A World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series event will take place in Riyue Bay, Wanning, from December 11 to 17, marking the city’s first major international surfing competition since 2020.
The event features two divisions, the Men’s and Women’s QS4000 and the Men’s and Women’s JR1000, with a focus on shortboard surfing under standard WSL rules. More than 160 surfers from over ten countries are expected to compete, including athletes from China, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, Australia, Sweden, Brazil, and France.
Wanning has been a regular stop for surf competitions for the past fifteen years. Since 2010 it has hosted national events such as the National Games and National Youth Games surfing contests, along with the China Surfing Open and Hainan Provincial Championships. It has also staged several international competitions organized by both the WSL and the International Surfing Association.
These events have helped shape Wanning’s reputation as one of China’s key surfing destinations. Surf schools and local surf culture have grown around Riyue Bay and other coastal areas, drawing visitors from within China and abroad.
Alongside the competition, the city plans a range of public events, including a beach music program, a duty-free market, a surf photography exhibition, beginner surf lessons, beach sports activities, and a food festival. A training course for international surf judges will run at the same time.
The event is organized by the World Surf League and co-hosted by China’s Water Sports Management Center, the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, and the Wanning municipal government, with support from local sports and tourism agencies.
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