In the early morning light of Jingmen, Central China's Hubei Province, the city hums with the rhythmic sound of tennis balls colliding rackets.
Residents come out of their homes to watch those on the court without a single complaint about the noise. In this small city with a population of approximately 600,000, there are more than 340 high-standard tennis courts and over 100,000 tennis enthusiasts.

"Hubei's success in tennis isn't just a coincidence or a discipline, but it's a tradition and an inheritance," Luo Le, a sports industry scholar at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology told the Global Times.

The accessibility of tennis courts - within a 15-minute walk - may explain why Hubei has nurtured so many tennis prodigies.
Rising star

August 3 is a day that many Chinese tennis fans will never forget. Zheng Qinwen, nicknamed "Queen Wen," a 21-year-old Chinese tennis player from Hubei, clinched China's first-ever gold medal in women's singles tennis at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She also became the first Asian player to reach the top of the podium in women's singles tennis at the Olympics.

Zheng follows in the footsteps of another legendary Hubei tennis player, Li Na. With two Grand Slam titles and a personal best world ranking of No.2 in women's tennis, Li transformed tennis from a niche sport to a mainstream passion in China, achieving unprecedented success for an Asian player.

The emergence of Li and Zheng as world champions begs the question: Why are tennis talent emerging from Hubei?

The region's deep-rooted passion for the sport dates back to the 1920s when tennis became part of the Hubei Provincial Games, which took the lead in including women in competitions, as reported by CCTV news.

With excellent infrastructure and a legacy of accomplished players returning as coaches, Hubei has become a breeding ground for tennis talent.

Names like Li Ting, Zhu Benqiang and Pan Bing are all synonymous with Hubei's tennis legacy. After retiring, Pan served as the head coach of the Hubei Provincial Tennis Team and the Chinese Women's National Tennis Team, contributing to the growth of future champions.

"Many outstanding players from Hubei returned as coaches. Along with well-established infrastructure, these are the main reasons for Hubei's success," Liu Mingyi, chief expert at the China Youth Sports and Physical Education Integration Public Policy Research Center and professor at Wuhan Sports University told the Global Times.

Liu noted that even 20 years ago, when tennis wasn't as popular, Wuhan in Hubei already boasted many tennis courts, including those at the Xinhua Road Stadium and Wuhan Sports University. "There were even indoor courts for training when weather was not good. The infrastructure was already very well-developed back then," Liu added.

He also highlighted the standardization and systematization of coaching in Hubei as key factors in the region's tennis success.

One of the most influential figures in this system is Yu Liqiao, who has shaped multiple generations of players since 1973, including both Li and Zheng. Under Yu's rigorous training, these athletes grew into world-class competitors. In Li's autobiography My Life, she recalls the intense training under Yu's guidance, which, though harsh, was emblematic of the times and also crucial to her success.

Zheng, who also trained under Yu, was later advanced to Potter's Wheel, where she honed her skills under top coaches, including Carlos Rodriguez. While there, she got the chance to have international tennis exchanges.

After the match, Zheng also reflected on the importance of "passing the torch."

"If today's victory can inspire more children to dream of playing tennis, then everything is worth it. I hope that in 10 or 20 years, you can stand on this stage," Zheng said.
Nurturing potential

Indeed, aside from tennis, many regions in China have developed distinctive features in the sports field, with regional characteristics remaining quite evident, especially based on economic and natural conditions. Each region utilizes its strengths, taking advantage of its training system and resources.

Looking back at each Olympic Games, many sports have formed "champion systems" in some specific Chinese provinces, such as table tennis in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, diving in the South China's Guangdong Province, and swimming in East China's Zhejiang Province.

"Local governments discover and nurture young talent, providing them

with training platforms and placing them in environments with suitable economic and training conditions. This is a comprehensive training system," Liu noted.

Having produced legends like Ma Lin, Ma Long, and Liu Shiwen, Liaoning Province is renowned for its dominance in table tennis. The city of Anshan, recognized by the General Administration of Sport of China, has become a crucial hub for table tennis, with a dedicated training center and the highest number of registered coaches in the country.

