Hainan
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Positives
- Chinas best surf
- Quality left pointbreaks
- Consistent during NE monsoon
- Very warm water and tropical
Negatives
- Lack of power
- Average beachbreaks
- Rare typhoon swells
- Difficult travel without guide
Hainan surf travel guide
Hainan, the second largest of the Chinese islands after Taiwan, extends 1,500km of coastline into the South China Sea, with an eastern side exposed to consistent NE monsoon swells and seasonal typhoon swells. Hainan is advertised throughout China and Russia as a tropical holiday paradise, attracting around 10 million Chinese tourists every year, mainly to Sanya in the south of the island. The surf turns out to be quite consistent through winter, with hundreds of beaches and left points pulling in the NE-E swell and headlands provide size and wind protection on the big days. Visiting foreign surfers head straight for the lefthanders of Riyue Bay that have been deemed good enough to hold top level ISA and ASP events, but there's also a growing mix of Chinese surfers, keen to learn in the adjacent, beginner-friendly beachbreaks.
Surf spots in Hainan
Research the 19 surf breaks in Hainan and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 19 breaks in Hainan.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Hainan
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Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 62,900,000
- Population
- 1,439,323,776
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- CNY
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +86
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 112
- Language
- Standard Chinese (Mandarin/Putonghua), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Electricity
- Plug Type
- aci
Visas
China - Visas are complicated, expensive (between US$100- $200) and vary quite a bit from country to country. You need to apply for your visa well in advance of a trip as it takes time and is not always straightforward. Hainan also has its own visa rules. Be smart and get it sorted early!
Hong Kong - Although considered part of China for most things, HK has its own visa policy that allows stays of up to 90 days visa free.
Getting There
Get a visa at Hong-Kong airport in less than a day. HK flights are more expensive and less regular than those from Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Hainan Airlines and China Airlines fly many times daily, although some aircraft might not take surfboards. Fly from Shanghai, or choose a direct flight from Osaka with Hainan Airlines. Gaungzhou airport connects with both Sanya and Haikou on China Southern Airlines, while from Singapore you can fly to Haikou with Tiger Airways, JetStar and Hainan Airlines. There’s a ferry to Shekou from HK.
Getting Around
The capital city is Haikou, but visitors can also fly to Sanya, closer to the main surf area. Individual tourism is still a strange concept, and tourists are not allowed to drive a car without a Chinese driving license.
Accommodation
Lots of hotels have been built so the market is competitive. Compare Ocean Bay Golf with Le Meridien at top end, Sandalwood, WengQuan or Alila in Xiangshui Bay or overpriced 21 Century chain hotel in Riyue. Riyue Bay Surf Club offers spartan dormitory style accommodation ($9/n) or beachfront hotel basic room (fr $40/n/dbl). Chinese street food and restaurant cuisine is outstanding and very cheap. Try Wenchang Chicken, Jiaji Duck, Dongshan Mutton, Merry Crab. There is lots of fresh seafood available.
Activities
There is plenty to see and do: Nanwan Macaque island and a Buddhist statue 108m tall, Xinlong Botanical Garden with 1200 plant species, Hainan Marine Tropical World in Haikou, the Hot Spring region, Yalong bay near Sanya, Tinanya Haijiao rocks, and the Sanya Zoological Garden. There is buzzing nightlife in Sanya, and karaoke and massage are commonplace.
Hazards & hassles
There are few local surfers, so localism is currently not an issue, but pay respect to the expat surfing community, local Hainan surfers and regulars from mainland China. There are some jellyfish, sea-lice and low tide rocks to be aware of. Hiring a cab can be difficult. Some beaches are off-limits and guards or the military may prohibit surfing in some areas.
Handy Hints
Very few people speak English or Japanese, only Mandarin. Internet facilities are very limited. The surf conditions cater for both short and longboards. During typhoon season, it's really hot. Bring all surf supplies, including wax.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.