Hainan: China’s Rising Surf and Golf Destination

Hainan Island is positioning itself as a premier international destination for both surfing and golf, leveraging a combination of natural geography, aggressive government investment and high-end sports infrastructure. The Chinese island, characterized by its palm-fringed white sandy beaches and year-round warm water, is transitioning from a remote outpost into a structured hub for sports tourism.

The island’s appeal is rooted in its diverse coastline, which extends 1,000 miles into the South China Sea. Its eastern flank is exposed to consistent northeast monsoon swells, seasonal typhoon swells, and summer southerlies, while the prevailing northeast winds provide offshore conditions for all the left-hand pointbreaks.

The Evolution of Hainan Surfing

Surfing in Hainan has evolved from isolated exploration to a government-supported sport. In the 1980s, journalist Matt George and photographer Warren Bolster conducted the island’s first surf magazine trip, with George describing the coastline as Exotic, remote, empty.

The scene began to formalize in the early 1990s when Hiroshi Yonekawa, a pioneering entrepreneur and shaper from Osaka, began visiting during the winter monsoon season to teach surfing to local residents. By the early 2000s, a community of expatriates and surfers, including Jimmy Ganzer and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, established a scene around Riyue Bay that they compared to 1960s Malibu.

Riyue Bay eventually became a focal point for competitive surfing. Under the leadership of ASP CEO Brodie Carr, the location hosted the World Longboard Championships in 2011, serving as the season’s climax for five years. The International Surfing Association also began hosting events there in 2018.

The growth of the sport has led to the emergence of local talent on the world stage. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, 15-year-old Siqi Yang became the first Olympic surfer to represent China, competing at Teahupo’o.

Technological Integration and Wave Parks

To combat the limitations of the off-season when ocean waves are scarce, China is investing heavily in artificial wave technology. A new park powered by PerfectSwell technology now provides consistent conditions for training and recreation.

The commitment to artificial surfing extends beyond a single facility, as China is currently investing in 15 additional artificial wave parks. These facilities allow the next generation of local surfers to maintain their skills year-round, with Riyue Bay continuing to host most government-led training camps.

Ethan Huang, Co-Founder of Surf China Co., noted the variety of available breaks on the island, stating:

There’s some crazy slabs here, a world-class rivermouth which has done the rounds lately, and obviously the fun longboard wave at Riyue Bay

Ethan Huang

Huang added that while the island possesses world-class waves, there is currently little concern regarding overcrowding when solid swells hit, and the organization is actively encouraging more surfers to visit Hainan.

The Synergy of Surf and Golf

Hainan has simultaneously emerged as one of Asia’s top golf destinations, featuring more than 15 world-class courses. The island’s tropical climate attracts thousands of golfers annually, creating a unique overlap with the surfing community.

Among the most prominent courses is Shanqin Bay, which Golfweek’s Best ranked as the top course in Asia and the sixth best in the world. The course is highly exclusive, with reported joining fees exceeding $1 million.

Another major development is Mission Hills Haikou, which consists of 10 courses designed by Schmidt-Curley and built on black lava rock. This venue hosts The Hainan Classic, a stop on the European DP World Tour.

Surf China Co., the Official Global Hospitality Partner for the China Wave Pool, has integrated these two sports into combined tourism packages. Huang explained that the exclusivity of the golf courses adds value to these packages, noting that many golfers are becoming interested in surfing after trying the artificial wave parks.

Infrastructure and Tourism Incentives

The growth of these sports is supported by an ambitious customs liberalization strategy. The government has effectively turned the island into a duty-free zone, which now accounts for 8% of the global duty-free market.

To facilitate international arrivals, a 30-day visa-free entry policy has been implemented for citizens of 86 countries. These measures contributed to the island recording 1.5 million international tourist arrivals in 2025.

While many tourists utilize the wave parks and luxury golf courses, the island’s most powerful southern groundswells typically hit the eastern and southern coasts between August and October, offering high-quality conditions for experienced surfers in relatively unexplored areas.