Diving Olympic champion Chang Yani participates in the torch relay for the 6th Asian Beach Games as the event's first torchbearer in Sanya, Hainan Province, on March 30, 2026. Photo: VCG

Featuring 74 torchbearers and spanning a distance of 10.5 kilometers, the torch relay for the 6th Asian Beach Games was held on Monday in the host city of Sanya, South China's Hainan Province.

The torch relay began with the kindling of the flame at the southernmost ignition platform at "Tianya Haijiao," Sanya's most famous tourist attraction, also known as the scenic area of "the end of the earth." Cao Shoubin, the Games' torch relay executive team operations director, told the Global Times that the selection of this ignition platform "embodies the continuation of Sanya's sports memories."

This very ignition platform was where the southernmost flame of the Beijing 1990 Asian Games was first lit, kicking off the southern leg of the Asian Games' national torch relay.

Cao revealed to the Global Times that the flame lighting for the Sanya Games "used natural light as the sole source of fire," harnessing the morning sunlight in Sanya through a concave mirror. This method of kindling the flame was intended to convey three key concepts. 

First, it echoes the "Olympic spirit of respecting nature." Second, it highlights the unique "sun-sea-beach charm" of Sanya," Cao remarked.

"Most importantly, we want to highlight the spirit of sustainability in orchestrating a major international sports gala," the director added.

After the flame was kindled, the torch relay ceremony for the Asian Beach Games got underway under the escort of the Flame Guard. The entire relay was completed by 74 torchbearers, including athletes who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in sports, as well as representatives from various fields in Hainan Province, such as science and technology, industry, culture, and public welfare.

The first torchbearer was Chang Yani, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games champion in the women's synchronized 3-meter springboard diving event. The final leg was completed by Qi Guangpu, the gold medalist in freestyle skiing aerials at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Qi, after his torch relay leg, told the Global Times that although he had participated in many international sports events, being a torchbearer for the first time made him "feel excited, fortunate, and even a bit nervous."

"On Sunday, we held a full rehearsal. This whole experience once again made me feel the honor of being an athlete," he said, adding that during the relay he felt that the event "greatly reflected local culture." 

The entire torch relay route encompassed different segments - from beach to sea to land - with the overall course unfolding along Sanya Bay.

Representing the beach landscape was the local "Haiyue Square," or the "Square of the Sea Moon." This location not only serves residents and tourists alike as a leisure spot, but also acts as a competition venue for sports such as open water swimming, water polo and beach kabaddi. It aims to showcase the city's vibrant spirit of sports for all.

Heading south, another relay point, Phoenix Island Yacht Marina, launched the torch onto a yacht for a 2.5-kilometer maritime relay. After the Games officially begin, the Phoenix Island marina will serve as a competition venue for events such as beach athletics.

The final leg of the torch relay returned to land, where a flame return ceremony was held at the observation deck of the Luhuitou scenic area. This site is also home to the legend of a young Li ethnic hunter who formed a bond with a deer-turned fairy. 

During the torch relay, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) such as Qiong opera, an opera tradition from Hainan Province, and the fishing songs of the local Tanka people were interspersed along the route. "We hoped that the torch relay would not just be a 'route,' but also a corridor that connects local culture. The route design highlights the inclusive culture of Hainan's diverse ethnic communities, while also showcasing the open nature of the local maritime culture," said Cao.

Following the torch relay event, the Games will officially open on April 22, with a total of 62 gold medals to be awarded. The Asian Beach Games is one of the five major comprehensive sports events in Asia, alongside the Asian Games, and is also the largest multi-sport beach event in the region. On the opening day, the water polo competition will take the lead.