In late autumn, Shunan remains lush and green. On November 9, to implement the spirit of the Sichuan Provincial Culture and Tourism Development Conference, consolidate and enhance the achievements of creating "Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties," strengthen exchanges and cooperation among cities in the Tianfu Famous Tourism County Cultural and Tourism Development Alliance, showcase cultural and tourism resources, boost the appeal and influence of these counties, and polish their golden brand, the Tianfu Famous Tourism County Cultural and Tourism Development Alliance event themed "Soaring Dreams·Flying Over the Bamboo Sea" and the "2019 China Hot Air Balloon Club League Sichuan·Changning (Shunan Bamboo Sea) Station" grandly kicked off in Changning, Sichuan.
This leg of the competition was jointly organized by the Chinese Aeronautical Sports Federation, the Yibin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, the Yibin Municipal Bureau of Education and Sports, the People's Government of Changning County, and the Management Committee of the "Two Seas" Demonstration Zone of Yibin City. It was hosted by the Shunan Bamboo Sea Tourism Development Co., Ltd. of Yibin City, the Publicity Department of the CPC Changning County Committee, the Changning County Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, the Changning County Bureau of Education and Sports, and co-organized by the Changning County Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd., with exclusive operation by Shizhi Sports.
On the morning of the 9th, the opening ceremony was held at a venue opposite Dongshan Primary School on Section One of Zhuhai Avenue. Attending the event were Liu Xiao, Deputy Director of the Aviation Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Chai Yanzhu, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Association; Wang Liping, Vice Mayor of Yibin Municipal Government; Huang Tiancai, Second-Level Researcher of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Dong Maocheng, Secretary of the CPC Changning County Committee; Zhou Wenwu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the "Two Seas" Demonstration Zone of Yibin City; Ling Yu, General Manager of Shizhi Sports; Zhou Xiaoping, Chairman of the CPPCC of Changning County; Zou Mingqin, Deputy Director of the Yibin Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism; Li Peichao, Researcher of the Yibin Municipal Bureau of Education and Sports; Zhou Qingshu, Deputy Director of the Jiange County People's Congress; Zeng Xiaoping, Deputy County Magistrate of Daocheng County People's Government; Hou Zhiqiang, Deputy County Magistrate of Wenchuan County People's Government, among other leaders and guests. Jia Lihua, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Changning County Committee and County Magistrate of Changning County, presided over the opening ceremony.
During the ceremony, warm-up performances with vibrant dances showcased the unique charm and beauty of Changning. Representatives from the first batch of 10 Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties in Sichuan took turns on stage to introduce their respective counties' tourism resources and specialties to the audience, collectively completing a sand painting themed "Solidifying, Promoting, and Polishing the Golden Brand of Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties."
Dong Maocheng, Secretary of the CPC Changning County Committee; Wang Liping, Vice Mayor of Yibin Municipal Government; and Chai Yanzhu, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Association, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Zhou Wenwu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of the "Two Seas" Demonstration Zone of Yibin City, gave a tourism promotion for the "Two Seas" Demonstration Zone to the attending leaders and guests. Liu Xiao, Deputy Director of the Aviation Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, announced the official opening of the competition. Hot air balloons named after the first batch of 10 Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties led all participating balloons in simultaneous takeoff, marking the beginning of the event.
That evening, a spectacular hot air balloon torch parade lit up Changning, drawing crowds of onlookers from across the city. All 30 torch parade vehicles lined up in a single-file dragon formation, with the 10 vehicles named after the first batch of Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties leading the way. Under police escort, they departed from the main venue of the opening ceremony and slowly proceeded along the bustling main roads of Changning County.
The burners of 30 hot air balloons, to the commands of the instructors and the cheers of the audience, rhythmically alternated flames to the beat of dynamic music. The 5-kilometer torch route was a dazzling display of radiant, scorching flames that occasionally shot into the air, pushing the atmosphere to a climax. Amidst light and fire, the joyful and peaceful smiles of people were on full display, showcasing the happy lives of local residents.
It is understood that the China Hot Air Balloon Club League, organized by the Chinese Aeronautical Sports Federation, is the most professional national-level hot air balloon competition in China, held annually in major cities. Following the successful conclusion of the Ningxia Yanchi leg in August this year, the China Hot Air Balloon Club League has now arrived at the Changning (Shunan Bamboo Sea) leg. The most important competitive segment of this leg took place from November 10 to 13, spanning four days, and featured nine competition events including designated targets, optional targets, wandering waltz, hound chasing hare, flying to the main venue, and elbow flight. Thirty top domestic hot air balloon clubs and 60 pilots competed in the skies, with the overall top performer set to receive the "Navigator Jacket."
Notably, this leg of the competition broke away from the traditional sports model of purely competitive events by incorporating interactive experiences. From the afternoon of November 10 to November 12, eight hot air balloons will provide free tethered hot air balloon experiences to the residents and tourists of Changning County at three locations: the main venue of the opening ceremony, Shunan Bamboo Sea, and Shunan Flower Sea. During this time, people can not only get up close and personal with hot air balloons but also enjoy the stunning beauty of Changning from an aerial perspective, taking in the panoramic view of the bamboo sea and experiencing the unique charm of low-altitude tourism.
Changning County in Sichuan boasts beautiful landscapes, excellent ecology, thriving culture, and abundant resources. It is known as the "Hometown of Bamboo in China," one of the "Top Ten Eco-Wellness Tourism Counties in China," and one of the first ten "Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties" in Sichuan Province. With its warm, humid climate year-round and distinct four seasons, it is highly suitable for hot air balloon flights. Since 2017, the China Hot Air Balloon Club League has been held in Changning for three consecutive years. Hosting the competition in the picturesque Changning not only allows participants to enjoy breathtaking views of attractions like Shunan Bamboo Sea and Shunan Flower Sea while competing at high altitudes, enhancing the visual appeal of the event, but also embodies the concept of integrated "sports + tourism" development. This enables visitors to experience the unique charm of the Bamboo Sea Capital and Wellness Changning from a fresh perspective, solidifying and promoting the golden brand of Sichuan's first batch of Tianfu Famous Tourism Counties, comprehensively advancing the development of eco-tourism, and accelerating Changning's efforts to create a "National All-for-One Tourism Demonstration Zone," build an international bamboo eco-cultural tourism destination, and establish itself as a modern tourism economic powerhouse.