Sanya’s photo experience pairs a beach portrait session with the option of a mermaid shoot in clear coastal water or a more romantic backdrop on Wuzhizhou Island. The Houhai package starts at US$39.99 and includes nine edited photos and the original files, but the advertised choices are separate packages, not necessarily one all-in-one session.
I like two things about the idea: Houhai’s coconut-lined shore gives you relaxed, natural-looking scenes, and the mermaid package offers a more unusual portrait than the standard beach pose. The different packages also let you choose how much of the experience you want, from a basic photoshoot to one that includes a mermaid costume and makeup.
One caution deserves attention: the basic Houhai shoot does not include clothing or makeup, despite the broader promotional description. There is also a single low-rated account of an unhygienic setup and a late makeup artist, so I’d confirm what is included and check the condition of any costume or makeup before starting.
- Quick take: what to know before booking
- Houhai’s coconut paths make the easiest starting point
- Mermaid portraits add a more unusual option
- Wuzhizhou Island gives you a different backdrop
- Read the package list closely, not just the headline
- What the price buys, and what it does not
- Timing, photo selection and clothing returns
- Who should book this Sanya photo experience?
- Should you book it?
- FAQ
- Where is the meeting point?
- How do I get to the meeting point by bus?
- How long is the photoshoot?
- What is included in the Houhai package?
- Does every package include clothing and makeup?
- How many photos come with the mermaid package?
- How many photos come with the Wuzhizhou Island package?
- When can I select and receive my photos?
- What are the clothing return rules?
- Is there an age limit?
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Quick take: what to know before booking
- Houhai is the most affordable option: The nine-edited-photo package starts at US$39.99 and includes the original files, but not clothing or makeup.
- Mermaid portraits cost more and include styling: The listed mermaid option starts at US$80.35 and includes a costume and makeup, with three retouched photos and 20 unedited originals.
- Wuzhizhou Island is a separate package: It starts at US$80.35 and includes 12 retouched photos plus original files. Clothing and makeup are not included.
- The package details matter more than the broad title: The experience title mentions Houhai, mermaid portraits, Wuzhizhou Island, outfits and makeup, but not every package includes all of those elements.
- Photos take time: You choose your photos about one day after the shoot, and pickup is expected about three days after selection.
- The review record calls for care: The activity has one supplied rating, 1 out of 5. The provider’s broader rating is 86% positive across 5,316 reviews, a different measure from this specific experience.
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Houhai’s coconut paths make the easiest starting point
The meeting point is in Tenghai Fishing Village, near Houhai. The listed address is No. 143-1, diagonally opposite the primary and secondary school, at the Houhai Village store of ARTEASG Ah T Singapore Milk Tea. From Sanya, bus 352 stops at Wuzhizhou Island station, then it is a 300-meter walk to the meeting point.
Houhai’s appeal is its informal beach setting. The photo concept centers on coconut-tree-lined paths, fine sand and waves, with the photographer capturing you walking, playing at the water’s edge or relaxing beneath a palm. The pitch is less formal studio portrait, more holiday moments with the sea in the background.
That approach suits you if you feel awkward holding a pose. The planned images emphasize natural movement and interaction, whether you are on your own or with a partner, friends or family. Still, the session is short: the listed duration is 30 minutes. Treat it as a focused portrait shoot, not a full morning of photos across multiple parts of Sanya.
The Houhai package includes nine professionally edited photos and all original files. Clothing and makeup are not included in this package, so plan to arrive ready unless you have separately booked the clothing-and-makeup option. The package list shows Houhai choices at US$39.99, US$62.90 and US$126.15, with two options at the last price. Their exact differences are not explained, so check the selected option’s details before paying.
You can also read our reviews of more photography tours in Sanya
Mermaid portraits add a more unusual option
The mermaid package is the most distinctive choice here. You wear a mermaid tail and pose or swim in the water, with the concept built around sunlight, sea life and the movement of the tail. The description says a diving instructor and photographer guide the session, but it does not give the session length, location details beyond Sanya, or a breakdown of how much time is spent in the water.
