China: sport drives the economy during the National Day holidays
October 1st is Chinese National Day. Every year at this time, the Chinese benefit from seven consecutive days of leave. It is also called “golden week”. This year, the Chinese National Day holiday is focused on sports. From small village fields to the large international stadiums in Beijing, the competitions attract spectators, tourists, families, traders and even visitors from abroad.
“Cun Chao”: when a Chinese village becomes the world’s playground
Imagine a football tournament in a small mountain village in China, with players from all over the world! Rongjiang Village, located in Guizhou Province, hosts the “Village Super League” from September 30 to October 6, known as “Cun Chao”.
The event takes place in two parts: a Cup and friendly matches, in which 551 players from 36 countries and regions participate. Brazil, United Kingdom, Cambodia, Malaysia… Different nationalities, but the same passion: football. Here, no multi-million stars or overpriced tickets. “Cun Chao” is based above all on the pleasure of playing and the popular atmosphere.
And football is played well beyond the field! During the competition, 19 communes and 29 villages offer typical local activities: songs and dances of the Dong and Miao ethnic groups, discovery of rice fields, rural banquets, night markets and tastings of culinary specialties. We no longer come just to see a match. We also come to discover a culture, taste the local cuisine and meet the locals.
In Beijing, “golden week” is punctuated by sport
The China Open, which runs from September 28 to October 11 at the National Tennis Center, covering the entire holiday period, enriches the spectator experience. Indeed, in addition to attending matches, young fans can also try mini-tennis in the leisure area of the National Center. The event is no longer limited to the courts: its space hosts restaurants and licensed product references, in order to transform the visit into a real leisure and consumption experience.
For its part, the WTT China Smash, organized at Shougang Park from October 1 to 11, welcomes a large audience. A very popular sport in China, table tennis brings together many spectators during these international competitions. Visitors can also benefit from advantages at many nearby businesses thanks to their ticket, with offers linked to catering, accommodation and leisure.
The principle? Transform the simple ticket into a passport to discover the city. This is the whole logic of “sport + tourism + consumption”: competitions attract visitors, then invite them to enjoy restaurants, shops, hotels and tourist sites.
From small village stadiums to major international competitions, sport thus becomes a driving force for meetings, discoveries and economic activities.
For you, can sport be a new way of traveling? By Zhang Meijiao, CGTN Français journalist (Photos: VCG)
