Four sports and leisure activities held in Fujian province recently won awards at the 2013 China Sports Culture and Sports Tourism Expo, and Pingtan county received an award for hosting the China leg of the Kitesurfing Championships.

The other sports and leisure activities of Fujian that were recognized include an outdoor sports challenge in Taining county, a recreation and fitness program organized at the Baishuiyang scenic spot in Ningde city and a self drive tour held at Wuyi Mountain.

In addition, the Fujian Sports Bureau won the Outstanding Organization Award and Best Presentation Award at the expo.

Kitesurfing, or kiteboarding, is increasingly popular in Pingtan – and around the world - and Pingtan hosted the Kiteboard Tour Asia for two consecutive years as the island county is one of the most suitable locations in China for this sport.

The Pingtan Kiteboarding Association, established in May, is the only organization in the country that offers kiteboarding classes and also instructor training courses that include the required examinations and certificates to work as an instructor. Chinese trainees would previously only be able to take the exams overseas.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman