On November 25, the 2017 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea "Guomei Wine Cup" National Hot Air Balloon Championship grandly opened at the New Cultural and Sports Center in Changning County, Sichuan. Ding Peng, Deputy Director of the Radio-Controlled Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Wang Fengwu, President of the China National Scenic Areas Association; Song Jupu, former Major General of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department and Chief Advisor of Shizhi Sports; Li Min, Member of the Standing Committee of the Yibin Municipal Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda; Zhang Ping, Vice Mayor of the Yibin Municipal Government; Ma Lichun, Vice Chairman of the Yibin Municipal CPPCC; Wu Xiaobing, Director of the Yibin Municipal Education and Sports Bureau; Shen Jun, Director of the Yibin Municipal Tourism Development Commission; Liu Dake, Chairman of Shizhi Sports; Jia Lihua, Deputy Secretary of the Changning County Party Committee and County Head; Song Kaiyun, Director of the Changning County People's Congress Standing Committee; Zhou Xiaoping, Chairman of the Changning County CPPCC; Liu Yi, Deputy Secretary of the Changning County Party Committee and Director of the Shunan Bamboo Sea Management Bureau, among other leaders, attended the opening ceremony. At the event, the China Aviation Flight Camp within the Shunan Bamboo Sea scenic area was officially unveiled, giving visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty of Changning from a completely new perspective and to admire the unique charm of the bamboo sea from the air.
Opening Ceremony
Unveiling of the China Aviation Flight Camp in Shunan Bamboo Sea, Changning, China (Photographed by Feng Ganyong)
Accompanied by the Bamboo Sea, an Aerial Waltz Unfolds
The Shunan Bamboo Sea combines landscapes, caves, lakes, and waterfalls, and is renowned as the "Greenest Bamboo Sea under Heaven." It has been rated as one of "China's First Batch of AAAA-Level Tourist Attractions" and "China's Top Ten Most Beautiful Forests," and has been successfully included in the second batch of the "China Dual Heritage" tentative list. Against such stunning natural scenery, the 2017 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea "Guomei Wine Cup" National Hot Air Balloon Championship commenced in full swing, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the feast brought by the combination of "tourism + sports."
Skydiving to a Fixed Point
On the morning of November 25, beautiful fireworks lit up the sky, set against the backdrop of the bamboo sea and white clouds, resembling a breathtaking scroll slowly unfolding, leaving the audience in awe. The competition treated spectators to thrilling skydiving performances. Two female athletes leaped from a hot air balloon high above, and two colorful parachutes blossomed in the sky, drawing rounds of applause for their skilled maneuvers. Subsequently, 50 hot air balloons were launched into the skies above Changning. Their graceful flight, like a group of elegantly dressed dancers, performed a beautiful aerial waltz with the layered, lush bamboo forests as their stage, captivating and mesmerizing all who watched.
Hot Air Balloon Launch Ceremony
Jia Lihua, Deputy Secretary of the Changning County Party Committee and County Head, stated that hosting this championship is a significant and joyous event for Changning’s development. The county will continue to earnestly implement the concept of "green development," vigorously promote all-for-one tourism and integrated scenic-urban development, actively cultivate new formats for the integrated growth of "culture, sports, and tourism," and strive to build a strong modern tourism economy county.
Picturesque Changning, Capturing the Beauty of Hot Air Balloons
On the evening of November 24, 50 colorful hot air balloons from across the country rose into the night sky, illuminating the entire city with the New Cultural and Sports Center in Changning County at its center. Against the night sky backdrop, the burners emitted brilliant flames, and the large hot air balloon envelopes flickered intermittently, dancing to the rhythm of the music as if gracefully swaying. Later, five couples held romantic hot air balloon weddings, with the bamboo sea and verdant mountains as their witnesses. Amidst the blessings of countless people, their romantic vow was surely an unforgettable moment for life.
Balloon Illumination Ceremony
Hot Air Balloon Wedding
After the romantic aerial wedding, the Chongqing Song and Dance Troupe presented a spectacular large-scale cultural performance for the audience. Dance pieces such as "Bloom," the male group dance "Chuanjiang Haozi," song and dance "Bamboo Feast," female dance "Bamboo Branch Ci," song and dance "Please Wait for Me in the Bamboo Sea," solo "Fly," the grand group dance "Wine Song," male solo "Emei Tavern," "When That Day Comes," and "Soaring Changning," among many others, dazzled the audience. The highly anticipated fire-spitting performance brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch. Against the beautiful landscapes of Changning, this magnificent hot air balloon performance will surely become a cherished memory for every attendee and visitor.
Cultural Performance
Deep Integration of "Sports + Tourism," Highlighting Changning’s Tourism Brand
The 2017 China · Changning Shunan Bamboo Sea "Guomei Wine Cup" National Hot Air Balloon Championship has deeply imprinted the mark of sports on Changning’s tourism. This event fully showcased the charm of "sports + tourism," allowing visitors to overlook the Shunan Bamboo Sea from hot air balloons and experience a different kind of beauty. "The breathtaking scenery of the endless bamboo waves + the unique aerial experience" makes 'sports + tourism' not just a breakthrough point for enhancing the brand influence of the scenic area, but also a future path for differentiated and sustainable development of Changning’s tourism. Visitors can not only immerse themselves in the scenery but also engage in exciting experiences—balancing movement and stillness to light up Changning’s unique tourism brand.
This event was co-organized by the Aviation Radio-Controlled Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Aeronautical Sports Association, the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, the Yibin Municipal Tourism Development Commission, the CPC Changning County Committee, the People’s Government of Changning County, and the Shunan Bamboo Sea Scenic Area Administration of Yibin; co-hosted by the Shunan Bamboo Sea Tourism Development Co., Ltd. of Yibin, the Propaganda Department of the CPC Changning County Committee, the Education, Sports, Culture, and Broadcasting Bureau of Changning County, and the Tourism Development Bureau of Changning County; assisted by the China National Scenic Areas Association; and exclusively operated by Shizhi Sports.