In Guangdong, particularly in Zhanjiang, the "Hometown of Diving," in proximity to the sea, offers an unparalleled environment for water sports.

It was here that Quan Hongchan, who was discovered at a rural elementary school by coach Chen Huaming, began her journey in diving. She then entered Zhanjiang Sports School at the age of 7 to start diving training.

Once talented individuals are identified, the school recommends them to higher-level teams. Chen recommended Quan to the Guangdong provincial diving team by sending video footage. She went on to win gold in the women's 10m platform event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcasing the success of Guangdong's comprehensive training system.

China widely organizes various sports events based on this talent identification and regional training system.

"The development of sports is indeed complex, not just limited to basic education facilities. It requires frequent competitions, guarantees, and a comprehensive training environment," Liu said.

"Now the system for training young athletes has changed as it combines the state-sponsored and market-oriented systems."

Following the opening of the International Forum on Cave Temple Conservation held in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province on Monday, more countries are seeking cooperation with the Dunhuang Academy, which boasts rich experience in relic restoration and protection with the strong support of multiple disciplines as well as world-class digitization technology. 

At the forum, experts in the preservation and research of grotto temples from 16 countries are engaging in discussions and exchanges in three sub-forums to further promote ­cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. 

During the event, the Dunhuang Academy and the heritage and museum organizations of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, held a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In addition, the event also launched a book presentation ceremony for a training course for Afghan senior professionals on archaeology and cultural artifact conservation. 

Guan Qiang, deputy head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), noted at the opening ceremony that the millennium-old Mogao Caves were located at a strategic point on the ancient Silk Road and therefore served not only as a transit point for trade between the East and West but also as a junction for religion, culture, and knowledge. 

"The Mogao Caves and other cultural treasures like India's Ajanta Caves and Cambodia's Angkor Wat are the prominent outcomes of the continuous exchanges and mutual learning in human civilization," he said. 

The level of protection and utilization of grotto temples has significantly improved, and their cultural influence has been increasingly enhanced, he noted.

Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, said at the opening ceremony that the training for Afghanistan and collaboration with Dunhuang Academy is commendable and aligns with the vision of shared prosperity and cultural exchange. 

"These efforts, whether in China or globally, showcase human ingenuity and the deep bond between culture and nature," he said.

Delegations from different countries told the Global Times that the protectors of the Mogao Caves share "universal values" in relics protection that they can all learn from.

Shakirdjan Pidaev, director of the Institute of Art Studies of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, told the Global Times on Monday that he expects more joint excavations with Chinese archaeological teams.

The Palace Museum in Beijing is fighting ticket scalping in order to provide an orderly visit experience for tourists, as it recently disclosed that during some peak hours of visit, 99 percent of ticket buyers turned out to be ticket scalpers. 

This UNESCO World Heritage site revealed to the public its anti-scalping measures and its back-end system to ensure fair chance of acquiring a ticket for the first time.

In response to the overwhelming demand, the Palace Museum plans to maintain reception capacity at 40,000 people on weekdays, the number of tickets will be increased by about 25 percent to improve accessibility for visitors during the summer.

This initiative, announced by the museum's Information Technology Department, aims to enhance accessibility during the busy summer months and will be extended to future peak periods, such as the National Day and May Day holidays. 

Additionally, the museum will continue to offer free admission to underprivileged groups, including minors, people with disabilities, active military personnel, and firefighters, ensuring these communities have access to the attraction.

With the summer vacation season in full swing, Chinese families nationwide are eager to explore the country's top cultural landmarks. 

However, many travelers are struggling to secure tickets to the Palace Museum. Recent reports indicate that scalpers have been reselling tickets for as much as 1,100 yuan ($154), with some walk-in reservations skyrocketing to 1,600 yuan. 

In stark contrast, tickets sold through the museum's official booking system are priced at just 60 yuan for the summer season.

