Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / China / Lingshui / Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay
Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay
Lingshui, Hainan, China · Raffles · Grand Luxury
Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay fronts one of three 'singing beaches' discovered in China, a stretch of Clearwater Bay in Lingshui where fine quartz sand produces an audible tone underfoot, a phenomenon documented by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers in 2020 and previously unrecorded anywhere on China's coastline. The Balinese-style, open-plan resort opened in 2013 with 321 rooms and villas on a 12-kilometre largely undeveloped shore, 40 kilometres from Sanya.
- 321 rooms
- Opened 2013
- Neighborhood: Clear Water Bay Avenue / Yingzhou Town
- Architect: Balinese-style architecture
About Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay
- The beach fronting the resort is one of three 'singing beaches' on Hainan's east coast, sites where highly uniform, round quartz grains produce an audible frequency when disturbed. First confirmed by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers in 2020, these were the first coastal singing-sand sites ever recorded in China.
- Wuzhizhou Island, a premier scuba diving site rated among China's best dive locations, is visible from the beach and reachable by short boat excursion from the resort.
- Lingshui Li Autonomous County, where the resort stands, is home to the Li ethnic minority, one of China's oldest island-dwelling peoples, whose bark-cloth weaving tradition was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.
History
Raffles’ official site identifies the property as Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay, set on China’s Clear Water Bay with a light, open Balinese-style design and all rooms, suites, and villas facing the bay. The resort is presented as an island retreat with beach, golf, and cultural connections, and the Chinese Raffles site describes it as 海南雅居乐莱佛士酒店. A current web listing and video coverage both point to an opening in 2013, and secondary sources commonly describe it as a large luxury resort with 321 keys. The official dining page highlights Bai Wei and the Hainan Sling, while the Chinese room pages show an extensive mix of rooms, suites, and villas.
The Balinese-style, open-plan resort opened in 2013 with 321 rooms and villas on a 12-kilometre largely undeveloped shore, 40 kilometres from Sanya.
The setting
Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay is set along Qingshuiwan Boulevard in Yingzhou Town, Lingshui Li Autonomous County — 40 kilometres from Sanya on a coastline spanning 12 kilometres of largely undeveloped shore. The beach fronting the resort is one of only three Singing Beaches in the world, where fine white sand produces a distinctive tone underfoot, alongside Hawaii and Australia's Gold Coast. The Qingshuiwan tourist area is a thirteen-minute walk, and Wuzhizhou Island — a premier diving site visible offshore — is a short boat excursion. Championship golf is nearby, completing an offering of seclusion, ecological depth, and sport rarely equalled along China's southern coast. 5 km from G223 national road. 13 km from Nanwan Monkey Island reserve.
Restaurants and bars
- Bai Wei — Restaurant · China's finest regional cuisines
- Desa — Restaurant · All-day global comfort food
- Sapori — Restaurant · Italian food and wine
- Sing Ken Ken — Restaurant
- Clear Water Bay Lounge — Bar
- Long Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Raffles Butlers — Traditional Raffles Butlers, purveyors of luxury to Raffles guests for over a century.
- Our Li Heritage — Introductions to members of the Li ethnic minority and exploration of their culture, including Li brocade.
- Championship golf — Beautifully designed fairways and greens on the doorstep.
- Hainan Clear Water Bay Golf Club — Play golf, use the driving range or book a lesson with the pro; the hotel arranges access.
- Clear Water Bay Safari by Air, Land & Sea — A safari by air, land and sea revealing the southern Chinese coastline and its 'singing sands' with a Raffles Butler.
- Nanwan Monkey Island — State-protected nature reserve with 400 tropical plant species, 100 animal species and about 2,500 macaques.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Private pool
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Kids club
- Butler service
Awards
- Hainan's Leading Hotel Suite 2025 (World Travel Awards) (2025)
Open Raffles Hainan Clear Water Bay in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Raffles hotels
- Raffles Shenzhen — Shenzhen, China · High Luxury
- Raffles London at The OWO — London, United Kingdom · Apex Luxury
- Raffles Singapore — Singapore · Apex Luxury
- Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris — Paris, France · Grand Luxury
- Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain — Zallaq, Bahrain · Grand Luxury
- Raffles at Galaxy Macau — Macau · Grand Luxury
More hotels in Lingshui
- Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan — Capella · Grand Luxury
Raffles in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.