In 2020, kayaking was allowed in the core area of Bayi Lake in Beijing. The lake's width, flow rate and surrounding environment are deemed suitable for the sport, China Tourism News reported.

In July, China released a set of trial rules to regulate surfing and SUP training services for the public. It lays out requirements on both trainers and trainees, and specifies flow rates, the depth of water and the distance a paddleboarder should maintain from docks.

Wang Xueli, director of Tsinghua University's Center for Development of Sports Industry, told People's Daily that emerging sports are fast gaining traction but they are still in their infancy.

She suggested authorities actively support and guide the development of emerging sports by, for example, encouraging the hosting of competitions and providing support to relevant social organizations. This would "lay a foundation for the orderly and sustainable development of the industry".