Haitang Bay Circuit

Haitang Bay Circuit at a glance

Location

Sanya, Hainan

Type

street circuit

Length

2.52 km (1.566 mi)

Turns

12

Direction

anti-clockwise

Surface

asphalt

Opened

2019

Owner

City of Sanya (temporary street circuit, re-laid out for each race)

Address

Haitang Bay tourist zone

Track map and layout

The Haitang Bay Circuit (海棠湾赛道) is a temporary street circuit laid out on public roads through the Haitang Bay resort district of Sanya, on the tropical southern coast of Hainan island. It debuted in 2019 as a 2.236 km, 11-turn layout, and Formula E returned to a lengthened, reconfigured 2.520 km (1.566 mi), 12-turn version run anti-clockwise for the 2026 race, with an Attack Mode activation zone at Turn 4. The circuit runs close to Haitang Bay's beachfront hotel strip and duty-free shopping district rather than through a historic city centre, giving it a resort-style, palm-lined backdrop distinct from most Formula E street venues.

Configurations

Events and race weekends

The Sanya E-Prix debuted on 23 March 2019 as round six of the 2018-19 Formula E season, won by Jean-Éric Vergne, but the race was not repeated the following year and Hainan dropped off the calendar. Formula E returned to Sanya after a seven-year gap for the 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix on 20 June 2026, round eleven of the 2025-26 season, run on an extended layout and won by Jake Dennis. Sanya's slot on the calendar going forward has not been confirmed beyond the 2026 event.

Getting there and parking

Haitang Bay is a purpose-built beach resort district about 25 km east of central Sanya, reached by taxi, rideshare or resort shuttle from Sanya's airport or hotels; there is no rail station directly in Haitang Bay, so most visitors arrive by road.

• Sanya Phoenix International Airport (SYX) · about 40 min drive

Book resort accommodation directly in Haitang Bay for race weekend, as roads into the district are closed for the circuit and traffic into central Sanya is heavier than usual.

Hotels and camping near Haitang Bay Circuit

Haitang Bay is one of Hainan's premier beach resort strips, lined with international five-star hotel brands directly along the seafront within or next to the circuit footprint, making it possible to stay steps from the track; central Sanya, about 30-40 minutes away, offers a wider range of budget and mid-range hotels. Rooms in Haitang Bay's resorts sell out early around the Formula E weekend and Chinese national holidays alike.

Where to look

Haitang Bay itself for beachfront resort hotels close to the circuit; central Sanya or Dadonghai Bay for a broader range of accommodation a short drive away.

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

There is no public track-day, ride-along or driving-experience programme at Haitang Bay; the circuit exists only as a temporary layout closed off from ordinary Haitang Bay traffic for the Formula E weekend and is not open to the public outside race events.

Lap records

Spectator guide

Spectators watch from temporary grandstands and fan zones set up along the Haitang Bay seafront roads, with several vantage points offering views out to the South China Sea behind the cars; as a purpose-built resort district there is little of the historic streetscape seen at other Formula E venues.

Seating

Temporary grandstands erected for race weekend along the main straight and key corners; exact stand names vary by year and are announced closer to the event.

Best places to watch

Seafront-facing grandstand sections combine sightlines onto the track with ocean views; check the official Formula E event guide for the current season's stand map.

Weather

• Jun (race weekend, tropical monsoon season): hot and humid, daytime highs around 32-33°C with a real chance of afternoon thunderstorms

History of Haitang Bay Circuit

A tropical debut for Formula E

The Haitang Bay Circuit was built as a temporary street layout through Sanya's purpose-built beach resort district on Hainan island, giving Formula E its first taste of tropical China when the inaugural Sanya E-Prix was held on 23 March 2019. The 2.236 km, 11-turn circuit ran past Haitang Bay's seafront hotels and shopping strip rather than any historic streetscape, and organisers treated the road surface with a resin coating to guard against the kind of track break-up that had marred the previous round in Santiago under high temperatures. Jean-Éric Vergne won that first race for DS Techeetah.

Off the calendar, then back

Despite a promising debut, Sanya did not return to the Formula E schedule the following season, and Hainan dropped off the championship's radar entirely as the series' China presence shifted to Shanghai. It took seven years for Formula E to come back: the 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix was held on 20 June 2026 as round eleven of the 2025-26 season, on a lengthened and modified 2.520 km, 12-turn version of the circuit run anti-clockwise. Jake Dennis won the race, a result that reignited his title challenge that season.

Haitang Bay today

Away from race weekend, Haitang Bay continues to operate purely as one of Hainan's flagship beach and duty-free shopping resorts, with its roads carrying ordinary tourist and resort traffic; the circuit is reassembled with temporary barriers, grandstands and fencing only in the run-up to a Formula E weekend. Whether Sanya keeps its place on future Formula E calendars beyond 2026 had not been confirmed at time of writing.

Frequently asked questions

Other tracks nearby

• Hanoi Street Circuit · 510 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Guia Circuit (Macau Grand Prix) · 584 km · street circuit
• Zhuhai International Circuit · 598 km · road course
• Guangdong International Circuit · 633 km · road course
• Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit · 635 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Chang International Circuit · 802 km · road course