A new chapter in China’s surf tourism industry began this week with the official opening of the Riyue Bay Surf Resort, located on Hainan Island’s southeast coast in Wanning. Backed by the state-owned China Tourism Group, the resort is the country’s first fully surf-themed destination, combining sport, accommodation, and lifestyle elements into one integrated coastal development.
A Strategic Coastal Location
The resort is set in Riyue Bay, often referred to as the “Surfing Paradise of China.” The area has long been a focal point for the country’s surf scene, offering year-round swell, clear water, and over 200 surfable days annually. It’s also the base for China’s National Surfing Team and has hosted international competitions for over a decade.
This strategic location gives the resort a strong foundation, not just as a leisure destination, but as a potential training and competition venue for the growing domestic surf community.
Introducing SURFLAND: China’s First Olympic-Standard Wave Pool
At the heart of the resort is SURFLAND, featuring China’s first Olympic-level artificial wave pool. The technology behind it, PerfectSwell® by American Wave Machines, uses a 30-chamber pneumatic system to generate waves ranging from 0.3 to 2.7 meters high, every six seconds, with ride times of up to 18 seconds. It offers 23 programmable wave patterns, serving everyone from first-timers to elite athletes.
The system’s air-powered mechanics eliminate hydraulic parts, reducing environmental risks and ensuring a safer surfing environment. Both left- and right-hand waves can be generated, and the design allows for both public sessions and professional events. According to initial reports from visiting surfers, the air sections and wave quality are competitive with leading pools worldwide.
Integrated Resort Experience
Spanning over 155 acres, the Riyue Bay Surf Resort is built around three core components:
Accommodation: Two hotels, the Yue Chao Surf-Themed Hotel and the Yu Yue Designer Hotel, offer a combined 132 rooms. Rooms are styled with coastal motifs and local natural elements, with an emphasis on calm, ocean-inspired design.
Wave Zones: The surf pool and recreational programming are organized into a “Four Wave Levels” framework: Heavy, Medium, Light, and Gentle waves. This allows for customized surf and play experiences based on ability and preference.
X-LIVIN Street: The resort’s lifestyle hub includes a beachfront club, live music venue, café district, skatepark, and a curated mix of Southeast Asian and international restaurants. The area is designed not just for resort guests, but to be a social space that brings together locals, artists, and travelers alike.
Grand Opening and Public Access
Opening events from November 11–13 included international surfing demonstrations, a floating cinema, art installations, skateboarding showcases, and drone light shows. While some of these were promotional, they signaled the resort’s intention to integrate more cultural programming and not rely solely on surf tourism.
The wave pool is now open to the public and operates on a session-based booking model, similar to surf parks in the U.S. such as BSR in Waco, Texas. Access will be available for casual visitors, group sessions, or private rentals, with surf coaching and instruction expected to be part of the full rollout.
More Than a Surf Destination
The Riyue Bay Surf Resort is one of four flagship projects along the Hainan Coastal Scenic Highway and plays a key role in the government’s broader effort to shift from passive sightseeing to active, sport-based tourism. It aligns with the 2026 Hainan Marine Tourism Year initiative, aiming to strengthen Hainan’s reputation as a global coastal tourism hotspot.
With a maximum annual visitor capacity of 700,000, the resort hopes to bring in both domestic and international travelers, especially younger visitors interested in lifestyle sports and experiential travel.
Final Take
While the opening of the Riyue Bay Surf Resort marks a major milestone for China’s surf and tourism industries, its long-term success will depend on how well it integrates into the existing coastal community, maintains high standards for wave quality, and balances development with the environmental sensitivity of the area.
For now, it offers something genuinely new in the Hainan tourism landscape, a resort built not just near the waves, but around them.
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