To uphold fairness and protect consumer rights, the Palace Museum is implementing measures to isolate ticket inventory for travel agencies and individual visitors, thus preventing travel agencies from monopolizing tickets intended for the general public. 

A timed ticket release strategy will also be introduced to further combat automated ticket grabs, allowing tickets to be sold in batches at fixed intervals during high-demand periods.

To thwart scalpers, the museum's risk control engine operates at high speed every day. During the summer season, over 99 percent of ticket requests come in within a single peak hour. 

Market authorities have made it clear that using software to quickly purchase tickets for resale is a criminal offense, and emphasized their commitment to ongoing efforts to ensure fair access for all museum visitors.

The Wenhua Tower, a historical building in the heart of the Yingshan county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has recently been taken down after being one of the county's most iconic cultural landmarks for the past 18 years. 

The tower was an archaized building established 2006. It was a nine-story and 56-meter-high building characterized by ancient Chinese architecture's octagonal aesthetics. The design included four pavilions that represent the county's history birth from the unification of four different ancient counties such as Langchi and Suian ever since the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) Dynasties.  

In 2023, the Wenhua Tower was added to the conservation list of the Yingshan's first batch of historical buildings. Although it was not an architectural relic, urban planner Chen Yilan, told the Global Times that taking down the tower is a "regretful fact" since it embodies "local cultural and historical characteristics." 

The Wenhua Tower was taken down because it can "no longer be maintained and reinforced," Li Xiaohong, the director of Yingshan County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, told the media. 

Since 2014, the tower, a centerpiece of the local Cuiping Mountain cultural park, has been closed to the public. A ground settlement issue was causing the architecture a severe one-side leaning problem. Pillars that support the tower's main structure were cracked. 

In April this year, the building was evaluated as a "Grade D dangerous structure," Chen told the Global Times that the classification refers to a "property or a building the load-bearing structure of which is likely to collapse at any moment, and poses a serious safety risk to people." 

"The tower's problems emerged following the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan and in surrounding areas in Sichuan," said Li.

"Immediate assessments and well-organized plans for conservation" might have been missed in saving the tower, architectural expert Zheng Huaxin, told the Global Times, adding that a thorough examination on the architecture should have been carried out when the structure's leaning issue was first observed. 

"Adding it to the historical building list should be a mean for the locals to reinforce its condition," Zheng told the Global Times, adding that in an architect's eye, the tower "is the heart of the local community and carries great significance for the local people." 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here Thursday for an official visit to Belarus at the invitation of Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko.

During the visit, Li will hold talks with Golovchenko on bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

NBA legend Jerry West passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. Widely recognized as the silhouette in the NBA's official logo, West earned the nickname "The Logo." He was a legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers and had connections with China and Yao Ming.

While playing for the Lakers, he helped the team reach the playoffs every year, made it to the Finals nine times, and won one championship. He was named to the All-NBA First Team 12 times. During his playing career, West became the third player in NBA history to score 25,000 points.

In 1969, he became the only player from a losing team to win the NBA Finals MVP, a great story in NBA history.

West was inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: as a player in 1979; as a member of the 1960 US Olympic team in 2010; and this April as a contributor to the sport of basketball. He made significant contributions to the development of the game.

West's role in NBA management helped expand the league's presence in China. He openly expressed his love for China and offered encouragement and guidance to the young generation of Chinese players aspiring to join the NBA.

"When I first went to China, I saw countless fans surrounding us. When I walked down the street, people recognized me as Jerry West! I never thought Chinese fans would love basketball and care about the NBA so much!" West said during a China-themed NBA game.

West also highly praised Yao Ming, one of the most famous Chinese athletes. In 2002, when Yao was entering the NBA draft, West, then the president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, said, "For someone with Yao's height and build to be able to shoot and have a keen sense of the game, he is a genius player."

"Yao Ming is not only an excellent player but also a very outstanding person. He respects basketball and every player. You hope to have an international player like him in the NBA; he is a great ambassador!" West noted in 2014.

