The bay is shared by domestic tourists and members of China’s first generation of Hainan surfers, with the sport having first gained traction on the island around ten years ago. Members of this generation, such as pro longboarder Monica Guo and pro surfer-turned-environmentalist Darci Liu, have not always had a laid back time of it. Unfamiliar with a lifestyle seemingly based around floating and showing off ripped torsos, much of mainstream Chinese society has viewed surfers as work-shy drifters."Hainan police regularly stopped cars with surfboards strapped to them, telling owners they were forbidden to surf near swimmers"
Monks wading their feet through the sand. Photo: Matjaž Tančič
China's young surfers looking out onto the coast. Photo: Matjaž Tančič
The luxury new surf complex built in Hainan by the Chinese Government. Photo: Matjaž Tančič
Hainan's surf culture still persists in the face of sanitation. Photo: Matjaž Tančič
A more experienced Chinese surfer demonstrating the joys of the Hainanese waves. Photo: Matjaž Tančič
Young Chinese surf students heading from the compound towards the coast. Photo: Matjaž Tančič