Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop, Small wave, Medium wave
Water hazards: Swimmers, Buoys
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Grass, Sand - Big
Beachgoer: May, June, July, August, September, October
Wind type: Thermal
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September
Access description: by Car, Bus -
Specific rules: None
Accommodations: Rooms, Camping, Shop, Rescue, Shower, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lake
Water type: Shallow, Flat
Water hazards: Swimmers
Water quality: Dirty
Infos: This small lake (size: 300x600m) just beside the Yangse River, and the water is drained from the Yangse by a dike. The water is very dirty. Because the place is not big, it's just flat water. Water is not deep, good for learning. Lake can dry out or be very shallow. So be careful with jumping.
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Infos: The beach is not wide (20-30m), trees and small buildings close. Sand is OK, but better wear booties, you can easily cut your feet. Crowded and not good during June to August due to swimmers.
Identified hazards: Trees, Concrete
Beachgoer: June, July, August
Weather specificities: Season is from March to November, very warm in summer. Wetsuit is better for protection. Off-season is better because less people around.
Wind type: Frontal
Wind specificities: Good in North and Northeast wind, which is onshore and sideshore. Northwest is also possible but may be more gusty. This North wind blows in autumn and winter, 3-4 Bft. Northeast (20% of the time) is definitely the best clean wind, coming directly from the yellow sea. Shanghai is an area with week wind, so you will always need big gear.
Best months: January, February, March, September, October, November, December
Access description: by Car - From Shanghai take the airport expressway direction Pu Dong, catch Long Dong avenue then Yuan Dong avenue, exit San Jia Gang. A few km before reaching the AP turn off at exit 6 go north until the second traffic light and turn right. Follw the road until you find a big parking lot to your left. The little lake is NE of the parking lot A brown sign is indicating the San Jia Gang seaside resort. From Shanghai, can access by bus from Pu Dong center. This is a small lake, located on the east of Shanghai, in Pu Dong District, at the north of the international Pu Dong airport, around 50 km of Shanghai center.
Specific rules: Fees
Extra: Dangerous spot because the beach is not wide enough, but with good safety care, that works out. It's a nice little spot with Northeast. To enter the lake resort area you have to pay 20 RMB, we have negotiated it down to 10 RMB at unusual hours, that's when we kite here, like 6am, before work or in the early spring or late autumn, when others do not use that resort anymore.
Accommodations: Rescue, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Small wave
Water hazards: Fishernets
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Small waves.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: Medium sized with lots of space.
Identified hazards: Trees
Weather specificities: Warm during summer. A wetsuit is needed during the other season.
Wind specificities: Not too many windy days in Macau.
Access description: by Car, Bus - Take bus 25 or 26A to Hac Sa, last stop is the beach. A taxi will cost you about 7 US dollars (40-50 MOP). If you are driving go direction to Coloane. Stay on the main road and you can't miss it.
Specific rules: None
Extra: .
Nightlife: Some restaurants around.
Accommodations: Camping, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop, Small wave
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Best water within 400km from Shanghai. Not great but good for water sport activities. Sometimes even good enough waves for a little surfing.
Beach type & size: Sand - Tidal
Infos: Huge beach, low tide 300m wide, great only a little polluted by old shows plastic stuff. Plenty of space to safely launch and land a kite.
Weather specificities: Best time would be spring and autumn, but also in summer not too hot, wetsuit not necessary. Possible to kite at any time. From December to March below 10 C.
Wind specificities: Any Easterly wind will be relatively unobstructed and good. Besides the winter month the direction is usually right. Seldom we have real strong wind here. Anything Westerly will be covered by the island hence is very hard to kite with.
Access description: by Car - From Shanghai take motorway to Ningbo, stay on the motorway until it ends. Then follow the signs for Zhoushan island until you reach the ferry boat. Use the ferry to get on the island. Then follow the signs Putuo until you cross over the huge straits bridge. Turn right and follow the road until it becomes real small, right before the road becomes small turn sharp left, follow until a t junction and turn right. Now go straight as long as you can and you will find several nice beaches to your left.
Specific rules: Other
Extra: Sometimes the beach is occupied by the army, then you have to be real nice and they might let you still surf. Beware from the artillery. No fees.
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Small wave, Medium wave
Water hazards: Currents, Stakes
Water quality: Clean
Infos: The sands keep changing, find your flat water section. Be careful where the river meets the ocean, strong currents and fishermen.
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Infos: Quiet some debris at the beach.
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, April, November, December
Access description: by Car - Accessible by normal car.
