T'S no secret some of the biggest and best beaches are in in Hawaii - the Hawaii of the East that is. Welcome to Sanya, Hainan, in the South China Sea, where the Kempinski Hotel Haitang Bay Sanya sprawls along one of the finest bits of sand in Asia. This is a huge resort where walking shoes and sturdy feet are handy. A 1.2km snaking canal with gondolas will delight kids and demure divas alike. And by the seafront a generous playground ensures this stays one of the best child-friendly hotels in Sanya.

With 4,000sq m of lawn, a 1,500sq m ballroom for big-scale events, and a wedding chapel, Kempinski is equally conversant with corporate meetings and romantic Sanya resort weddings. The 576 rooms are set in six buildings blending modern comforts with Chinese classical (spot the 200-year-old pagoda). And do visit the characterful grey shale and shingle Wood Art Museum.

From the dramatic lofty carved wood ceiling - borrowing from Mandarin palaces of yore - to the carved wood reception wall and ornate wood tables in the room with intricate detail, this is a dark wood affair, regal and solid. Spacious 65sq m rooms serve up minty scents, large flat-screen TVs, laptop safes, sensible charging points and balconies with a boldly situated bathtub for the brave of heart. Villas run from 211sq m in various configurations with two, four and five-bedroom layouts.

Apres work or workout, head for the luxurious spa, or sample a broad range of cuisine from Chinese at Yuen Court to one of the best breakfasts in Sanya at Cafe K. This is no exaggeration and highly recommended. A Paulaner Brauhaus will add zest and lager to the mix while as many as 18 golf courses are within a 30-minute drive of here. Say "I do" and swing out, in style in Haitang Bay, the island's latest sybaritic playground.