Culture Tourism

Water sports, a springboard to reshape host city

By Cai Shanshan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-06-08 14:31

Chinese water ski team shows their pyramid skills at the China-US-Australia Water Ski Competition in Neijiang city, Southwest Chian's Sichuan province, on Monday, June 6, 2011. [chinadaily.com.cn / Cai Shanshan]

For the less known Neijiang, or Tiancheng (sweet city), in the middle of China's southwest Sichuan province, it was its first time of hosting an international sports event like the water show ski competition among China, Australia and the US during June 4-6.

As can be seen either from the main streets or alleys, event posters in different sizes, security forces and traffic police on full-day duty all demonstrated the city's enthusiasm about the event.

Kuno Richard, the chairman of International Water Ski Federation who has been to China for more than 6 times, said the he felt like at the Beijing Olympic Games.

"You can see ads, posters everywhere. Local people are so hospitable. It's like at the Beijing Olympic Games," he exclaimed.

Neijiang, with a population of more than 4 million, is known for its Tiancheng Lake, an urban section of Tuojiang River, a famous river in Sichuan Province.

By holding water sports events, including the 3-day China-US-Australia water show ski competition at Tiancheng Lake, the local government of Neijiang wants to create water fun for its residents and turn the city to a water-based tourist destination.

Liu Chengmin, mayor of Neijiang, shared his idea on the sideline of the event on how to improve people's lifestyle with its abundant water resource and make Neijiang a real "sweet and happy place".

"Tiancheng should live up to its name. To make residents' life sweet and happy is what the local government has been striving for," Liu said.

"We have this beautiful Tiancheng Lake, which is a gift from the heaven. We should make full use of it," he said.

The local government already had a draft plan in mind, according to Mr. Liu.

"We are going to design easy and safe water recreational activities for the elderly and kids, more exciting water motor racing for the young people and develop a space on the lake for the middle-aged to spend their leisure time and relax, like playing mah-jong and drinking tea," the mayor said. Sichuan people are famous for their laid-back and leisurely lifestyle.

"To bring fun and happiness for people is our goal. A tourist destination featured by water sports and water-related activities could finally be shaped after all these efforts," Liu said.

In 2010, the first dragon boat trade cultural festival was held in Neijiang, heralding the city's efforts of promoting Tiancheng Lake both at home and abroad.

The recent show ski contest, first of its kind held in China, was a bold step for Neijiang. Since 2009, the city has gone to all lengths to improve the environment at Tiancheng Lake and its banks in the hope of building a water sports and recreational base in western China.

"We are trying to make Tiancheng Lake a regular water sports and leisure base," Liu said.

Water sport in China is not as popular as in western countries due to lack of leisure time and money needed to pursue it.

"In China, water sport players are funded by the country while in western countries, people play it out of their own interest. Lovers of the sport register in the clubs," a consultant and former water ski coach at the competition said.

Water sports include water ski, water motor racing, yachting, rowing and rafting. Australia and the US are among the powerhouses of the sports.