Numerous visitors swarmed into sports venues to participate in or watch various sports activities.
Approximately two months after the conclusion of the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese people’s enthusiasm for sports have been increasing in travel and consumption during the National Day holiday. From horse riding to off-road vehicle racing fans have swarmed into sports venues to participate in or watch various sports.
From October 1 to 7, a saddle club in Changchun, capital of northeastern Jilin province, saw the number of reservations doubling to more than 100 courses a day. “Many tourists and horse lovers from other parts of China come for horse riding,” said Zhang Jianpeng, the club manager.
Dressed in riding gear, Wang Tianyu practised controlling the rein and jumping over obstacles on horseback under the guidance of a coach. “I want to improve my equestrian skills during the holiday and enjoy the autumn scenery and delicious food here. The experience is particularly fulfilling and enjoyable,” said Wang. She had made the journey to Changchun from Henan Province.
In Beijing, the National Tennis Centre and Shougang Park have emerged as new hotspots during the holiday. The 2024 China Open and the World Table Tennis China Smash have attracted new fans, with Olympic champions Zheng Qinwen and Sun Yingsha being the most popular stars.
In Shanghai, as Djokovic’s return to the Rolex Shanghai Masters, some of his most diehard fans had waited at the tennis centre’s main entrance since 4 am just to get the best seats at the training court. “(I’ve had) a lot of great support from the fans here in China. They are probably the most passionate fans, and are always so dedicated; waiting for you, giving you presents and really feeding you with a lot of love and energy,” said Djokovic.
Chinese and foreign amateur players attended 19 football matches during the holiday in Rongjiang County. It is the birthplace of the Guizhou Village Super League, also known as “Cun Chao” in southwest China’s Guizhou Province.
“The Village Super League provides a good platform for football fans across the country,” said Wu Dechao.
Long Antong, who runs a barbecue stand at a night fair near the stadium, said the number of tourists is surging during this year’s holiday, and his income has grown tenfold more than usual.
Statistics show that the football matches have attracted 380,000 tourists to the county. The total tourism revenue surged 26.78 per cent year on year to over 460 million yuan.
The Alxa Festival, an annual off-road vehicle-themed desert culture event, received 123,300 tourists on Oct. 1, up 23.3 percent year on year. A cycling contest and a hiking event were also held in Alxa League in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
“The festival has become a renowned brand for off-road racing events at home and abroad. It highlights the local characteristics of Alxa,” said Liu Decui, deputy chief of the league.
Since the Paris 2024 Olympics, there has been increased interest in sports in China. More and more people are looking to try out new sports for the first time.
Written by Gu Yetao, additional reporting by China Daily and Xinhua.
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