Specific rules: None
Accommodations: None
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop
Water hazards: Ships
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Clean water. The windier the choppier it gets.
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Infos: Large and long, clean sand beach. The Thousand Steps Beach is the most famous and are regarded as the best beach near Shanghai. Plenty of space to launch and land the kite.
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Winter is cold, a wetsuit (7 mm) is mandatory. Summer a shorty is recommended. Wetsuit (3 mm) for spring and autumn.
Wind specificities: The wind is generally light in the Shanghai area. Bring your big gear.
Access description: by Boat - The island is around 250km to the south of Shanghai across the Hangzhou Bay. There is a night boat leaving Shanghai in the evening and arrive in Putuoshan in the morning. The boat leaves Putuoshan in the evening and arrive in Shanghai the next day in the morning. There is a also a fast boat from Shanghai.
Specific rules: Other
Extra: During the summer the beach is the starting point for short boat tours with fast boats. Be careful. The beach is forbidden for swimmers. Some officials may complain that you can not enter the water. Be nice and show that you are not swimming but surfing on the water. Do not complain or shout as you and (us) may be banned from the beach: this is China. The near by Hundred Steps Beach is reserved for swimmers only.
Nightlife: Putuoshan is considered to be one of China's four sacred Mountains and it is littered with temples and shrines. So no nightlife at all.
Accommodations: Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean, Lagoon
Water type: Small wave
Water hazards: Fishernets
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Great wind conditions all year round. Very exposed to the onshore NE wind, normally at least 5-10 knots more than Shanghai.
Beach type & size: Sand - Tidal
Infos: Unlike the seaside spots south of the Huangpu River, there is no mud here, the beach is actually natural sand. There is a very large wind farm here, watch out for the turbines.
Identified hazards: Other
Access description: by Car - A new highway has opened up making it an easy drive from Shanghai, about 1.5hours.
Specific rules: Fees
Extra: 20 RMB to park your car there. Toilet facilities available.
Nightlife: No nightlife.
Accommodations: Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lagoon
Water type: Shallow, Flat
Water hazards: Rocks, Stones
Water quality: Dirty
Infos: 200m wide lake used as a fish farm. Parking nearby and access through a break in the fence. Best conditions are from S/SE, can be gusty. Tricky place to launch with not much space.
Beach type & size: Grass, Rocks - Small
Identified hazards: Rocks
Wind type: Thermal
Access description: by Car -
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: None
Accommodations: Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Medium wave
Water hazards: None
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: June, July, August, September
Wind type: Frontal
Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December
Access description: by Car, Bus -
Specific rules: Fees
Accommodations: Rooms, Camping, Rental, Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop
Water hazards: Ships
Water quality: Crystal clear
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Accommodations: Rooms
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop, Medium wave
Water hazards: Currents, Fishernets
Water quality: Cloudy
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Infos: the beach walkway is gonna be about 5km long. The beach is minimum 100m wide but goes out to about 500m on low tide.
Identified hazards: Bystanders
Beachgoer: June, July, August
Weather specificities: Due to the strong wind the wind chill will cool you down.
Wind type: Trade
Wind specificities: Due to the rocks on all the roofs around the town, this is a strong wind destination. 20-45 knots.
Best months: May, June, July
Access description: by Car, Bus - .
Specific rules: None
Nightlife: Few karaoke bars in town.
Accommodations: Rooms, School, Shop, Rental, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean, Lagoon
Water type: Chop, Small wave
Water hazards: Fishernets, Buoys
Water quality: Clean
Infos: There is a tidal lagoon that is waist deep and about 100m wide. Ideal for learners or flat water riding. It must be high tide to be in the lagoon. Off the beach the bottom is sandy and very flat, you can ride 100m off the beach and still stand. Watch out for the fishing nets.
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Infos: .
Identified hazards: Other
Wind specificities: Very exposed to NE wind. QiDong area typically has 5-10 knots more wind than Shanghai all year round. There are wind turbines nearby.
Access description: by Car -
Accommodations: Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat
Water hazards: Mole
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Perfectly flat water behind the mole in a NE wind.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: None
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Lake
Water type: Shallow, Flat
Water hazards: Fishernets, Rocks, Stakes
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: The lake is an artificial made round lake around year 2005 with a diameter of 4 km. The water is basically fresh water. The lake is connected via a channel with the sea. The water quality for Shanghai area is pretty good but not sure in how far it meets swimming water quality. Water is deep enough and pretty flat. As usual in China, some fish net can be in the water and you need to watch out for the sticks related to them.
