More than 14,000 runners from 19 countries and regions took part in the 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon on Sunday, as the island province seeks to combine sport with tourism and raise the profile of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The race passed several of Sanya's major landmarks, starting at the South Gate of the Beauty Crown. The full marathon finished at Sanya Bay Coastal Park, while the half marathon ended at the Tianya Haijiao (Edge of the Sky, Rim of the Sea) tourist area.

Events included categories for men, women, teams, and couples. Participants came from all 34 of China's provincial-level regions, as well as countries including Malaysia, Russia, Canada, and the United States. More than 50 international runners and guests used Hainan's visa-free policy for visitors from 86 nations and its expanding international flight network.

Fitness influencer Will Liu served as an official ambassador, leading the pre-race warm-up and running the half-marathon. "The weather today was perfect—cool and breezy the whole way," he said. "Hainan is an excellent place for tourism. Sanya is very suitable for sporting events."

American runner Chad Ray Skidmore completed his first full marathon in Sanya. "I came here because it shouldn't be too difficult and the air quality is good," he said. "Sanya is a good place to be."

Yang Yuan from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region won the women's full marathon. It's her third time participating in the Sanya marathon. "The warm weather in Sanya and familiarity with the course helped me relax and perform well," she said.

The marathon is a China Athletics Association "Gold Label" race and one of Hainan's five major sporting events. "Its growth demonstrates our commitment to integrating culture, sports, and tourism to enhance international influence," said Wu Fan from the mass sports division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province.

The event also builds momentum for the Sixth Asian Beach Games, which Sanya will host next April. "We hope to use this event to promote the integration of sports, tourism and culture in Sanya," said Xie Yifa, deputy secretary-general of the Sanya government.

The event partner Orange Lion Sports utilized Alibaba ecosystem resources, including Taobao and Amap, to extend the event's reach and attract runners. "This helps unlock sports consumption potential," said Yang Yong, the company's general manager of events and commercialization.