The 2026 Hebei Amateur Basketball League and the inaugural “Yanzhao Peak” Three-Person Basketball Tournament officially tipped off on September 26 at Nanchuan Old Street in the Yunhe District of Cangzhou, bringing more than 20 teams from across the province together for an open-air urban showcase. Jointly organized by the Dayin Sports Movement Center of the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, the Hebei Basketball Association, and the Cangzhou Sports Bureau—with coordination from the Cangzhou Basketball Association—the three-day competition breaks new ground by placing professional-grade streetball directly inside a commercial tourism district.
Action runs through September 28, culminating in the tournament finals and award ceremony under the lights of the ancient canal-side zone. By embedding athletic competition into a historic commercial block, organizers aim to bridge professional sports traffic and local retail economics, turning weekend athletic engagement into tangible foot traffic for regional vendors.
Opening Night Lights Up Canal-Side Tourism Hub
The tournament’s opening ceremony kicked off at 19:00 local time, blending high-energy athletics with traditional regional culture. A Cangzhou lion dance performance opened the program alongside martial arts displays, followed by cheerleading routines that filled the commercial alleys with spectators. The integration of traditional arts with fast-paced court play underscored local branding efforts centered on the historic canal culture of the region.
Following the opening ceremony, an exhibition match featured prominent online basketball personalities. Internet basketball figure Yang策 and grassroots player known as Master Wei (魏师傅)—whose combined accounts command a substantial following on digital platforms—captained opposing sides in a featured showdown that drew packed crowds to the perimeter of the court. The players also took part in interactive fan events, including a “shooting chicken” game where participants won regional Cangzhou prizes, alongside a children’s dunk imitation contest featuring local youth.
Following the celebrity exhibition, the first round of group stage matches commenced. Teams traded quick defensive stops and perimeter shots across the asphalt layout, drawing cheers from spectators lining the walkways of the AAA-rated tourist attraction.
Merging Sport Competition with Night Tourism
Designated as both a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a recognized Hebei provincial nighttime culture and tourism consumption cluster, Nanchuan Old Street experienced heavy visitor traffic throughout the opening night. The layout allows spectators to transition directly from viewing tournament games to exploring local heritage food stalls and retail shops.
The event is receiving broadcast coverage via local channels including Hebei Sports and Zonglan News, with short-form highlights distributed across platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu to extend reach beyond the physical venue.
Competition continues through the weekend, with group matches leading directly to the championship rounds scheduled for the evening of September 28. Organizers view the shift from traditional indoor gymnasiums to open commercial streets as a template for boosting grassroots fitness initiatives while driving retail activity across municipal districts.
