Off the Felt in Sanya: The Best Things to Do Away From the CPG Tables

Ten days at the CPG Championship Finals can involve a lot of time inside a tournament room.

That is not necessarily a complaint. The scale of the event is part of what makes it so impressive, with approximately 200 tables spread across four large tournament areas at the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay .

Still, nobody should travel all the way to one of China’s best-known beach destinations without seeing something beyond the poker tables.

My original plan was to spend a day stream trekking through Liuluo Canyon. Heavy rain forced the trip to be cancelled, which is an important reminder when planning outdoor activities in Sanya during August. The replacement was considerably calmer, but still gave me a welcome break from the tournament rooms: paddleboarding at Yalong Bay.

Paddleboarding at Yalong Bay

The paddleboarding took place on a shallow waterway inside Yalong Bay National Tourism Resort, around 40 minutes by car from the Howard Johnson Resort.

I went later in the day with Denny from CPG, so ours was an informal session rather than the complete group experience. We spent around an hour playing on the boards before deciding to stop, although we could have continued for longer.

The area was calm and extremely shallow, with crabs visible along the banks as we moved through the water.

It is also very beginner-friendly. Training is provided for anyone who is nervous, while participants wear life jackets throughout the activity. The shallow water made the experience feel particularly safe, although anyone unable to swim should still inform the instructor before entering the water.

Standing up was easier than expected. Staying balanced required slightly more concentration, but there is little pressure to master it immediately.

The morning session would be my recommendation for anyone wanting the full experience. Morning groups follow a proper route and spend longer on the water, while our later visit was more about trying the boards and enjoying ourselves at our own pace.

There was also a hotpot area on site, giving visitors the chance to finish with coconut chicken after coming off the water. It turns a straightforward paddleboarding session into a more complete half-day trip and offers a taste of one of Hainan’s best-known local dishes.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and very easy introduction to Sanya’s outdoor side. It will not satisfy someone looking for a major adrenaline rush, but it is ideal for beginners, families or poker players who want to do something active without exhausting themselves before returning to the tables.

Liuluo Canyon Stream Trekking

The more adventurous plan was a stream-trekking trip through Liuluo Canyon.

Unlike a normal walk along a prepared path, stream trekking involves following the water through the canyon and moving across wet rocks. Organised groups use safety equipment and follow a designated route through the tropical surroundings.

Unfortunately, persistent rain meant the trip could not go ahead. Cancelling was clearly the correct decision, as water levels and conditions inside a canyon can change quickly after heavy rainfall.

It was still the activity I was most disappointed to miss.

For poker players who want something genuinely different from a resort afternoon, Liuluo Canyon appears to be one of the most interesting options around Sanya. It offers a more active experience than paddleboarding and provides an opportunity to see a side of Hainan that has little in common with its beaches or large hotels.

The obvious drawback is its dependence on the weather. Anyone hoping to try it should remain flexible and avoid leaving it until their final day in Sanya. If rain causes a cancellation, having another available day gives the organiser a chance to rearrange the trip.

My own experience proved exactly why a backup plan is necessary.

Surfing at Houhai Village

For anyone who wants more action on the water, Houhai Village is Sanya’s best-known surfing destination.

The village sits beside Haitang Bay and has developed into a complete surfing community. Surf schools operate around the bay, with lessons available for beginners as well as board rental for more experienced surfers.

This is not simply somewhere to arrive, surf and immediately leave. Houhai has beachside cafés, small shops and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it suitable for a longer visit. Someone travelling with a partner who does not want to surf can still enjoy the village while the lesson is taking place.

I did not surf during this trip, so I cannot give a personal review of the lessons. However, this would be high on my list for a future visit, particularly with enough time to spend the rest of the day exploring the village.

It is a better choice for a free day than a short tournament break. Beginners will need time for instruction, while the village itself deserves more than a rushed visit before hurrying back to CPG.

Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park

Visitors who want views and nature without climbing through a wet canyon have a more accessible alternative at Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park.

The park sits above Yalong Bay and combines tropical forest trails with viewpoints overlooking the coastline. Its best-known attractions include a glass walkway and a suspension bridge between the mountains.

This is likely the better option for families or visitors who want a structured attraction rather than a demanding outdoor expedition. It still provides walking and impressive scenery, but does not require the same level of fitness or confidence as stream trekking.

It also works well alongside other activities in Yalong Bay. A visitor could spend part of the day at the forest park before heading towards the beach or stopping for food within the wider resort area.

For me, it would not completely replace the Liuluo Canyon experience. It looks more organised and less adventurous. However, that will be exactly what many visitors prefer, especially after several long days playing poker.

Diving and Water Sports at Wuzhizhou Island

Sanya’s outdoor options are not limited to staying above the water.

Wuzhizhou Island is one of the city’s main destinations for diving and other marine activities. Visitors travel across by boat before choosing from experiences available around the island.

The clear water and coral areas make diving the main attraction, with options for both newcomers and experienced divers. Other water sports are also available for visitors who would rather remain on the surface.

This is another activity I would treat as a full-day trip. Transport to the island and the boat journey make it less suitable for squeezing into a short gap in the tournament schedule.

Weather and sea conditions can also affect what is operating. Poker players should plan the visit on a completely free day and confirm conditions before leaving the hotel.

For someone visiting Sanya for the first time, Wuzhizhou Island is probably the strongest choice if experiencing the sea is the priority. Paddleboarding was relaxed and enjoyable, but diving offers a completely different view of the destination.

An Easier Day Around Sanya Bay

Not every day away from CPG needs to become an organised excursion.

The Howard Johnson is located beside Sanya Bay, making a beach walk the easiest option available to players. There is no long journey, specialist equipment or fixed departure time to worry about.

That matters during a poker festival. A player may not know when they will finish for the day, while anyone returning for another tournament will not necessarily want to spend hours travelling across Sanya.

Walking beside the bay or renting a bicycle offers a simple way to get outside without committing the entire day. It also gives visitors the freedom to return to the hotel whenever they choose.

This is unlikely to be the most memorable activity of the trip, but it may be the most practical. After several days inside the CPG rooms, even an hour along the coast can be enough to reset before the next tournament.

Do Not Spend the Entire Trip Inside the Poker Room

The connection between CPG and Sanya is about more than finding a venue large enough to hold thousands of players. As explored in our feature on why CPG returns to Sanya every August , the destination allows players to combine the Championship with a wider holiday.

That opportunity is easy to ignore once the tournament begins.

The 2026 CPG Championship Main Event attracted 3,972 entries , and the festival schedule gave players plenty of reasons to remain inside the resort. However, Sanya offers enough outside the venue to justify keeping at least one day free.

My planned canyon adventure never happened. Instead, an hour spent paddleboarding, watching crabs along the banks and eating coconut chicken became my main outdoor experience of the trip.

It was not especially adventurous, but it was enjoyable. More importantly, it showed how easily a CPG visit can become more than ten days of poker.

Anyone attending a future Championship should plan at least one activity away from the tables. Book an outdoor trip early, keep an alternative available in case of rain and choose something that matches your available time.

Sanya gives you plenty of options. You just need to leave the tournament room long enough to try one.