The sixth Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 brought its curtain down on Thursday in the Hainan province city, yet for many athletes, the most enduring memories may lie not in medals or ceremonies, but in quiet moments away from the spotlight.
They may be found in a sheet of calligraphy, a conversation at a craft booth, a shared meal or a photo taken with volunteers before departure. In that sense, Sanya 2026 offered athletes from across Asia not only a place to compete, but a place to meet, learn and leave with memories of the host city.
Held from April 22, the Games brought together more than 1,600 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions.
Much of that experience unfolded at the athletes” village in Sanya Bay. Alongside accommodation, dining, transport and medical support, the village gave athletes space to unwind between events, visit cultural booths and interact with other delegations.
More than 5,100 service personnel worked in and around the village, covering catering, transport, security, cleaning and village operations. Their work kept daily life running smoothly, making room for the cultural activities and everyday exchanges that gave the village its warmth.
At the village’s intangible cultural heritage exhibition area, athletes tried handson activities ranging from calligraphy, paper-cutting and kite-making to Li brocade, coconut carving and other Hainan crafts, guided by local artisans who explained the techniques and stories behind the works.
One participant followed a paper-cutting pattern to make a lantern, while another used a brush to write Arabic script alongside Chinese calligraphy on a sheet of paper. In such moments, the heritage displays became hands-on experiences shaped by face-to-face exchanges with local artisans.
For Magdalene Lau Ing Siew, a Malaysian open water swimmer whose family has roots in Fujian province, the visit had personal resonance. It was her first trip to China, and she was especially drawn to the coconut-carving area. “From my grandfather’s stories, I learned that China is a very beautiful country and also his hometown. That was why I had been looking forward to coming here,” she said.
Other members of visiting delegations also found familiar elements in Hainan’s traditions.
A doctor with the Sri Lankan delegation said Li brocade patterns reminded him of similar handicrafts back home. “There are similar handicrafts in Sri Lanka, so it was easy for me to get started,” he said.
During a calligraphy activity, a doctor with the Thai delegation tried Chinese calligraphy for the first time. “Chinese calligraphy is very beautiful and artistic,” the doctor said, adding that he wanted to take the work home to his family.
Together, these encounters helped the village become more than a service base. For many athletes, it felt like a temporary home during the Games. A piece of calligraphy, a handmade craft or a photo with volunteers became a reminder for some of their time in Sanya beyond the competition schedule.
Traditional Chinese medicine added another dimension to the village experience. At the village’s traditional Chinese medicine clinic, athletes could try massage, acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion. Medical staff provided services to delegations including those from Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, with translation devices helping them communicate. The clinic offered athletes another form of care as well as a glimpse of Chinese wellness traditions.
Everyday interactions also shaped life in the village. Volunteers helped athletes with transport arrangements, schedules and village services, offering practical support and a welcoming presence throughout the Games. As athletes from Nepal prepared to return home, they presented gifts to volunteers and posed for photos together.
In dining areas and other shared spaces, athletes sampled dishes such as Hainan rice noodles, Indian curry shrimp and Korean kimchi, while talking about training, food from home and their customs.
For some athletes, the experience extended to Sanya itself. Marc Alexander Lim, a jujitsu athlete from the Philippines, described the organization of the Games as “super smooth” and said he hoped to return to the city to enjoy its seafood and night markets.
Hadi El Chabib, a Lebanese beach volleyball player, said the Games combined high-level competition with cultural discovery. “It’s a beautiful country, beautiful people, very nice culture,” he said, adding that the competition was well organized and that his team had enjoyed its time in China.
wangyuchen@chinadaily.com.cn
