Dressed in a coral-red windbreaker and hiking boots, Pan Xiaoting shed her usual reserved demeanor on the pool table and fully embraced a professional outdoor look. On the afternoon of June 27, the second edition of the CAMEL Outdoor Festival officially kicked off. Special guest Pan Xiaoting joined 20 seasoned outdoor enthusiasts in Nyingchi, Tibet, for a simple launch ceremony. Pan Xiaoting was surprised and delighted to receive a “custom-made” tent from one of her dedicated fan “followers.”
Among the 20 outdoor players attending the festival was a seasoned “bingtang” (the nickname for Pan Xiaoting fans), an outdoor sports enthusiast named Eric, who gifted Pan Xiaoting an exquisitely hand-painted, custom-designed nine-ball tent dedicated to her.
Pan Xiaoting signed Eric’s windbreaker as a keepsake
It is reported that Eric was initially drawn to the CAMEL Outdoor Festival by the appeal of highlights such as the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Mount Namcha Barwa, and Lake Nalatso. However, what excited him most was learning that nine-ball queen Pan Xiaoting would be participating. “I thought long and hard about what gift to give, and eventually decided on a tent, since it’s an essential piece of outdoor gear. I hoped Pan Xiaoting would fall in love with outdoor sports. But I also felt a regular tent wouldn’t be special enough, so I came up with the idea of painting on it.” He explained the meaning behind the designs to Pan Xiaoting: vibrant nine-balls scattered across a sparkling starry sky, symbolizing Pan Xiaoting as the brightest star among athletes.
Pan Xiaoting absolutely adored this unexpected gift. She told the organizers, “This trip to Tibet has been especially touching because I received such a heartfelt present!” But amid the joy, she had a small concern: although the tent is waterproof, the paint on the artwork isn’t, so heavy rain might cause it to “smudge.” It seems the beauty Pan will have to choose her tent days wisely.
It is understood that aside from maintaining an impressive track record on the pool table, nine-ball queen Pan Xiaoting is also keen on various cross-disciplinary challenges, ranging from car racing and horse racing to writing books. This collaboration with the CAMEL Outdoor Festival to explore the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon marks Pan Xiaoting’s first venture into outdoor sports, signaling the rising popularity and growing trend of outdoor activities in China.