A group of Chinese tourists experienced a horse ride with a difference when they recently took to the saddle at Porangahau beach.
The seven tourists, mainly from Shenzhen in south-eastern China, were in CHB for three days as part of a visit to Harriet Kuru and Hamish McLean's Opianga Hills polo, trekking and horse riding academy.
![One of the tourists, Emma, said she also rode at home next to the sea - the South China Sea. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/OARAKFPDMHRHVQ3GNF2JOUMGS4.jpg?auth=cc0ff61511327174937ac56a8b86c7d2f594adb5bc863df583bc6868c74a15a8&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
The group stayed at the Beachfront Inn at Porangahau and along with horseriding on the beach enjoyed fresh sea food, went clay bird shooting, visited a seal colony and enjoyed a cultural evening at Kurawaka Retreat Centre.
Hamish McLean said the influential group included internet trader Alibaba executives from Beijing, property developers from Shenzhen, state oil company executives from Shandong province and educators from Shenzhen looking at Porangahau school and local cultural opportunities.