South China's Hainan Province is striving to build a national sports tourism demonstration zone, which promotes the in-depth integration of tourism with the sports and culture sectors.

Sports, including surfing in Wanning city and diving in Sanya city, are helping upgrade the province's tourism structure, further unlocking the potential of tourism consumption.

Endowed with unique conditions for reveling in the rush of the sea, Riyue Bay, once a sleepy bay in Wanning, has become a paradise for surfers and a popular tourism destination.

The city aims to build a RMB 10 billion ($1.38 billion) industrial cluster that incorporates sports and tourism sectors, said Su Xiaoming, deputy director of the bureau of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports of Wanning.

In the first quarter of this year, Wanning received 1.22 million tourists, with tourism revenue exceeding RMB 2 billion.