Participants at the Spartan race in Shenzhen Photo: Courtesy of the Spartan race organizing committee

Viewers at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships Photo: Cui Meng/ GT

This weekend, China's cities became international stages for showcasing sports and culture, as millions of spectators and travelers converged for a series of high-profile sporting events. 

From the thunderous roar of Formula 1 engines in Shanghai to the gritty determination of Spartan racers in South China's Shenzhen, and the record-breaking leaps at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in East China's Nanjing, the country witnessed a tourism surge fueled by its innovative fusion of sports, culture, and urban vitality. 

Meanwhile, marathons in East China's Wuxi and Central China's Wuhan showcased how cities are leveraging their unique cultural heritage to create unforgettable experiences. 

Together, these events underscored local governments' ambitions to position themselves as a hub for global sports tourism.

Athletic prowess

The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships, held at the futuristic Nanjing Cube arena, became one of the centerpieces of the city's sports tourism strategy. 

In 2024 alone, Nanjing hosted 17 international competitions, 70 national-level events, and 74 provincial tournaments, the local sport authority said, generating a direct revenue of 6.48 billion yuan ($907.2 million). 

The city's strategy is already resonating with fans. 

Tong Zeyu, 27, who traveled from Beijing to watch the athletics indoor championships, told the Global Times that watching the athletics stars firsthand along with touristic scenes in Nanjing made his trip unforgettable.

"Seeing stars like Jakob Ingebrigtsen [distance running] and Mondo Duplantis [pole vault] compete live, along with local talent bronze medalist Liu Junxi in the 60m hurdles, was a dream come true," he said. 

Nanjing's tourism board capitalized on the influx by promoting cultural landmarks like the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and Confucius Temple. 

Looking ahead, the city of Nanjing is set to host over 100 provincial-level and international events in 2025, including the snooker International Championship, and the Archery World Cup Final, with the latter marking the first time this event will be held in China. 

The local people also welcome the change. 

"By hosting some major sporting events, we witness world-class athletic feats, and visitors can also get to experience Nanjing's rich history, picturesque landscape, and vibrant urban culture - all in one immersive weekend," a local sports fan Xu Yifan told the Global Times.

Not only high-octane race

Beyond the high-octane drama on the track, the 2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix transformed the Shanghai International Circuit into a motorsports fans' carnival.

The venue buzzed with immersive experiences, from pit lane tours and driver meet-and-greets to adrenaline-pumping driver parades. 

Outside the circuit, the Shanghai Auto Culture Festival theme park sprawlling across 10,000 square meters, features interactive exhibits and racing-themed installations that drew record crowds.

Though not competing in the main race, Ferrari reserve driver Zhou Guanyu of China emerged as the weekend's unofficial ambassador, igniting waves of roars from the fans during the driver parades. 

The event's fusion of sports, culture, and commerce created a blueprint for mega-event economics, organizers said. 

"There is a record 15.25 percent of spectators from abroad, 60 percent of whom traveled exclusively for the race, doubling 2024's figures," the organizers said in a press release. 

Spartan grit in urban oasis

In Shenzhen, the Spartan race's season opener at the Bijia Mountain  Park epitomized Shenzhen's "park plus sports" model over the weekend. 

Nearly 4,000 participants, including US influencer Evan Kail, tackled obstacle-laden trails winding through the city's lush core. 

"I noticed that there were many international participants here. It was an inclusive event, I wasn't the only American running today," Kail told reporters. "I'm here to build a bridge between the US and China. Our cultures have in common the enjoyment of exercising." 

Most of the participants are from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, organizers noted, as the year 2025 will also see the region host the National Games in November.

Marathon craze continues 

Meanwhile, the marathon events in Wuxi and Wuhan unfolded as true celebrations of endurance, culture, and community spirit. Both events, deeply rooted in the local heritage, have evolved into emblematic showcases of the sports plus tourism model.

The Wuxi race takes participants on a journey through some of the city's most celebrated landscape. The meticulously designed course winds through scenic spots such as Taihu Lake and Lihu Lake. 

Runners were treated to views that evoked the imagery of traditional Chinese ink paintings, with routes passing by historical landmarks like ancient water towns and cultural museums.

In Wuhan, the marathon race course, which, for the first time, spanned a full 20 kilometers along the scenic East Lake Greenway, offered a comprehensive tour of Wuhan's multifaceted identity. 

Runners passed through historical landmarks like the century-old Yellow Crane Tower and the modern marvel of the Yangtze River Bridge, while witnessing the city's seamless fusion of traditional charm and futuristic innovation.

As many other Chinese cities continue to host mega-events, the audiences are also anticipating how the cities could turn the fleeting moments into enduring legacies.

"The future of sports isn't just in stadiums but is also on the streets and in parks of the host city," sports commentator Zhang Bin told the Global Times.