This package starts at US$80.35 and includes the mermaid costume and makeup. It provides three professionally retouched photos and 20 original, unedited images. That is a different photo count and editing balance from the Houhai and Wuzhizhou packages, so compare the deliverables rather than assuming each package offers the same number of polished images.
Water-based portraits ask more of you than a beach walk. You need to be comfortable following the instructions provided and moving in the water while wearing a tail. The information does not specify swimming requirements, water depth, safety equipment or whether the instructor’s guidance is included in every booking, so ask those questions before choosing this option.
There is also a practical cleanliness concern. One supplied review of the mermaid package describes a dirty setup and a late makeup artist. A single account cannot tell you how often this happens, but it is enough reason to inspect the costume and makeup kit before they are used and to confirm that the styling service is ready when you arrive.
Wuzhizhou Island gives you a different backdrop
The Wuzhizhou Island package is aimed at couples or anyone who wants more than a Houhai beach setting. The suggested backdrops include Lovers Bridge and Ocean View Corridor, along with white-sand shore and open sea. The imagery is framed around morning light, bright midday scenes and orange evening skies.
These locations give the photos a more planned, scenic feel than Houhai’s casual beach-and-palm setting. If you are booking as a couple, the bridge and sea-view corridor are natural places for portraits together. If you are travelling alone, the same shore and sea can support individual images without requiring a partner.
The package starts at US$80.35 and includes 12 retouched photos and original files. Clothing and makeup are not included. The description mentions that a white dress can work well against the sea, but does not provide clothing as part of this package.
There is no information about island admission, transport, ferry costs or how the photographer meets you there. Do not assume those items are covered by the photo price. Ask the provider to spell out where the session begins and what you must arrange separately, especially if you are comparing this package with the Houhai shoot at the village meeting point.
Read the package list closely, not just the headline
The experience name suggests a combined service: Houhai follow-shoot, mermaid portrait, Wuzhizhou Island shoot, outfit and makeup. The package details tell a more specific story. Houhai, mermaid, Wuzhizhou and clothing-plus-makeup appear as distinct choices, each with its own price and inclusions.
That distinction has real value. You can pay for the type of photos you actually want instead of buying every element. But it also means you should not expect the entry-level Houhai price to cover mermaid styling, makeup, an island shoot or clothing.
The separate clothing-and-makeup experience starts at US$40.15 and says clothing and makeup are provided. The available information does not say how many outfits are included, how long styling takes, or whether this package is tied to a photoshoot. Confirm whether it can be added to a chosen shoot and whether the wardrobe matches the location you have in mind.
The listed Houhai prices range from US$39.99 to US$126.15, but the higher-priced options have the same brief description as the lower-priced one. Since the differences are not spelled out, compare the booking page carefully or ask the provider before choosing. A higher price may represent a different service level, but the information here does not establish what that is.
What the price buys, and what it does not
At US$39.99, nine edited photos plus all original files is a reasonable amount of finished material for a short, 30-minute portrait session, provided you are happy to bring your own clothes and handle your own makeup. The originals give you more images to keep, but they are not the same as professionally retouched photos.
The mermaid option costs from US$80.35 and includes styling, but delivers three retouched images and 20 unedited originals. If you care most about polished portraits, three retouched photos may feel limited. If you value the costume and the novelty of an underwater-style setting, the originals may be a useful extra.
Wuzhizhou Island also starts at US$80.35, with 12 retouched photos and originals, but leaves clothing and makeup to you. Its value depends partly on logistics that are not covered in the supplied details, including how you get to the island and any separate admission or transport costs. Confirm these before treating the package price as the total cost.
A general service note says professionally styled makeup and prepared island outfits are available, and that clothing is regularly cleaned and disinfected. That claim sits uneasily beside the single report of dirty conditions. I would not assume a problem, but I would ask to see the outfit before putting it on and make sure the included services match the package you booked.
