6th Asian Beach Games opens in Sanya

Photo taken on April 22, 2026 shows the general view of the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

SANYA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The 6th Asian Beach Games opened on Wednesday evening in China's tropical resort city of Sanya, with the opening ceremony held at the seaside Yasha Park.

Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin declared the Games open after 45 delegations marched in for the continental Games, which had previously been scheduled to be held in 2020.

After having twice been postponed, chiefly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sanya Games has drawn around 10,000 participants, including 1,790 athletes.

The Games marks the first time Hainan has hosted a continental-level beach sports event. It is also the first major international sporting event since the island-wide Hainan Free Trade Port was inaugurated last December.

Scheduled from April 22 to 30, the Games features 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 62 events. It is the second time that China has hosted the Asian Beach Games, after the 2012 edition in Haiyang, Shandong Province.

China has sent a delegation of 255 members, including 171 athletes, competing in 13 sports and 60 events, marking the country's highest participation in Asian Beach Games history.

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

The Chinese national flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

The Chinese national flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Artists perform before the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Bei He)

Artists perform before the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Bei He)

Artists perform before the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Members of the delegation of Chinese Taipei parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

The Chinese national flag is carried during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Fireworks illuminate the sky during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Torchbearer Ding Ning waves during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

Torchbearers run with the torch during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

The cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)

Torchbearer Tian Liang waves during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)

The cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Torchbearer Ding Ning runs with the torch during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Torchbearer Tian Liang runs with the torch during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Members of the delegation of China parade during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Torchbearers light the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorji)