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Petrena Schell's journey to Hainan Island shatters every expectation of a tropical paradise. From the jaw-dropping luxury of the Atlantis Hotel, with its massive aquarium and beluga whales, to the surreal experience of a packed beach where everyone stays fully clothed, this is China's tropical island like you've never imagined. She visits the colossal 108-meter Guanyin statue and an epic acrobatic show, revealing a world of surprising contrasts and unforgettable moments.
More about the current video:(Published on 2026-04-29)
Petrena Schell takes us on a whirlwind tour of Hainan Island, China's only tropical destination, and it's nothing like a typical beach getaway.
Her journey begins at the over-the-top Atlantis Hotel in Sanya, a luxury resort where the aquatic theme is taken to the extreme. The room itself is a watery wonderland, but the real shock comes from the hotel's massive aquarium, complete with stingrays, zebra shark eggs, and even beluga whales—all inside a hotel, not a public zoo. Petrena is genuinely amazed, calling it a real-life version of *The Little Mermaid*.
A quick 15-minute ferry takes her to Wuzhizhou Island, a tiny micro-island off Sanya's coast. The cultural contrast is immediate: unlike the bikini-clad beaches of the Philippines where Petrena currently lives, everyone here is fully clothed, even while lounging on the sun chairs. The island is a hive of activity with tour trucks, viewpoints, food stalls, and a surprising number of people—even out of peak season.
