In the wake of the pandemic, China’s travel restrictions have created a surge in young people seeking joys on home turf, causing tourism revenues in the hot-spot of Hainan Island to surpass those recorded pre-pandemic. The activity taking centre stage is surfing. What was once known as a ‘dirty pastime’, the sport has undergone a revamp especially since it joined the lineup of competitive sports for Tokyo 2020. With surf enthusiasts now living, competing and flocking to the island, this destination is shaping its own culture, nurturing diverse communities and activities unique to the country.

In this episode, we are joined by Darsea Liu, China’s first female professional surfer and ocean conservationist.

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