On July 28, the 2017 China Hot Air Balloon Club League "Lanzhou Bank Cup" Lanzhou · Anning Station officially kicked off with the theme "Soar Over the Yellow River · Enjoy Anning." This marks the first time the event has been held in Lanzhou, Gansu, and also the first time it has taken place in an urban area.
Photographed by Teng Ke
Attending the opening ceremony were Ren Hongguo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Aviation Radio Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Song Jupu, former Major General of the General Staff Department and Chief Advisor of Shizhi Sports; Wu Gongyu, Director of the Hot Air Balloon Department of the Aviation Radio Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Ma Caiyun, Vice Mayor of the Lanzhou Municipal People's Government; Dan Hanrong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Lanzhou Municipal People's Government; Long Fuguo, Director of the Lanzhou Municipal Sports Bureau; Tao Minggui, Director of the Lanzhou Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau; Wang Fang, Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee of Lanzhou; Li Shixiang, Director of the Standing Committee of the Anning District People's Congress; Luo Zemin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee and District Chief of Lanzhou; Xue Lei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee of Lanzhou; Zhang Jibin, Standing Committee Member of the CPC Anning District Committee and Executive Deputy District Chief of Lanzhou; Zhang Junliang, President of Lanzhou Bank; and Ling Yu, Director and Vice President of Shizhi Sports.
Ren Hongguo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Aviation Radio Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China
At the opening ceremony, Wang Fang, Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee of Lanzhou, on behalf of the Anning District Committee, District People's Congress, District Government, District Political Consultative Conference, and the event organizing committee, extended a warm welcome to the leaders, guests, athletes, and judges who attended the event. Luo Zemin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee and District Chief of Lanzhou, stated that as a branded event, this is the first time the hot air balloon league has been held in the northwest region and in a provincial capital city, marking a significant milestone in the development of Anning’s cultural, sports, and tourism industries, and will greatly promote the visibility of both Anning and Lanzhou. The ceremony concluded with oath-taking by representatives of pilots and judges, and the official start of the competition was announced by Ren Hongguo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Aviation Radio Model Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.
Wang Fang, Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee of Lanzhou
Luo Zemin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Anning District Committee and District Chief of Lanzhou
Zhang Junliang, President of Lanzhou Bank
In addition to a spectacular performance, the 2017 China Hot Air Balloon Club League "Lanzhou Bank Cup" Lanzhou · Anning Station and the inaugural Northwest Hot Air Balloon "Sky Wedding" were romantically held. Six couples exchanged vows in an “airborne city,” committing to their love and stepping into marriage, adding special meaning to the league.
Photographed by Teng Ke
Photographed by Teng Ke
That evening, the highly anticipated balloon lighting ceremony brought the opening ceremony to a climax. Hot air balloons carrying the dreams of flight illuminated the entire city, centered around the Anning Central Business District. Against the night sky, burners shot dazzling flames into the balloon envelopes, causing the massive spheres to flicker as they swayed to cheerful music, as if dancing gracefully. Tens of thousands of spectators felt as though they had entered a dreamlike world, immersed in a fairytale-like atmosphere.
Photographed by Ye Rongchang
Photographed by Ye Rongchang
Photographed by Ye Rongchang
The China Hot Air Balloon Club League "Lanzhou Bank Cup" Lanzhou · Anning Station ran from July 28 to July 31. The competition strictly adhered to the "FAI Hot Air Balloon Competition Rules," and is classified as a Category B event by the Chinese Aeronautical Association, with results contributing to the 2017 pilot competition rankings. Standard events included target dropping, free-floating targets, hare and hounds, flying to the main venue, precision flying, and aerial treasure hunts. Among these, the hare and hounds event was particularly thrilling—akin to a game of hide and seek—where pilots followed a guide balloon and, upon its landing, dropped markers near the set target.
Photographed by Teng Ke
Photographed by Teng Ke
After witnessing the intense and rare competition, the romantic beauty of the hot air balloons took center stage. In addition to high-difficulty competitive events, the league also achieved the feat of flying over the Yellow River. The Yellow River flows through Anning District, where reeds sway on small islands in the river and migratory birds gather. The Zhongshan Bridge, known as the "First Bridge Over the Yellow River Under Heaven" and celebrating its 105th anniversary, spans the waves. A series of urban sculptures, represented by the "Mother Yellow River," dot the green belt parks along the riverbanks. Lanzhou, an ancient yet modern city, embraced by its mother river, embodies the grandeur of the north and the elegance of the south. Floating above the clouds in a hot air balloon to take in the majestic sweep of the Yellow River has become a shared dream for many.
Photographed by Zhang Yingxun
Photographed by Zhang Yingxun
On the afternoon of July 29, dozens of sanitation workers from Anning District—referred to as the "city beauticians"—and individuals who excelled in creating a national civilized city participated in the hot air balloon tethering activity of the 2017 China Hot Air Balloon Club League "Lanzhou Bank Cup" Lanzhou · Anning Station. This allowed these hardworking grassroots laborers, who diligently maintain the city, to view the beautiful urban landscape they help preserve from the air. The event also aimed to spread positive energy throughout society and foster a healthy, uplifting, warm, and harmonious social atmosphere.
Photographed by Feng Ganyong
Photographed by Feng Ganyong
Photographed by Feng Ganyong
As China’s most professional hot air balloon touring competition, the China Hot Air Balloon Club League truly delivers on the principle of "building products through competition, promoting products through competition, and achieving long-term benefits for the host destination through product operations," allowing citizens to experience the joy that hot air ballooning brings. This year’s event not only showcased the tourism resources of Lanzhou’s Anning District to the nation but also enriched the cultural and recreational lives of local residents. By making full use of Anning’s airspace resources, it promoted multi-stakeholder "sports + tourism" development, helping Anning stand out amid homogenized attractions and limited tourism offerings. It achieved a perfect blend of traditional strengths and emerging sectors, delivering a feast for culture, tourism, and sports enthusiasts.
Tengke Photography
Tengke Photography
It is reported that this league is jointly organized by the China Aeronautical Sports Association, the Lanzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Lanzhou Municipal Bureau of Sports, and the People's Government of Anning District, Lanzhou. It is hosted by the Anning District Bureau of Culture and Sports and the Anning Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd. of Lanzhou, with exclusive operation by SZsports. Lanzhou Bank, Zheshang Bank Lanzhou Branch, China Overseas Land & Investment, Poly Real Estate, Xingfu Jiayuan, CRRC Group, Wanhua Industrial Group, and Yanghe Distillery have provided strong support for the event.