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Pumping China: Pushing 1.3 Billion People with No One Out

Contrary to popular belief, China goes off!

BY Andrew Carruthers |

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    Riyue Bay. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Riyue Bay Sunrise. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Andre Derizans. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Perfect rock wall break. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Stoked on reading. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Nic Jones exiting another one. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Heavy water China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Chinese pier break. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Another point set up. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Chelsea Williams. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Onlookers. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Alex the Chinese super grommie. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Justin Quintal. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Abandoned. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Taylor Jensen. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Crystal Dzigas. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Jack Entwhistle. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Perfect. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Using the imagination. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Games. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Jack Entwhistle. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    China, bro. Seriously.

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    Nic Jones. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Clinton Guest sets one up. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Another empty unnamed beach. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    The Hawaii of China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Golden Hainan Island China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Nic Jones speed bottom turn. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Unnamed beach. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Not all soft waves here. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Dawn. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Perfect China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Jack Entwhistle Riyue Bay. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    The surf gods checking the lineup. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

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    Overlooked China. Photo: Andrew Carruthers

Pushing 1.3 billion people and emerging as an economic and political giant, it seems China has come to occupy world news more and more often. We’re accustomed to seeing images of densely populated cities, shrouded in pollution, but the truth is that China is much, much more than that. As it turns out, China is riddled with waves, but it’s South China that has grabbed my attention.

For the last four years I’ve been traveling to China for WSL events, and I’ve been surprised time and time again by the quality and quantity of the surf there, not to mention the idyllic tropical nature of, for example, Hainan Island. China’s southernmost prefecture, closer to Vietnam than Beijing, is an archipelago of beautiful tropical islands. In addition to a variety of waves in the region, there’s a diverse natural and cultural experience to be had. With the crystal clear water and palm trees lining the beaches, it’s no wonder they often describe Hainan as the Chinese Hawaii. It’s all of these qualities which make South China an excellent venue for the WSL to wrap up the 2015 Longboard Tour. Congratulations to Australian Harley Ingleby for taking his second longboard world title.

See more from Andrew Carruthers at Narrowpathmedia.com.au, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter.