Recently, Chongming has seen a surge in attention thanks to a series of international sports events igniting the island's golden autumn. The thrill of bicycle races and the excitement of basketball games have showcased a vibrant and dynamic side of this world-class ecological island.

Between Stillness and Motion

In the tranquil beauty of Chongming’s golden autumn, where the skies are clear, there is also a lively rhythm. If one looks closely, amidst the calm, there is movement: oranges ripening, persimmons turning red, rice grains maturing - a picturesque scene of changing colors unfolds across the land, filled with the joy of the harvest.

On the afternoon of October 14, crowds gathered along Xincheng Avenue, all eyes fixed on the final sprint of the 2023 Tour of Chongming Island International Women's Road Cycling World Series. Competitors from 13 countries across 18 teams, totaling over a hundred athletes, raced through 17 towns of Chongming over three days to reach the finish line.

The lush, tree-lined and flat race tracks provided ideal conditions for the cyclists. Xinhua News Agency praised Chongming, likening the race to "cycling in a painting, with beauty and vigor".

As dusk fell and the lights came on, a different competition began amidst the countryside. From October 14 to 15, the intense 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3x3 Masters (Chongming Station) took place. Set in the Hengsha Island Art Countryside of Chongming, the event blended the noisy street basketball with the serene rural landscape, offering a tranquil yet dynamic experience, where spectators could enjoy both the athletic competition and the pastoral scenery.

"Did you go to the game?" "Did you see Yao Ming?" These were the hot topics among the island's residents during the event. Besides the over 800 filled seats inside the venue, crowds also gathered outside the courts, creating a basketball frenzy in Hengsha Township.

When the beauty of nature meets the joy of sports, autumn in Chongming sparks a unique flare. The district party chief, Miao Jing, said that Chongming should not be a static, purely ecological island, but rather one that is full of life, with healthy circulation of resources, allowing the ecological benefits to nourish people's lives. This is also integral to the vision of a "people's city." The successful hosting of these international events has shown the world a more beautiful, comfortable, and vibrant Chongming.

Gathering for the Festivities

Attracting sports celebrities and tourists, these exciting events drew many to the streets of Chongming to join the autumn festivities. Yao Ming, the president of the Asian Basketball Federation and the Chinese Basketball Association, commented, "I always thought 3x3 basketball was a urban sport, but this experience showed it could offer a different vibe." Zhu Yuanbo of the Beijing team remarked that the rural setting did not fall short of the atmosphere found in urban areas. The eco-sporting events in Chongming delivered a pleasant surprise with their greenery and idyllic charm.

Many familiar faces appeared at the cycling event, including Zhou Yu, a Chongming local who won gold at the Asian Games, cheering for the cyclists. "Our hometown roads are great for cycling; we welcome more high-level athletes to compete in Chongming," said Zhou Yu. Huang Li, a former Olympian born in Chongming, returned to commentate after three years, continuing to foster new cycling talents for the island. "It’s our passion that brings us together. After three years, we've all grown," shared Huang Li.

The spectators along the routes added a vibrant energy to the scene. Across Chongming's streets and key areas, promotional banners for the events were everywhere, with towns creating welcoming slogans. A plethora of fringe activities offered bright spots to the events. The "Joyful Cycling in Chongming" themed carnival featured various zones, providing visitors with a "wonder encounter" journey. Seasonal produce like new rice, tangerines, and taro by the basketball courts were popular among tourists, boosting local businesses.

Harmonious Coexistence

"Riding through paintings, playing ball amid the paddies." Sporting events amidst green fields and rivers have become a new hallmark for Chongming, strengthening international cultural exchanges, enhancing its global reputation, and promoting tourism.

Since the commencement of the ecological island project at the turn of the century, over 20 years of ecological development have transformed Chongming into Shanghai's region with the best water quality, air quality, the largest forested area, and richest biodiversity, praised by the United Nations Environment Programme as a "rare pristine land on the west coast of the Pacific."

The "Outline of the Development Plan for Chongming World-Class Ecological Island (2021-2035)" proposes that by 2035, Chongming will be built into a national ecological civilization card that leads the nation and influences the globe, a benchmark for green development in the Yangtze River area, and a model for the happy life of the people, demonstrating to the world a construction example of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature." The future of Chongming will present the most organic integration and harmony between towns and countryside, humans and nature, and between ecological protection and construction.

With its high-quality environment and comprehensive facilities, residents and tourists can fully enjoy the beautiful Chongming. Recently, the 6th Shanghai (Chongming) Leisure Sports Congress is in full swing. The theme of this Leisure Sports Congress is "Vibrant Leisure Sports, Enjoy Ecological Chongming," combining with the natural ecological advantages of Chongming. Through the "Ecology + Sports" approach, the event has set up four major sectors "Water, Field, Forest, Road" and eight key competitions and activities that will continue until late November.

Stepping out of the house and into the outdoors, sports enthusiasts have a wealth of options in Chongming to fully enjoy the natural wilderness. For example, Changxing Island Country Park is located at the estuary of the mighty Yangtze River and has been transformed from a base consisting of ecological fir forests, riverbanks, orange groves, and farmland, featuring nature, ecology, and wilderness. The Xisha Mingzhu Lake scenic area located at the southwest end of Chongming Island contains unique and beautiful wetlands, lakes, and forest natural scenery, providing a quality venue for water and land sports and leisure tourism.

Life goes on, and so does sport. Running on the earth, swimming in the rivers, soaring in the sky, let us join the creatures of nature, choose Chongming as your "race track," spill your passion, and feel the pulse of life.