PAUSE Visits: The Sanya EDITION

The EDITION, Not Quite As You Know It!

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There’s a certain comfort that comes with checking into an EDITION hotel. Whether in London, Rome or Dubai, the brand has built a loyal following by delivering a familiar and trusted experience. Warm minimalist interiors, understated luxury and an unmistakable atmosphere have become hallmarks of the collection, making each property instantly recognisable while still taking inspiration from its surroundings.

The Sanya EDITION, however, offers a very different approach. Set along the coastline of Haitang Bay on Hainan Island, often dubbed “China’s Hawaii”, The Sanya EDITION is the largest EDITION property in the world, home to 501 guestrooms and villas within a beachfront resort. Rather than simply adapting the EDITION formula to a tropical destination, it completely reimagines it.

The resort still leans into the idea of discovery, true to any EDITION experience. While each property shares familiar brand signatures, such as Le Labo amenities and the EDITION pool table, every location is thoughtfully adapted to its surroundings, meaning even the brand’s most loyal guests can look forward to a different experience each time. Unlike many EDITION properties, where the arrival experience centres around a grand lobby, guests at The Sanya EDITION are instead welcomed by the resort’s striking bamboo installation. From there, each pathway leads to another part of the property, whether that’s a different restaurant, pool or activity. It quickly becomes clear that this isn’t simply somewhere to use as a base while exploring Hainan. The resort is a destination in its own right.

Exploring the Resort

One of the resort’s biggest surprises is its two-storey Art Space. With rotating exhibitions alongside a library, café and boutique gift shop, it’s somewhere guests can easily lose track of time. Aside from art and design, the EDITION brand has also long collaborated with some of the world’s leading fashion houses. The Sanya EDITION continues that tradition, having previously partnered with Dior and now playing host to an exclusive Fendi pop-up alongside a collection of fashion boutiques.

Despite being the world’s largest EDITION, getting around never feels like a challenge. Complimentary buggy service and attentive staff make it easy to move between the private Beach, restaurants, pools and your suite.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Sanya EDITION

Resort Living

The guestrooms are where the hotel feels most unmistakably EDITION. While the iconic fur throws have been replaced with a simpler bedding arrangement, many of the familiar design cues remain. Warm timber finishes, crisp white linen, minimalist neutral interiors and the brand’s signature robes instantly bring back that familiar EDITION feeling.

Thoughtful additions such as canopy beds feel perfectly suited to Hainan’s tropical climate, while floor-to-ceiling windows and spacious private balconies ensure the outdoors remain a constant part of the experience. Many rooms overlook the resort’s pools, gardens and private ocean, while selected suites also feature private hot tubs, making it easy to appreciate the resort’s scale, particularly after dark when the grounds are beautifully illuminated.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Sanya EDITION

Eating Your Way Around

Guests are genuinely spoilt for choice when it comes to dining, with each restaurant bringing something different to the table. Market at EDITION serves a generous breakfast buffet before transforming into an all-day international dining destination. Xian Hai showcases refined Cantonese cuisine, while The Jade Egret, another familiar dining concept from the EDITION brand, serves contemporary European cuisine in an elegant fine dining setting.

The Sky Bar hosts afternoon tea during the day before transforming into an lively bar each evening, open until midnight. It’s a refreshing change from many luxury resorts where evenings tend to wind down after dinner, meaning there’s little reason to leave the resort.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Sanya EDITION

Relaxation & Wellness

Perhaps the resort’s most unique feature is its Ocean Pool, a seawater swimming pool that uses water drawn directly from the ocean. With swimming in the sea prohibited, The Sanya EDITION has found an innovative way to create its own seawater swimming experience within the resort. It’s one of several ways The Sanya EDITION has reimagined the traditional island experience.

Alongside a fully equipped fitness centre and spa, guests also have access to tennis, pickleball and padel courts, watersports on the resort lake and multiple swimming pools, each offering a different atmosphere.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Sanya EDITION

Beyond the Resort

As tempting as it is to spend an entire stay within the resort, The Sanya EDITION is located in one of the island’s most upscale areas. Haitang Bay is home to many of Sanya’s leading luxury resorts, making it an ideal base for exploring this part of Hainan.

The CDF Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex is just a short drive away. One of the world’s largest duty-free shopping destinations, the vast luxury retail complex is home to hundreds of international brands and restaurants, making it easy to pair time at the resort with one of Hainan’s biggest attractions.

PAUSE Rates: 5/5 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

“Just when I thought I’d seen it all with the EDITION brand, The Sanya EDITION completely blew me away. From the beautiful grounds and incredible food to the stunning suites and thoughtful daily in-room treats, every part of the experience exceeded my expectations.

One of the many highlights, however, was the team. They truly made my stay even more memorable. Everyone was so welcoming, the conversations felt genuine, and it was one of those rare stays where I was genuinely sad to leave such wonderful people behind. Without question, it’s my favourite resort I’ve stayed at to date, and I’ll definitely be back.”

– Taija-Leorelle (Head of Travel & Hospitality)

A special thank you to Allunga and Joyce for arranging such an incredible experience, and to Allen, Zhaks, Shaquille, Rakhat and the entire team for their exceptional hospitality.