Shanxi county boosts sport to build better life

Dai county of Shanxi province, an ancient location with a long history and rich culture, is now boosting as a sports county thanks to national preferential policies to develop local grass-roots sports.

The county has invested 90 million yuan in sports infrastructure since 2021, with an exercise ground available to local residents within a 15-minute walk from their residence.

A recent survey indicates as many as 45.8 percent of the county's 175,000 population take part in sport exercises regularly while the per capita sport area has reached 3.01 square meters, which is larger than the nation's number.

Sports teams are growing, and local competitions and events are booming in the county. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the county, and the county's basketball association boasts 11 teams and as many as nearly 300 baseball courses. The county's basketball league has become a sensation in the summer season. National-level competitions like boxing and roller skating have also landed their events there.

Sport-related businesses have sprung up following the boom of sports competitions. Sport wearing and gear sales, sport catering and accommodation are profiting despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county will tap into the combination of sport and its unique culture of yellow wine and persistently host a national orienteering event to build it a new county name brand in the future to give new impetus to the county's sport and economy.