Best time to surf Riyue Bay

The best time to surf at Riyue Bay is December–April, with waves of about 1.2 m and water around 24°C.

Wanning, Hainan, China

Sports: Surfing

Best time to go: December–April

Riyue Bay (Sun and Moon Bay, Riyuewan) is a curved sandy bay on the south-east coast of Hainan, in Wanning, about 120 km north-east of Sanya and 240 km south of Haikou, with a Riyuewan exit on the G98 expressway just behind the beach. By high-speed train, get off at Wanning station and take a taxi (30 to 40 minutes), or at Shenzhou station, about 20 minutes away. The bay has China's national surfing training base and hosts WSL and ISA events.

The main wave is a long left-hand point peeling along the boulder and sand headland at the east end, with an easy paddle out in the channel. The beach break in front of the surf clubs has softer peaks over sand, and Ghost Hotel, by a rock face at the tip, is for experienced surfers only. The season runs from late October to March, when the north-east monsoon sends wind swell, often best in December. From May to October typhoons can bring short, powerful swells, but many summer days are small. North-west to north winds are offshore, and the point is fairly sheltered from the north-east wind.

Parking near the beach is free, and surf shops rent boards and give lessons; a surf resort with a wave pool opened in November 2025. Small days on the beach break suit beginners, the point suits intermediates and longboarders, and big swells are for advanced surfers. Rip currents are strong, especially on big winter swells, and the point gets crowded when it works.

The water is about 22 to 25 °C from December to March and 28 to 30 °C from May to September: a 2 mm shorty or long-sleeve top helps on windy winter days, boardshorts or a lycra in summer.

Month by month at Riyue Bay

January: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 22°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 10; a day can have both
February: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 23°C, air 24°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 23 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 12; a day can have both
March: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 24°C, air 26°C (nights 20°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both
April: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 26°C, air 28°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 15; a day can have both
May: 0 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 1 m, water 28°C, air 30°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 23; a day can have both
June: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 28°C, air 31°C (nights 26°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 23; a day can have both
July: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 27°C, air 31°C (nights 26°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 24; a day can have both
August: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 7 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 27°C, air 31°C (nights 26°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 25; a day can have both
September: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 6 knots, waves 1 m, water 29°C, air 30°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 24 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 25; a day can have both
October: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 29°C, air 28°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 23 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 23; a day can have both
November: 1 windy day (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 26°C, air 26°C (nights 21°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 16; a day can have both
December: 2 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 24°C, air 23°C (nights 18°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 9; a day can have both

When is the best time to go surfing at Riyue Bay?

December–April, when the waves are biggest.

How warm is the water at Riyue Bay?

22°C to 29°C over the year: boardshorts, no wetsuit needed in the warmest month, a shorty or lycra in the coolest.

How windy is Riyue Bay?

About 10 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in December.

Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

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