The best thing about a wave pool is that the wave is the same every time. The catch is that you have to choose which wave. The PerfectSwell® wave pool at Riyue Bay in Wanning, Hainan — the world’s only wave pool on a tropical island — runs more than 20 wave settings, and every session is built around one of them. Pick a setting that is too easy and you will coast; pick one that is too hard and you will spend 55 minutes paddling back to the start. This guide walks through each level so you book the session that fits.
How a wave pool session works
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 and minimal waiting — far more rides per hour than a crowded ocean break. Beginner settings run through the middle of the day and advanced settings early and late, and the pool alternates lefts and rights day by day, so the surf calendar is where you check what is running on your dates.
The full menu is on the wave settings page. Here is the short version, level by level.
First-timer: the Learn to Surf session
Never stood on a board? Start here. The session begins with instruction on land — paddling, popping up, where to stand — then moves into gentle rolling waves with coaches in the water pushing you into every ride. Groups stay small, at most four surfers per coach, and private instructors are available if you would rather have a coach to yourself. Softboards are provided and life jackets are there on request. The usual guideline is age six and up, 1.2 m tall and a comfortable short swim, and since every wave is filmed, you go home with proof of your first ride. Our beginner’s guide covers the first day in detail.
Beginner: from CNY 328 per person
You can paddle into a wave and stand on a moving board — now you want repetitions. The Beginner setting delivers gentle, ground-swell-style waves with a long, easy roll-in: plenty of time to find your balance and start turning the board on purpose instead of by accident. One surfer per wave, steady sets and coaches nearby for encouragement. Soft tops are available for the session, and rental boards are matched to the setting in the board rental quiver.
Intermediate: from CNY 388 per person
This is the repetition machine. A consistent, chest-to-head-high wall with an angled roll-in take-off gives you a long, clean face to connect turns and try new manoeuvres — think a friendly day at Trestles, on repeat. Two settings run at this level: a punchier wall for stringing turns together, and a long, mellow one made for noseriding and trim. You should know your etiquette, catch your own waves and be confident on the open face, frontside and backside. Stuck between standing up and linking turns? Read the intermediate surfer’s guide, and if a log is your board, the longboarder’s guide.
Advanced: from CNY 498 per person
Uncrowded, chest-to-head-high waves with real push: a quick take-off into a long, open face with room for big wrapping turns, a barrel section and even an air if you time it right. Like a great day on the Gold Coast, except it arrives on schedule, every set, with one surfer on every wave. This setting asks for steep, fast drop-ins and confident rail work both ways — it is not the place to learn, it is the place to perform. Bring a high-performance shortboard or pull one from the quiver. The advanced surfer’s guide goes deeper.
Pro: barrels and airs, in private sessions
The top of the menu is not sold by the seat. The Pro barrel setting throws a quick, steep take-off into a large, hollow tube — the same wave, wave after wave, which is exactly what dialing in barrel riding requires. The Pro air setting gives you an open face to build speed and a clean ramp section to close out on, identical every time, so you can attempt, adjust and attempt again. Both run exclusively in private sessions, where you reserve the pool and it is yours: up to 20 surfers per hour, from CNY 7,760 per hour. Rights and lefts are both available and every ride is filmed. Our guide to private wave pool sessions explains how a buyout works.
A quick level self-check
If you are between two levels, drop down one. A session you can win beats a session that wins you. Use the checklist below, and if you are still unsure, tell us what you ride and how long you have surfed and we will match you before you land.
- Learn to Surf: you have never surfed, or you have not stood up yet. Age six and up, a comfortable short swim.
- Beginner: you can paddle into a wave and stand on a moving board, and now want to turn on purpose.
- Intermediate: you know your etiquette, catch your own waves and ride the open face frontside and backside.
- Advanced: you make steep, fast drop-ins and use your rails both ways with confidence.
- Pro: you want the barrel or the air section on demand — book the pool for private sessions.
Mixing levels on one trip
Most travellers do not stay on one level for the whole stay. A common shape is to open with a session one level below where you think you are, use the footage to check your lines, then step up. If you are travelling with people at different levels, sessions are sold per surfer, so a beginner and an advanced surfer can each book their own setting on the same day — or you can book the pool privately and split the hour. Adding coaching with video analysis to any session is the fastest way to know when you are ready for the next setting.
Example progression · 4 sessions
Start planning
Check what is running on your dates on the surf calendar, see the numbers on the rates page, then send your dates and your level to hello@surfchina.co or WhatsApp +8613893402173, or start on the booking page. Want sessions, rooms and airport car bundled? Browse the packages or the surf session package, or read the Hainan surf trip FAQ and the Surf China Journal.
