Here is my suggestion: Day one, you can get to Baoao to see Wanquan River and experience drifting. Or you can go to Wuzhishan (literally Five Fingers Mountain) Natural Resort in Wuzhishan City. Day two, visit Wuzhizhou Island by ferry. Day three, take bus to Sanya. You can visit Yalong Bay, Nanshan Temple with big Kwuan-yin Statue, Monkey ISland and Tianya Haijiao ( which is literally the edge of the sky, rim of the sea). For your reference.

Thanks Ms SummerLing for the info. If we wish to travel from Shantou to Guangzhou, pearl river , chongsan road,or even Hong Kong, what mode of transport is possible.