Timing, photo selection and clothing returns
The shop is listed as open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Peak hours may bring a wait, so avoid building a tight schedule around the shoot. The voucher is valid only for the date and time specified, and confirmation is expected within 24 hours of booking.
You should select photos about one day after the shoot, with pickup about three days after selection. The information does not say how pickup works or whether digital delivery is available, so confirm the delivery method and timing when you book, particularly if you have a short stay in Sanya.
For bookings that include clothing, return the garments by 10:00 PM or between 9:00 and 10:00 AM the following day. Late returns incur a fee of ¥20 per hour, and damage may be deducted from the deposit. This is an easy detail to miss if your shoot ends late or you are leaving the area the next morning.
There is no age limit stated for the activity. The service is described as outdoor-only, and the listed opening hours apply Monday through Sunday.
Who should book this Sanya photo experience?
I’d consider the Houhai package if you want a brief set of beach portraits and are comfortable bringing your own outfit and makeup. It is also the simplest option to compare on price, since its starting cost is lower and its meeting point is clearly given in Tenghai Fishing Village.
The mermaid session suits you if the costume and unusual water setting are the main reason you are booking. Before paying, check what the session requires, how the costume is handled, and how the makeup service is scheduled. The one cleanliness complaint makes those sensible questions, not unreasonable demands.
Choose Wuzhizhou Island if the island scenery matters more than keeping the price low. Its 12 retouched images offer more finished photos than the mermaid option, but transport, entry and styling are not specified as included. For couples, the named Lovers Bridge backdrop may be a draw; for everyone else, the sea-view corridor and shore still provide the central appeal.
I would pause if you need a guaranteed all-in-one package, a tightly timed session, or a large set of retouched images from the mermaid shoot. The information leaves some key distinctions between package prices unexplained, and the supplied activity rating is just one review, scored 1 out of 5. The provider’s 86% good-review rate across 5,316 reviews offers broader context, but does not erase the limited feedback on this specific experience.
Should you book it?
Book if you know which setting you want, have checked the exact package inclusions, and are comfortable clarifying the open questions before paying. Houhai is the practical low-cost choice; Wuzhizhou adds a more scenic island setting; mermaid portraits offer the most unusual photos but call for extra attention to cleanliness and water-session details.
If you do book, get the outfit, makeup, edited-photo count, original-file delivery and any transport or admission costs confirmed in writing. That small bit of preparation will help you spend your time posing rather than untangling what your package includes.
Sanya Travel Photography Experience (Houhai Follow Shoot + Mermaid Portrait + Wuzhizhou Island Follow Shoot + Outfit + Makeup Experience)
FAQ
Where is the meeting point?
The meeting point is in Tenghai Fishing Village at No. 143-1, diagonally opposite the primary and secondary school, near the ARTEASG Ah T Singapore Milk Tea Houhai Village store.
How do I get to the meeting point by bus?
Take bus 352 and get off at Wuzhizhou Island station. The meeting point is a 300-meter walk away.
How long is the photoshoot?
The listed duration is 30 minutes for the Houhai package details provided.
What is included in the Houhai package?
The listed Houhai package includes nine professionally edited photos and all original files. Clothing and makeup are not included.
Does every package include clothing and makeup?
No. The mermaid package includes costume and makeup, and a separate clothing-and-makeup experience is available. The listed Houhai and Wuzhizhou Island photo packages do not include clothing or makeup.
How many photos come with the mermaid package?
It includes three professionally retouched photos and 20 original, unedited photos.
How many photos come with the Wuzhizhou Island package?
It includes 12 retouched photos and the original files.
When can I select and receive my photos?
Photo selection is approximately one day after the shoot. Photo pickup is approximately three days after selection.
What are the clothing return rules?
Return clothing by 10:00 PM, or between 9:00 and 10:00 AM the following day. Late returns cost ¥20 per hour, and damage may be deducted from the deposit.
Is there an age limit?
No age limit is stated for this activity.
