Sanya Natural History Museum

Sanya Natural History Museum

The Sanya Natural History Museum serves as a science education base.

The Sanya Natural History Museum is situated within the Nanshan DaJiaoTian Tourist Area, a national 5A-level scenic spot in Sanya, and officially opened to the public on September 9, 2007. The museum covers a construction area of 2,400 square meters and was designed by the Beijing Natural History Museum. Using advanced audio, light, and electrical technologies, the museum recreates the world as it was 140 million years ago, achieving the standards of a first-class museum. The Sanya Natural History Museum is a modern facility integrating sightseeing, exhibitions, collections, technology, and science education. Its design and construction meet international top-tier standards.

The Sanya Natural History Museum is the only natural history museum in Hainan Province. Its collection includes the Liaoxi Rehe paleontological fossils, hailed by UNESCO as "the most astonishing discovery of the 20th century"; rare paleontological fossils from across China such as those from the Guanling area of Guizhou, Xixia in Henan, Shanwang in Shandong, Tongxin in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu, as well as unique local flora and fauna specimens from Hainan. The collection also features treasures such as the invaluable Hainan darkwood known as the "Wood of the Gods" and the Wuzhishan yellow wax stone, a fine mineral specimen—totaling over 2,000 exhibits that are comprehensive in variety, precious in specimens, and well-preserved. Among them, over 800 are national treasure-level items. Some pieces are even considered globally unique, ranking among the best in the industry both in China and abroad. Exhibits include the world’s first flower—the Liaoning ancient fruit, the museum’s prized exhibit—the holotype Sanya pterosaur, the ancestor of birds—the Confucius Bird, and the Chinese Dragon Bird, all remarkably well-preserved. The Sanya Natural History Museum has been recognized by the Hainan Provincial Association for Science and Technology, the Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Bureau, the Communist Youth League Sanya Municipal Committee, and the Sanya Association for Science and Technology as the "Hainan Provincial Science Education Base," "Hainan Provincial Natural Science and Technology Museum," "Sanya Municipal Science Education Base," and "Sanya Municipal Youth Education Activity Base." It has also been acknowledged by prestigious universities such as Capital Normal University and Sun Yat-sen University as an official science practice base. As the saying goes, a museum is the eye of a city. The establishment of the Sanya Natural History Museum fills a cultural and tourism gap in Sanya, becoming a flagship of the city’s cultural tourism.

Museum Collections

Prized Exhibit: Sanya Pterosaur

The skull of the pterosaur fossil near the eye has a large cavity to reduce head weight, aiding in flight. The fossil has five fingers, with the fourth finger being about 20 times the length of the others. This elongated finger functioned as a "wing" to help balance the body during flight. However, due to incomplete functionality, the Sanya pterosaur mostly flew in a diving posture.

According to experts, pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to take to the skies. They were flying reptiles and ruled the Mesozoic skies, living 250 million years ago and going extinct 65 million years ago. The pterosaur in the Sanya Natural History Museum belongs to a new genus and species, discovered for the first time internationally. It is also the most complete pterosaur fossil found to date, with exceptional preservation and visual appeal, making it a unique specimen globally and truly a national treasure.

The World’s First Flower: Archaefructus

The museum houses the "Liaoning Archaefructus," which dates back 145 million years. It is the world's earliest known angiosperm fossil—the ancestor of today’s flowers—and the earliest confirmed flower on Earth. Its discovery led paleontologists to establish the "Archaefructaceae" family, resolving long-standing debates about the origin and location of angiosperms. It also solved what Darwin referred to as the "abominable mystery."

Possessing the Largest Eyes: Ichthyosaur

The ichthyosaur preserved in the museum was discovered in the Guanling area of Guizhou. It is said to have reached up to 15 meters in length, with its tail alone accounting for half of its body. Living 250 million years ago, it was a fierce carnivorous predator and the apex marine predator of its time. Its eyes could reach a diameter of 26.4 centimeters—larger than a soccer ball—making them the largest known eyes on Earth.

The Earliest Evidence of Motherly Love: Dinosaur Embryo Fossils

While dinosaur eggs have been found in over 200 locations worldwide, complete embryos are rarely discovered. The intact dinosaur embryo housed in the museum is extremely rare, featuring an embryo on the verge of hatching, offering a glimpse into the greatness of dinosaur mothers hundreds of millions of years ago.

Surviving for 500 Million Years: Crinoids

Despite their plant-like name, crinoids are true animals. Appearing in deep seas 500 million years ago, they have endured through time and still survive in the deep sea today, earning the title of "living fossils." Crinoids are echinoderms that use their dense tentacles to capture small organisms for sustenance.

Transportation Information

Address: Nanshan DaJiaoTian Tourist Area, Yazhou, Sanya

Bus: Take bus route 25