The key facts
- On Dadonghai beach in Sanya, Russian women are filmed without their knowledge and the photos are posted on social media
- Some Chinese users accused the video creators of covert intimate filming
- In January 2026, Russians made up to 70% of tourists in the Dadonghai area
Secret filming on Dadonghai
On the popular Dadonghai beach in the city of Sanya, local residents are secretly photographing and filming Russian women vacationing in bikinis and then posting the footage on social media. This was reported by Life.ru, citing the Telegram channel SHOT. The images are accompanied by captions such as 'Beauties in Bikinis' and 'Foreigners Have Taken Over Dadonghai'; under the posts, Chinese users leave compliments about the tourists' looks and figures and discuss their boldness. At the same time, some commenters were outraged that the women were being filmed without their knowledge, and according to SHOT, some users have already accused the creators of the videos of covert intimate filming.
Cultural contrast on the beach
The outlets note a marked difference in beach habits: many Chinese women prefer closed swimsuits, wide-brimmed hats and umbrellas to protect their skin from tanning, whereas Russian women opt for revealing bikinis and spend long hours in the sun. Gazeta.Ru, citing SHOT writes that the sight of Russian girls on the beaches allegedly caused a 'cultural shock' among locals, since Chinese women try not to tan too much and keep their skin fair. The contrast is especially noticeable in the Dadonghai area.
Background: record tourist flow from Russia
The situation is unfolding against the backdrop of a sharp increase in the number of Russian tourists in Hainan. According to the Sanya tourism authority, in January 2026 the resort received more than five thousand Russians weekly, and their share among vacationers in the Dadonghai area reached 70%. In the first seven months of 2026, the province was visited by 446 thousand Russians — 69% more than a year earlier; they accounted for 38.7% of the total foreign tourist flow. There are 12 direct air routes between Hainan and Russian cities. Earlier, Hainan authorities tightened requirements for the quality of service for Russian tourists due to the growing number of guests. It was also noted by Yuri Barzykin, vice-president of the Russian Union of Travel Industry,.
