Hainan Marathon Draws Global Field and Strong Tourism Impact

International

More than 14,000 runners from 20 countries welcomed the New Year at one of China’s leading coastal races

The 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon concluded successfully on Sunday, underscoring the island province’s strategy of linking major sporting events with tourism development. Staged along Sanya’s coastline under the theme “Run Past Your Limits. Straight to the Sea,” the race combined tropical scenery with competitive running and attracted over 14,000 participants.

The course connected key urban and coastal landmarks, starting near the Beauty Crown area and finishing at Sanya Bay Coastal Park for the full marathon, while the half marathon ended at the Tianya Haijiao scenic site. Runners took part in full and half marathon categories, including individual, team and couples’ divisions.

Growing International Reach

Participants traveled from 20 countries and regions, including Malaysia, Russia, Canada and the United States, alongside runners from all provincial-level regions of China. More than 50 overseas runners benefited from Hainan’s visa-free entry policy for citizens of 86 countries and its expanding international flight network.

Fitness influencer Will Liu joined the event as an official ambassador, leading a warm-up session and running the half marathon. He highlighted Sanya’s mild winter climate and coastal setting as ideal conditions for combining sport and leisure travel.

Competition and Cultural Identity

The men’s and women’s full marathon titles went to Zhao Guohu and Yang Yuan respectively, both citing the flat course, warm weather and enthusiastic crowds as key factors. The total prize purse exceeded 500,000 yuan (around USD 70,000) across six award categories.

Local identity was woven into the event through ocean-themed race apparel and finisher medals inspired by Sanya’s coastline and landmarks. Organizers also offered integrated travel services, including discounted hotels and transport, and introduced digital innovations such as blockchain-based commemorative medals and virtual race participation.

Part of a Broader Sports Strategy

Officials from Hainan described the marathon as a flagship example of the province’s growing calendar of international sporting events. Since early 2024, Hainan has hosted more than 700 sports events, attracting over 4 million spectators and generating significant tourism-related spending.

As a China Athletics Association “Gold Label” race, the Sanya Marathon is also seen as a key lead-up event ahead of the Sixth Asian Beach Games, which the city will host next year—further positioning Sanya as a hub for sports-driven tourism in Asia.