Beach type & size: Grass - Small
Infos: In the middle of the lake is a half island. All around the lake is a wall. Dependent on the water level, the height is around 50cm, which makes it difficult to leave the water (not good for beginners). At some few places the wall is lower, so it is more easy to enter or leave. There is no real beach but enough green area to launch or land a kite. The whole area is new and still developing, so there is lot of construction work ongoing and changes around the lake will happen in next months/years.
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: The spot is suitable all round the year for riding. The climate is in line with Shanghai climate. From October to April a wetsuit is needed, the rest of the year depends on your personal preference.
Wind type: Frontal
Wind specificities: The wind is pretty gusty and that is one main disadvantage about this spot. Direction of wind does not matter since the lake is exactly round and not too big. Generally wind is more stable in the far end of the wind because less land barriers and more open water. For wind forecast, refer to Shanghai/Pudong wind forecast.
Specific rules: None
Extra: At this time there are no restrictions but things may change quickly. Better check with local Shanghai kiteboarders about current situation. Respect the local initiatives/developing plans, even you may not like them. The spot is forbiden for Kitesurfing since 2008. The son of some local chinese official has opened a sailing club (smal boat and windsurf) with a 3000 RMB (300 Euro) membership and do not want any kiters in the lake. The only hope now is that local chinese guys with better political connections start kiting .....
Nightlife: None yet, may be in some months/years restaurant and karaoke can be found there.
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Chop, Medium wave, Big wave
Water hazards: Ships
Water quality: Clean
Infos: Medium to big waves.
Beach type & size: Sand - Medium
Infos: Long sandy beach, medium sized.
Weather specificities: Warm during summer, colder water during winter.
Wind type: Thermal
Wind specificities: Best from October to April.
Best months: January, February, March, April, October, November, December
Access description: by Car, Bus -
Specific rules: None
Nightlife: Got to Sanya.
Accommodations: Camping, School, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Small wave
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car -
Specific rules: None
View spot
Level: Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Small wave, Medium wave, Big wave
Water quality: Clean
Wind type: Trade
Best months: May, June, July, August, September
Access description: by Car, Bus -
Accommodations: Rooms, Food, Parking
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Flat, Chop
Water hazards: Ships
Water quality: Clean
Beach type & size: Sand - Small
Identified hazards: None
Beachgoer: None
Wind type: Trade
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car, Boat -
Specific rules: None
View spot
Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Expert
Type: Ocean
Water type: Shallow, Chop
Water quality: Cloudy
Infos: Tropical water, not super clear but the best what China has to offer, usually quite choppy, tidal difference only less than one meter. Waves are useless for surfing, just enough to make water skiing a bit difficult. But great for jumping off them. Good surfing season from November to February.
Beach type & size: Sand - Big
Infos: Great beach, 15 km long, sandy. Very few people since the Chinese hate sun tan. At some areas there is a bit of beach enforcement so be careful there. Besides I would call it perfect. No problem to launch at any place. Some few places are restricted to hotel guests only.
Identified hazards: Concrete
Beachgoer: None
Weather specificities: Tropical, no wetsuit needed. During winter, the windy season, it gets a little chilly, specially during morning and evening hours. Again during winter little rain. In summer it gets very ugly hot. You can kitesurf all year round. From May to October: air temperature 28-33C, water temperature 26-30C, strong sun! From November to March: air temperature 20-28C, water temperature 18-26C, wetsuit needed (shorty only).
Wind type: Trade
Wind specificities: In general it is not one of these great windy places. Strong winds are rare, but during the winter months, November to March, most days have a few hours with winds above 10 knts, maybe 30%-50% of the days have a few hours even above 15 knts. Direction is usually sideshore or slightly offshore. Another source says: 90% of NE 15-25 knot during from October to March. 70% of SW 12-18 knot from June to September.
Best months: January, February, March, November, December
Access description: by Car - Fly to Sanya airport on Hainan Island, then go South to the beach road and you are there. Basically there is 15 km empty beach west of Sanya, easily accessible from everywhere. The beach is approx. 30 minutes by car or taxi. Normally, the taxi driver is permitted to bargain for the fee. Taxi fee is around RMB 150 one way to Yalongbay. Estimated taxi fare: 18 USD (one way).
Specific rules: None
Extra: Great for beginners since there is a beach road along the 15km and you can take a taxi on your way back, avoiding the tiresome walk of shame.
Nightlife: Party all in downtown at Sanya city. Starting from 6 pm - 3 am, 7 days a week.
Accommodations: Rescue, Shower, Toilet, Food, Parking
View spot