Sports injects vitality into May Day holiday celebrations

BEIJING -- Bustling scenic spots, a travel rush, a surge in hotel bookings, these were commonly observed across China during the five-day May Day holiday as the tourism sector has recovered after the country optimized its COVID-19 response measures.

Many people are heading to sports venues or fitness tracks as an option for celebrating the holiday with sweat.

The first National Balloon Volleyball Invitational was launched in North China's Jilin province last Saturday, featuring over 1,000 participants from 21 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

"For balloon volleyball enthusiasts, this competition is just like a holiday celebration with a bustling atmosphere," said Wang Jinghua, captain of Jilin team which competed in the middle-age category.

Also last Saturday, a vertical marathon took place at the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, as domestic and overseas participants enjoyed its ancient grandeur throughout the competition, which was one of the local series activities for the May Day holiday.

As marathon events got back on track in 2023, the May Day holiday witnessed marathon races held across the country every single day, with 17 competitions scheduled last weekend, and more than 100,000 people participating in marathon races during the holiday.

Marathon also serves as a platform for showcasing local cultural characteristics. For example, the Shiping Yilong Lake Marathon held in Shiping County, southwestern Yunnan Province combined the competition, with food specialties like tofu and waxberry and local culture like dragon dance, to better showcase the county to domestic and foreign participants.

As the Guizhou "Gorgeous Countryside" Basketball League, a competition dubbed by Chinese netizens as "CunBA" with 'Cun' meaning village in Chinese, attracted widespread attention over the past year, similar basketball competitions featuring only farmers became a hotspot for many tourists.

A farmers basketball invitational got underway in Yinchuan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region during the May Day holiday, with basketball enthusiasts from nine provinces and autonomous regions along the Yellow River competing and over 100,000 people watching on site.

Although it was several hours away from the competition's opener and it was still a bit cold outside in late April, a portion of the crowd already took their seats in the stands in the Yinchuan Lanshan Park so as to get a better view of the games.

"The farmers basketball games are both down-to-earth and engaging. Combining sports and tourism is a perfect way for me and my family to celebrate the May Day holiday," said Gu Yingjie, a basketball fan from Central Henan province, who not only visited some scenic spots but also watched the spectacular performance of his hometown team in the tournament in Yinchuan.

A fitness walking activity held in Qinghe county, Hebei province last Saturday attracted more than 1,500 participants.

Tian Jun, vice head of the Administration of Sport of Hebei, said that six cities staged fitness walking activities along the Hebei section of the Grand Canal around the May Day holiday, and over 30,000 people are expected to participate.

"We hope to better promote the Grand Canal culture and spur public fitness enthusiasm through these activities," said Tian, adding that Grand Canal sports tourism exhibitions and other activities will be held at the same time.

In Shenyang, northeastern Liaoning province, skateboarders are landing tricks in a pump track park which was recently opened to the public.

"I've practiced this sport for three years. In the past, I skied in winter but had nothing to do in summer. Now we have a pump track here, which gives a strong sense of belonging to skateboarding and BMX participants," said Liu Yaoqiang, a skateboarding enthusiast.

Data from the General Administration of Sport of China showed that over 6,000 public fitness activities were held nationwide during the holiday and were expected to attract more than three million people to participate.

Insiders said that apart from traditional tourism activities such as visiting scenic spots, sports offers a new way for people to celebrate the holidays.

"Sports consumption is gaining popularity among consumers as it is deemed an investment that is beneficial for themselves. As an important part of resident consumption, sports consumption not only benefits national fitness but also facilitates the development of cities and their economy," said Chen Lifen, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council.