Rural city boosts tourism with major sporting event

A national village table tennis tournament is set to take place in Lingwu, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, from July 29 to Aug 1, bringing together table tennis enthusiasts from across the country to compete and exchange skills while leveraging the power of sports to energize local tourism.

The event will be hosted in Lingwu, a city known for its rich tourism assets, including Shuidonggou, one of China's earliest Paleolithic cultural site excavations, a rare stream landscape amid the Gobi Desert, and a geopark featuring dinosaur fossil exhibits. These attractions are expected to draw visitors alongside the sporting events.

Lingwu is no stranger to hosting major village sports events. The city hosted the 2024 China Village Run and the 2025 China Village Dance, both national-level competitions.

This year's village table tennis tournament marks the third sports gala of its kind undertaken by the city, reinforcing its reputation as a rising hub for rural athletics.

In addition to the matches, fun table tennis challenge games will be held, along with a market fair for visitors to sample local delicacies and buy local handicrafts.

Parallel with the tournament, organizers are launching a series of curated travel routes that highlight the countryside's vibrant charm.

The move is expected to breathe new life into rural development while further bridging sports with cultural tourism.

With a combination of competitive sport, cultural festivities and scenic tours, Lingwu is poised to welcome athletes and tourists alike for a week of activity and discovery in the heart of Ningxia.