Torch Lighting Ceremony for the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Source: Organizing Committee of the 6th Asian Beach Games)

The torch for the 6th Asian Beach Games (Sanya 2026) was officially lit at the torch relay platform in Tianya Haijiao, Sanya on 7:30 a.m., March 30, 2026, marking the fourth time since 1990 that this city at far southern end of China has hosted the lighting or relay of the torch for a major multi-sport event.

Spanning a period of nearly 40 years, these events not only represent a continuation of the spirit of international sporting events, but also serves as a reflection of the city's development trajectory.

Torch Relay of the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Source: Organizing Committee of the 6th Asian Beach Games)

Symbolizing Asian unity and progress, Sanya was the southernmost relay point for the 11th Asian Games torch relay in September 1990. This was the first time Sanya was intimately connected with a major international sporting event.

Connecting China and the world, the start of the domestic portion of the Beijing Olympics torch relay in May 2008, which was not only conveyed the Olympic spirit but also became a significant milestone in Sanya's transformation from a small tourist town to an international hub for tourism.

In November 2024, Sanya hosted the 12th Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities in the PRC, incorporating the concepts of ethnic unity, ecological protection, and technological development, demonstrating its responsibility as a window for ethnic exchange and integration.

Torch Relay of the 6th Asian Beach Games. (Source: Organizing Committee of the 6th Asian Beach Games)

Now, the flame for Sanya 2026 has been lit. Starting from the 1990 relay site at Tianya Haijiao, this year's route spans approximately 11 kilometers, connecting core areas such as Sanya Bay and Phoenix Island. The torchbearers include athletes, city planners, and diverse representatives from various sectors of society.

Over the past 36 years, these four torch relays have witnessed leaps in in Sanya's urban role: from a peripheral tourist city to an internationally oriented coastal open space, and then to a comprehensive hub combining international exchange and domestic connectivity.

This transformation is not limited to the events themselves. Taking Sanya 2026 as an example, the torch relay not only convered the city's core coastal space, it also included a maritime leg that reflects changes in the city's spatial structure and resource allocation. Meanwhile, the diverse composition of the torchbearers team, along with standardized organization and dissemination methods, demonstrated the city's improved operational capabilities.

Roadside Crowds cheer on Torch Relay. (Source: Organizing Committee of the 6th Asian Beach Games)

Cities often build their image through identifiable public events. For Sanya, these torch relays provide a continuous and traceable narrative that makes urban development more than an abstract concept that possesses concrete time nodes and perceptible carriers.

Therefore, the significance of these four relays lies not only in the transmission of sportsmanship, but also in their role as points in a case study, showcasing how a Chinese coastal city has transformed in just over thirty years.