Summer Travel Supplement: Kitesurfing 101: Riding the Winds off Xiamen

Aimee Groom

In this new column, the Ctrip team hits the road in search of China’s latest and greatest destination. What craggy mountainside, sunny beach spot or crowded cityscape will pique their itinerant interests this month?

Known for its pleasant climate, laid-back vibe and well-kept beaches, Xiamen has long been a hotspot for Chinese tourists, and in recent years, it has gained traction among expats in search of a balmy seaside retreat. Its popularity with one particular group however has less to do with its old world treaty-port charm than with its stiff sea breezes; Xiamen is fast developing a reputation as the best place in China to learn and practice the thrilling sport of kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing, or kiteboarding, is all about rocketing over the waves on a board attached to a giant kite. An adrenaline-fuelled sport that has taken the water sports world by storm since its invention in the 1990s, kiteboarding is still virtually unknown in China – but that's changing. In 2007, a pair of expats introduced kitesurfing to Xiamen’s shores, inspiring local David Zhai to set up China’s first beachside kite school, the Fly 59 China Kiteboarding Center.

Located on Haiyuntai Beach, a clean and quiet stretch of golden sand on the southeast corner of Xiamen Island, the kite club is sheltered from the wind by rows of swaying palms. A cosy cabin serves as both office and storage space for members' equipment. Just next door the Rasa Sayang Bar and Restaurant offers an extensive open-air terrace and a menu featuring Malaysian and Thai dishes perfect for refuelling between sessions or while waiting for the wind.

A 10 hour course at the China Kiteboarding Center rings in at RMB 2,500 and includes equipment and covers wind theory, safety training and all the basic skills required to control the kite and use the board effectively. On completing training, you receive an International Kiteboarder Card showing you have reached IKO level 2 (intermediate), recognised throughout the kitesurfing world as proof of the formal training required to rent equipment.

59 Fly Kiteboarding Center. K5-K9, Huandao Nan Lu. Tel: (592) 8811 177, 1586 073 2702.

Email: [email protected]. Web: www.59fly.net

How to get there: 25 daily flights run between Shanghai to Xiamen with prices starting from as little as RMB 260 one-way, bookable on Ctrip (http://english.ctrip.com). Try Ctrip FareAlert and DealFinder Calendar travel tools to get the best deals.

Where to stay: There are plenty of hotel options in all price ranges in Xiamen, but for Haiyuntai Beach, your best bet is the Asia Gulf Hotel. Just steps away from the beach, a standard room will set you back RMB 381 (bookable on Ctrip).

Aimee Groom is the web editor of the Ctrip-sponsored China Travel Blog. Visit http://blog.chinatravel.net to read more about travel and kitesurfing in Fujian and beyond.