Straddling a narrow cape between Haitang Bay to the north and its own crescent-shaped cove to the south is Houhai Village, a secret surfing paradise in Hainan Province's southern coastal city of Sanya.

Morning in Houhai comes with the rising sun casting its golden rays on the village's soft sands. Gentle, salted sea breezes filter through its narrow alleys, rousing the small fishing village from its sleep. Surfers appear in the shallows, clutching their boards underarm or above their heads, gauging the waves as they make first contact with the water. Their laughter, which blends in with the sound of the waves, is the village's soundtrack.

As night falls, another side of the Houhai emerges. Music and lights flood the seafront, drawing a youthful crowd. DJs at seafront bars mix beats in time to the rhythm of the sea, adding to the mystique and romance of the night. In this environment, people can let down their guard and let their true selves come out, embracing the rare freedom and relaxation the village has to offer.

Turn the clock back to just 2017, and Houhai is just another sleepy fishing village. However, its proximity to Wuzhizhou Island tourism zone put it in the sights of surfers who were drawn to its arcadian ambience and calm waters.

In 2018, Houhai began its transformation into a "beautiful village" with support from municipal and district authorities. Renovation and upgrades were more or less completed by 2019, and with this, the village's popularity exploded, becoming a lauded tourist destination across China.

More recently, the local Tanka people have taken to renovating their floating villages and setting up floating guesthouses, enabling visitors to get a taste of traditional Tanka life while injecting further vitality into the local economy.

Houhai, a once sleepy fishing village, has transformed into "China's no. 1 surfing village," becoming an icon of Hainan's "tourism + sports" business model. Looking ahead, local authorities are set to invest more effort into cultural events and beautifying the community, further improving and enriching the travel experience for visitors.