About Hainan Surfing

With over 112 miles of coastline, Hainan Island in the South China Sea offers a plethora of surfing and watersport venues for the adventurous traveler.  A tropical climate and seasonal typhoons add to the surfing allure, and more than a handful of expats have discovered a largely untapped surfer's paradise in this remote corner of China.With direct flights into Sanya and Hainan, getting to Hainan Island is not difficult, though it is still quite apparent that up until about 20 years ago, this place was nothing more than a forgotten wasteland that traditionally served as the last bastion of exiles from China's Imperial periods.  Sanya in the South also receives direct flights from Russia, creating an interesting mixture of Western, Chinese, and Russian influences (most street signs and menus are translated into Russian).  Not surprisingly, Sanya also hosts a few Russian surfers who have picked up the sport (locally I presume).Surfing in Hainan is focused on two primary areas: the Eastern coast which catches mostly winter swells, and the Southern coast (Sanya), which has access to both East-facing beaches as well as a few South-facing beaches that catch swell during the summer months.Sanya is made up of Sanya Bay, Dadonghai, and Yalong Bay, with Dadonghai serving as the main focal point of surfing on the Island.  Surfboard rentals and lessons are offered by a number of small operations, with Brendon and Dahai's Surfing Hainan providing the most established and well-respected service in the area.  While Sanya Bay and Yalong Bay may occasionally be blessed with waves during heavy typhoons, the most reliable and consistent local break is certainly Dadonghai Beach.  During the Winter, a 30 minute drive to Ho-Hai beach at Haitang Wan delivers adequate surfing when Sanya's beaches go flat in the winter.The most difficult aspect to surfing in Hainan is access.  Without a vehicle, you're going to be stuck on the crowded beaches of Dadonghai waiting out endless flat-spells while waiting for waves.  While you can hire taxis for the day, it is often quite difficult to manage boards and directions, especially when you consider that most decent breaks are down dirt roads that otherwise lead to nowhere.  Best bet is to make friends with the locals or hire a surf guide to show you the best spots and organize transportation for you.  There ARE incredible breaks in the area, but only for those who know where they are and how to get there.