Photo Provided to China Daily

Liu is angry when people leave their plastic swimming rings on beaches. When the tide comes in, the plastic toys are swallowed by the sea and they cover corallines, killing them. Cigarette butts and plastic bags are also major problems.

The surfer saw a turtle's stomach full of cigarette butts when she attended an activity held by Sea Turtle 911. The turtle mistook the cigarette butts for food and starved to death.

"I hope more Chinese fall in love with surfing, because then they will have more awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans," Liu says.

"The younger generation has a strong willingness to protect our environment and I believe they can give us a clean future."

Liu is very satisfied with her life. Every morning, she skateboards to her store on Sanya's beach, but if there are waves she goes surfing with friends.

Liu says she will keep surfing all her life. To help professional competitions grow, she hopes more young women will join the sport.

Liu's idol is Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer from the US who returned to surfing after losing an arm.

"There are always risks in life. I'll embrace them like I do in surfing. It's a lifetime of enjoyment and source of my confidence."