Having a ball at the beach

Standing anywhere along Sanya Bay in Sanya, Hainan province, you can easily spot people swimming in the sea, playing beach volleyball on the sand, jogging on the rubber tracks winding through coconut groves, and cycling along the coastal road stretching beside the bay.

Now, the 2026 Asian Beach Games are adding to that energy.

The 22-kilometer bay is serving as the venue for sailing, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach athletics and a number of other events at the ongoing Games.

This international sporting celebration, paired with the city's natural landscape, has boosted Sanya's appeal as a tourist destination.

Yang Zhangwei, a Sanya native who grew up near the bay, has noticed a recent influx of foreigners to the beaches.

"It's a common sight to see local residents and foreigners occupying the free beach volleyball courts and playing together," Yang observed.

Yang has worked as a salesman at a local water sports club for three years, where tourists are offered activities such as wakeboarding and jet skiing.

He believes the beach sports gala has helped boost his hometown's visibility and raised public awareness of beach and water sports, encouraging more tourists to come to Sanya to experience these activities.

Seeing this positive momentum, he plans to launch his own club in the near future.

Talib Al-Thanawi, head coach of Oman's national beach soccer team, shares a similar optimism.

Oman was the beach soccer title winner in the inaugural edition of the Asian Beach Games held in Bali in 2008.

Its capital, Muscat, is known for its long coastline, abundant sandy beaches and a strong local beach sports culture.

"All the boys, after school or after work, they like to go play on the beach," Al-Thanawi said.

He believes Sanya has the potential to excel in beach sports.

"I like the island," he said.

"It's beautiful, clean and the people are friendly. There is opportunity for this city to be a hub for beach sports — not only soccer, but also volleyball, handball, and games like these."

Qiu Yu traveled from Guangzhou to Sanya to watch her first beach volleyball matches over the weekend and was immediately drawn in by the lively atmosphere.

"With the sea breeze blowing, upbeat music playing and suntanned athletes, barefoot and battling it out on the court up close, even though I don't know how to play volleyball yet, I still really want to experience this beachside sport," she said.

During her stay in Sanya, she found that her Asian Beach Games tickets granted her a discount at a Hainan-style teahouse, as part of the city's effort to use the tournament to further stimulate tourism and consumption.

For example, spectators can verify their Asian Beach Games ticket stubs on WeChat mini-programs such as Very Cool Hainan to receive consumption vouchers.

The local government has issued 30 million yuan ($4.4 million) in vouchers. Scenic spots, hotels, homestays and restaurants across the city have launched exclusive Asian Beach Games-related offers, with dining discounts as much as 52 percent, according to Li Yang, deputy director of the city's tourism, culture, radio, television and sports bureau.

To enrich the visitor experience, Sanya has organized a series of events centered around the Asian Beach Games, including an international diving festival, an electronic music festival, a sand-based sports meet and a beach soccer carnival.

Meanwhile, the city has seized the opportunity provided by the Games to increase the number of flights to key markets in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe.

Data from the online travel agency Qunar shows that during the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the number of foreign travelers flying to Sanya will increase by 110 percent year-on-year — the highest growth rate among all Chinese cities.

Even Thomas Bach, former president of the International Olympic Committee, could not resist the pull of Sanya's seaside sports scene.

During his stay for the 6th Asian Beach Games, he went swimming in Sanya Bay.

"It was indeed a good moment, because there were some waves. I could enjoy it to the fullest, and I could enjoy the warm temperature," he said.

"If you have the opportunity to swim in such a fantastic holiday destination with such great weather, beaches and water, I think it would be stupid to miss it."

For a city that has long been known for its natural beauty, the Asian Beach Games are proving that Sanya's greatest asset may be its invitation to simply join in.