The event, part of a regional “touring with competitions” initiative, combined martial arts matches with intangible cultural heritage exhibitions and local tourism promotion.
Multi-Disciplinary Martial Arts Competitions at Southern New Town Fitness Center
Running from October 16 to 18, the competition broadened its traditional scope by hosting multiple sport disciplines under one roof. The tournament matrix featured traditional weapon martial arts, kendo, and mass sports, splitting participants into age-based and skill-based brackets. Organizers scheduled individual and team bouts for U10, U13, and U18 youth groups alongside unprotected routine divisions, adult women’s divisions, and adult men’s divisions.
Specialized events included Cloud Martial long saber, long sword, single-handed weapon combat, and classical martial arts great spear. The venue also hosted group-category judo matches and interactive dart competitions, expanding the boundaries of public sports participation. Competitors wore protective gear during bouts marked by measured footwork and disciplined striking, reflecting the core values of discipline and mutual respect embedded in Chinese martial arts.
Nanjing Kendo Sports Association Opens Event with Officials
The official opening ceremony began at 9:30 a.m. on October 17 with the playing of the national anthem. Attendees included Gao Xiu Sheng, party branch secretary of the Nanjing Kendo Sports Association and deputy general manager of Nanjing Sutai Caiyi Technology Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Industry Group), alongside regional youth league officials, municipal kendo association leaders from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, and Jinan, and representatives from local sport and rescue associations.
The Nanjing Kendo Sports Association organized the event with collaborative support from sports associations, tourism agencies, and technology enterprises across the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding river basins.
Traditional Music and Rubik's Cube Challenge Accompany Matches
Off-mat activities ran concurrently with the athletic program. Performers played traditional instruments such as the dongxiao and guzheng, delivering renditions of classic wuxia themes including “The Sound of the Sea Is Laughing” and “Swordsman” to establish a distinct traditional aesthetic. Eight-year-old Lu Jinghao performed a Rubik’s Cube challenge during the exhibition, solving six different cubes in under a minute to draw applause from the gallery.
Organizers paired the athletic schedule with a multi-tiered awards structure featuring trophies, medals, certificates, and precious metal commemorative badges, while all finishers received commemorative gifts. Leaning into the initiative of traveling alongside sports events, the committee arranged free shuttle services between the venue and local hotels, curated tourism routes, shopping markets, and Qinhuai River night cruises. Visitors and out-of-town competitors used the logistical support to tour local historic districts after their events concluded, turning athletic participation into regional tourism traffic.
The Yangtze River Delta Kendo Invitational Tournament has developed over consecutive editions into a prominent platform for mass sports and traditional cultural exchange within the region. Regional sports authorities intend to continue using sports-tourism integration to promote fitness initiatives and highlight the contemporary value of traditional Chinese athletic culture.
