[Photo provided to China Daily]

"That's how I found out about the skateboarding contest," recalls Han. "I was really surprised and excited to see skateboarders from across the country show up at the event."

After the unprecedented gathering, the first generation of Chinese skaters began to explore ways to promote the culture across the country, including opening local skateboard stores, filming videos and setting up online communities and media events to share news related to the sport.

Han, then a salesman at a leading dairy producer, decided to quit his stable job and start a skateboarding business. In 1999 he opened Shanghai's first skate shop selling boards and accessories, including sneakers, clothing and other gear. Three years later, he launched his own skateboarding brand.

Then, around the turn of the century, major skateboarding companies also began to arrive in China, one after another, by cooperating with skateboarding shops, sponsoring skaters and organizing standardized contests.