The 2026世界羽毛球传奇球星嘉年华 opened on Oct. 1 in Jingzhou, Hubei province, drawing four of the sport’s former players for a festival of exhibition matches and cultural events, according to a report from ctdsb.net. Lin Dan, Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, and Bao Chunlai gathered in the city of Shashi, known locally as a cradle of badminton champions, to stage an event blending elite sports competition with local tourism.
Hundred-Player Rally Launches Wuyue Plaza Festival
Spectators joined costumed robotic mecha on the plaza floor to lift rackets and strike in unison at the end of a countdown timer.
Through Oct. 3, the venue operated as a multi-zone park featuring themed mechanical displays, a digital passport stamp collection rally for commemorative cultural gifts, and traditional medicine health consultations. Local food stalls and handicraft vendors populated the perimeter, while evening schedules brought live band performances and open-air karaoke.
Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun Headline Fan Meet and Greet
Fans wearing matching wristbands lined up to pose for photographs with the Badminton World Federation Hall of Famers, who spoke to the crowd about their impressions of Shashi.
Three Tourism Routes Showcase Shashi Landmarks
Cai visited the Shashi Wharf Creative Park and toured an industrial history museum alongside local coaches to mark his past tournament appearances in the city. Fu climbed the East Gate of Jingzhou Ancient City to participate in an interactive performance alongside an actor portraying the historical figure Guan Yu. Bao walked along Victory Street, visiting local teahouses and tasting regional foods such as rice noodles and cold shrimp.
Legendary Stars Compete in Exhibition Matches
Following an opening group calisthenics performance titled “The Power of a Feather,” Lin Dan, Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, and Bao Chunlai took the court alongside special guest players Gao Ling and Wei Yili.
The program featured seven matches under exhibition rules. The first five contests used a 15-point rally-scoring system played over a single frame. The sixth match paired Cai and Fu against Gao and Wei in an 11-point format, while the final match paired Lin and Bao with youth players from local training programs.
The event concluded its run on Oct. 3, marking the latest sports-tourism initiative hosted in the Jingzhou region.
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