Jieshou: Sporting vitality serves all citizens

Tucked away in northern Anhui province, the county-level city of Jieshou is demonstrating how a deep-rooted passion for grassroots athletics can transform an entire local economy and reshape the daily lives of its residents.

The city's sporting fervor was on full display recently when over 3,000 roaring fans packed the Jieshou Sports Center, creating a deafening wave of cheers and chants.

They had gathered to witness the home team, Fuyang, clinch a resounding victory over Tongling in the Anhui Urban Basketball League, widely known as the Hui BA, securing their fifth consecutive home win.

But behind the on-court excitement lies a meticulously crafted blueprint. While other regions might rely primarily on event-driven tourism, Jieshou has taken a step further by weaving sports directly into its urban infrastructure and industrial core.

Walk into any local fitness center and the enthusiasm is palpable. Badminton courts are packed with sweating players, swimming pools are bustling, and yoga studios are fully booked. The city's natural landscapes have also been repurposed for active living. Along the scenic routes of local forest and wetland parks, runners and cyclists are a constant presence.

To support this lifestyle, the city has created a "15-minute fitness circle", ensuring public sports facilities are accessible within a short walk for all residents. Jieshou now boasts 3.15 square meters of sports space per capita, surpassing the provincial average.

It has achieved 100 percent coverage of public sports facilities across all its rural townships and communities, maintaining 25 public leisure squares and nearly 70 kilometers of fitness trails.

The crown jewel of this network is the newly inaugurated Jieshou Sports Center — a modern complex featuring a stadium, an indoor arena and a comprehensive fitness facility capable of hosting national-level competitions and serving the daily leisure needs of locals.

This premium infrastructure has paved the way for a booming and inclusive event calendar. In the first half alone, the city hosted more than 10 major events, ranging from a rural health run attracting 4,000 participants to a Euro-Africa international basketball invitational.

Furthermore, Jieshou successfully hosted a national gateball tournament for the second consecutive year, drawing over 400 enthusiasts from 48 teams.

Senior residents are equally engaged, with widespread participation in traditional exercises like tai chi and baduanjin, ensuring that the fitness boom leaves no age group behind.

Outside the venues, sports-themed markets offering local delicacies and traditional crafts have generated over 21 million yuan ($3.12 million) in consumer spending.

What truly sets Jieshou apart, however, is its massive sports manufacturing and service sector. As the only county-level city in Anhui designated as a national sports industry demonstration base, the sector has surpassed an annual output value of 9.5 billion yuan for three consecutive years.

The sector supports 161 enterprises and employs 13,000 people. To further drive innovation, the local government has partnered with Fuyang Normal University to establish a collaborative hub for sports and education.

To ensure sustainable growth and competitive excellence, the city is also heavily investing in youth development. With 12 specialized sports schools, Jieshou has established a complete talent pipeline from primary school to high school.

This comprehensive system covers track and field, soccer, basketball and volleyball. Currently, the city has registered 133 athletes across 12 disciplines for the upcoming 16th Anhui Provincial Games, while over 300 young talented individuals are undergoing rigorous training for various provincial championships.

Riding the momentum of China's recent National Fitness Day on Aug 8, Jieshou has rolled out a new wave of community activities, promising a calendar filled with weekly highlights and daily events. By treating sports not just as a game, but as a multibillion-yuan industrial pillar and a fundamental way of life, this small city offers a compelling model of how grassroots vitality can benefit every citizen.