Planning a surf trip to Hainan, China raises a lot of first-time questions: do I need a visa, which airport, which session, do I bring a board? This page answers the fifteen we hear most from travellers heading to the PerfectSwell® wave pool at Riyue Bay in Wanning — the world’s only wave pool on a tropical island, with about 20 wave settings — grouped in the order you will actually need them. Each answer links to the deeper guide if you want more.
The short version
Before you book: visas, flights and getting there
Do I need a visa to surf in Hainan?
Most travellers do not. Hainan runs a visa-free entry policy of up to 30 days for passport holders from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and many other countries. Rules depend on your passport and can change, so check yours before you book; our visa-free travel guide explains the details, and we confirm your eligibility when you book.
Which airport should I fly into, Haikou (HAK) or Sanya (SYX)?
Whichever has the better flight for you. Haikou (HAK) has the most international routes, including direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne; Sanya (SYX) is the shorter drive to Riyue Bay. You can also connect through Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Seoul. The full route breakdown is in the flights and transfers guide and on the getting here page.
How do I get from the airport to the wave pool?
Every package includes a private transfer between either airport and the resort. An English-speaking driver meets you in arrivals and drives the coastal road to Riyue Bay: about one hour from Sanya and about two from Haikou. There is nothing extra to book for the ride.
The wave pool: levels, sessions and boards
Is the wave pool really the only one on a tropical island?
Yes. The PerfectSwell® wave pool at Riyue Bay is the world’s only wave pool on a tropical island, with about 20 wave settings from gentle first-timer rollers to barrels and airs. The PerfectSwell explainer covers how the waves are made and what each setting does.
I have never surfed. Can I still come?
Absolutely. The Learn to Surf session starts with instruction on land, then moves into gentle rolling waves with coaches in the water and at most four surfers per coach. Softboards are provided and every wave is filmed. Start with the beginner’s guide.
Which wave pool session should I book?
Match the session to your level: Learn to Surf if you have never stood up, Beginner from CNY 328 per person, Intermediate from CNY 388, Advanced from CNY 498. Barrels and airs run in private sessions. If you are between two levels, drop down one, and use the level-by-level guide or the wave settings page to decide.
How long is a session and how crowded is the water?
A public session is a 55-minute block on a single wave setting, sold per surfer. The lineup is capped and waves are shared one surfer per wave, so you get frequent, consistent sets instead of a crowded ocean lineup.
Do I need to bring my own surfboard?
No. The on-site board rentals include soft tops, longboards, mid-lengths and performance shortboards matched to your level and the wave setting, and the surf shop stocks fins, wax, leashes, sunscreen and rash guards. If you would rather bring your own, read the board guide or browse the rental quiver.
Where you stay and what else to do
Where do I stay, and how far is the hotel from the pool?
UECHAO Hotel Riyuebay sits inside the surf-park grounds, about a minute’s walk from the pool, with a tropical breakfast buffet included and a fitness centre, outdoor pool and free guest laundry on site. See the accommodation page or the where-to-stay guide.
Can I surf in the ocean as well?
Yes. Riyue Bay is a genuine ocean surf spot on the South China Sea, so you can combine pool sessions with ocean surfing depending on the season. The wave pool vs ocean comparison and the ocean surf page explain when each works best.
Can I play golf on the same trip?
That is what many guests do. The Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula is regarded as the best links course in China, and Blackstone at Mission Hills Haikou is a former world top-100 course played by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy across black lava fields. See the golf page or the 6-day surf and golf itinerary.
What if my partner or friends do not surf?
They are well looked after. The surf café is a poolside place to sit, drink coffee and watch, the resort has a pool, gym and gardens, and Wanning has waterfalls, Li villages and Xinglong coffee to explore. Our things-to-do guide has ideas for rest days.
Groups, booking and who to contact
Can I book the whole pool for a group?
Yes. Private sessions reserve the pool for your group: up to 20 surfers per hour from CNY 7,760 per hour, with the Pro barrel and Pro air settings available only in private. See the private buyout page and the private sessions guide.
How do I book and who do I contact?
Send your dates, group size and surf level to hello@surfchina.co or WhatsApp +8613893402173, or start on the booking page. Your sessions, room and airport car are confirmed before you fly.
Still have a question?
Check what is running on your dates on the surf calendar, see the numbers on the rates page, or explore the packages and the surf session package. Want everything in one page? The complete trip planner is the long version, and the Surf China Journal has a guide for almost every question. Ask us directly at hello@surfchina.co or on the booking page and we will reply before you fly.
