As a local tradition, people in Wenchang City, south China's Hainan Province, played volleyball to celebrate the Spring Festival this year.
Volleyball has been a popular sport in Hainan. A series of matches were scheduled to begin even before the Spring Festival and will go on until the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 24 this year.
On Tuesday, an eye-catching game between two town teams, Jinshan and Gongpo, ended amid exciting cheers from spectators. Both teams were named after the local specialties of their respective towns: beef jerky in Jinshan and aromatic rice in Gongpo.
People play volleyball to celebrate Spring Festival in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, January 12, 2024. /CFP
The people in Wenchang add more fun to playing volleyball between matches by using chairs to play on the court. Such an unorthodox way of playing didn't keep them from serving, spiking or blocking the ball. It was in a 3x3 format. The side that scored 15 points first would win.
The Wenchang tradition attracted many tourists from around the country. Not only did they enjoy the sport, but they also attended a temple fair that was only 100 meters away from the games.
Hainan has been one of the major sources of coconuts in China. Therefore, locals are very good at making products from the fruit, including juice, candies and pastries. Coconut carving has also been added to China's national directory of intangible cultural heritage.
People play volleyball to celebrate Spring Festival in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, January 12, 2024. /CFP
Countryside sports have grown increasingly popular in China in recent years. China Media Group (CMG) signed strategic partnerships with the Village Basketball Association (VBA) in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, and the Village Super League (VSL) in Taijiang County of Guizhou on December 30, 2023.
The Village Basketball Association and the Village Super League of football became hits both domestically and internationally. They not only brought more attention to the two counties and the province but also stimulated local economic development. In 2023 alone, there were over 12 million tourist visits to the two counties. Local comprehensive tourist revenues surpassed 15 billion yuan (about $2.1 billion).
(Cover photo: People play volleyball to celebrate Spring Festival in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, January 12, 2024. /CFP)