High-profile sporting events fuel China’s tourism surge

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…