Dinosaurs, gardens, rice paddy: key features of new Sanya national park

Sanya Haitang Bay Paddy Field National Park, a rice and dinosaur theme park that opened on Jan 24, is a new attraction that draws more than 1,000 visitors a day.

The park received 30,000 tourists during the week-long Spring Festival (Feb 15-21) and it expects 600,000 tourists through 2018, according to park management officials.

Located near the Sanya Haitang Bay resort, the park features a garden with a flourishing paddy, a dinosaur base with 323 life-size dinosaur models, paddy-themed restaurants and a garden of flowers.

The park, with its first phase covering 253 hectares and an investment of 2.3 billion yuan ($362.7 million), will serve as an important recreational complex that integrates sightseeing, scientific research, science education, environmental protection and an open-air live show.