and resort fitness facilities: In a humid tropical destination, these are not a compromise - they are often the smartest between-session option if you want activity without overexposing yourself to midday heat.
- Heat logic matters: Start early, pace yourself and do not underestimate humidity. Even a light coastal walk can feel much heavier by midday than the distance suggests.
Easy day trips if you are extending your stay
- Wuzhizhou Island: Allow around 15 - 25 minutes to the pier and additional boat-transfer time. It is the easiest headline add-on for beach scenery, marine activities and an unmistakably tropical feel.
- Yalong Bay: Usually 25 - 35 minutes by road for another polished beach district, with resort dining, bay views and a slightly different rhythm from Haitang Bay.
- Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park: Around 35 - 45 minutes each way by car for canopy viewpoints, greener inland scenery and a good half-day contrast to the waterfront.
- Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone: Commonly 60 - 80 minutes each way by road for temple architecture, coastal panoramas and one of Sanya’s most recognisable cultural landmarks.
- Tianya Haijiao: About 60 - 75 minutes by car for classic seafront scenery and one of the island’s best-known sightseeing names, especially if you want a traditional postcard stop.
- Wanning - Riyue Bay side trips: Roughly 90 minutes - 2 hours by road depending on exactly where you go, with surf scenery and a more laid-back east-coast feel for travellers adding serious extra time.
Times are approximate and rise on race weekends, public holidays and wet-weather days. Boat schedules, island capacity, resort traffic and attraction entry systems can all affect the plan, so leave early for timed bookings and do not overload race Sunday with a long cross-island return.
When to go and what to expect
- Race-season feel: Expect warm air, bright light and a distinctly tropical rhythm, with outdoor plans easiest in the morning and resort-style pacing making more sense than an all-day city-sprint approach.
- Drier, more comfortable months: Winter into early spring is usually the easiest window for mixing sightseeing, beach time and longer outdoor plans without the full weight of summer humidity.
- Summer trade-off: Late spring into summer can be lush and attractive, but it also brings stronger humidity, a greater storm risk and more need for indoor fallbacks and flexible timing.
- Peak-holiday pressure: Chinese public-holiday periods can tighten hotel availability, raise prices and make headline attractions feel more reservation-led, particularly in a resort destination like Sanya.
- Seasonal operating logic: Boat trips, water activities, show schedules, resort programmes and certain attraction hours can all change with weather, school holidays or demand levels.
Practical notes during race weeks
- Stay close if race logistics matter most: Haitang Bay hotels make the weekend much easier than basing yourself deep in central Sanya and commuting back and forth through resort traffic.
- Use heat-smart planning: Breakfast, sightseeing and beach walks work best earlier in the day, while the hottest hours are better for the circuit, lunch indoors or pool and spa downtime.
- Book headline extras ahead: Island boats, water activities, better resort restaurants and popular attraction slots can all tighten quickly once a major event overlaps with leisure travel.
- Family packing list: Pack sunscreen, a hat, breathable layers and a light rain shell, plus ear protection for children, refillable water bottles, insect repellent, swimwear and a power bank for long days out.
- Expect event-week changes: Road access, shuttle points, hotel entry patterns, security procedures and local attraction timings can all shift around the race, while marine activities remain especially weather dependent.
Opening hours, seasonal programs, ticketing and event week operations can change - check official circuit and attraction sites for your exact dates.
