International sporting event boosts service industry in coastal city

Rosa Eveline Anaya Cedillo, a wushu (Chinese martial arts) athlete from Mexico, tried making a traditional seal printed with a horse pattern in the interactive area.

"I feel especially happy to be able to compete with the friendly people here."

In traditional Chinese culture, seals represent commitment and trust, while "the horse" reflects the vigorous and enterprising spirit of sports. Cedillo said she not only felt the warmth of traditional craftsmanship, but also understood the aesthetic interest and spiritual resonance belonging to the East.

Yu Lichun, vice-mayor of Qidong, said traditional Chinese sports have been passed down for thousands of years and embody the cultural foundation of "harmony in diversity and shared beauty". Such events can enable equal exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

The competition in Qidong featured six events — wushu, Health Qigong, Go, Chinese chess, dragon and lion dance, and kites — plus the Heqiu invitational tournament. It was the largest edition by scale and participation since its inception, covering over 60 countries and regions, and setting a new high for foreign athlete participation. "Qidong is a very beautiful city. We are very happy to participate in such a grand event by the Yangtze River and the sea," said Ndiogou Gueye, head of the Senegal Wushu Team and president of the Senegal Wushu Federation. He noted that wushu is developing well in Senegal, where there are currently about 400 wushu clubs and nearly 10,000 athletes.

"I have seen the development of this sport around the world and felt the warmth of the Chinese people," he said.