Jerry West had a great reputation among Chinese basketball fans, with many viewing him as an idol.

Chinese netizen @poppy100m mourned on social media: "The founder of the 'Showtime' era in the '80s, farewell to the legend."

@Lebron_s: "West's eye for talent was truly great. Every player he favored was outstanding. Let's all remember him."

French President Emmanuel Macron officially opened the Paris Olympic Games on Friday.

The 2024 Olympics marks the third time that Paris has hosted the Summer Games. The first was in 1900 and the last was a century ago in 1924.

China's Zou Jingyuan wins men's gymnastics parallel bars title at Paris Olympics

China's Fan Zhendong defeated Swedish athlete Truls Moregardh to secure the gold medal for China in the men's team table tennis final on Friday. Following the final, Fan took to social media to share a heartfelt message of gratitude and wishes, quoting lyrics from American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.

The lyrics came from Swift's albums Folklore and Speak Now, "From Paris to Paris, 11 years of international competition, just like 11 points in a match, with a beginning and an end," with which Fan poetically summarized his career journey and expressed his hopes for the future.

"Music is universal," Fan wrote on social media. "Great musicians like Taylor Swift bring us healing power and confidence. I hope everyone can feel the charm she offers."

Fan mimicked the iconic "crossed arms" goal celebration pose associated with French football star Kylian Mbappé, following his victory over Tomokazu Harimoto on Friday. 

During his journey at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Fan also performed Jude Bellingham's classic arms-open, eyes-closed celebration; in the semifinals against Felix Lebrun, he emulated Cristiano Ronaldo's hand-down gesture.

"They inspire me to give my all on the court, never give up, always strive to win, and dare to achieve victory," Fan explained.

Fan's connection with renowned football club Real Madrid has also attracted attention. He has frequently shared photos of himself in Real Madrid jerseys on social media and has watched matches at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to support the team.

Fan posted a photo of himself in a Real Madrid jersey on social media after winning, including a caption with the club's slogan: "Because no one can resist your desire to win."

Real Madrid also extended their congratulations through their official Weibo account, praising Fan for winning the men's singles table tennis gold medal and his spirit of perseverance.

 "Congratulations to Fan Zhendong for winning the men's singles table tennis title at the Paris 2024 Olympics and achieving a Grand Slam. We are proud of his fighting spirit," Real Madrid posted.

Sport transcends nationalities, cultures, and languages. This blend of personal interests and professional achievements makes Fan's success story even more remarkable.

"On the court, I am a dedicated athlete representing my country, having fought for national honor for over a decade. Off the court, I am just an ordinary young man with personal interests and connections, striving to be true to myself," Fan noted.

The reported meeting of China-US Financial Working Group, which was widely expected to focus on topics such as macroeconomic and financial stability, governance of the IMF and capital markets issues, signaled that despite the trade tensions, both sides are still seeking to stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies.

The reported meeting demonstrated China and the US' willingness and practical need to deepen cooperation in the financial sector, which is expected to enhance understanding and trust in bilateral relations. Also, given the relatively weak global economic growth, weaker-than-expected August jobs report in the US and fears of a hard landing for the US economy which unsettled the global market, the reported meeting is seen as a positive step toward promoting global financial stability, experts said.

However, the reported meeting took place as the US continues to escalate its crackdown on various Chinese industries, including electric vehicles (EVs) and semiconductors, which could hinder economic and trade cooperation. Experts urged the US to take concrete actions to ensure smooth communication and cooperation in the economic and trade fields.

Neither China nor the US has publicly released information on the meeting of the bilateral Financial Working Group as of press time, which would be the fifth meeting of the mechanism established in 2023 as part of efforts by the two countries to strengthen communication on economic and financial issues.

The fact that both countries are implementing the communication and exchange mechanisms is a positive signal. It shows that the two countries can still resolve some of their differences through cooperation and communication, expanding their common interests and minimizing disagreements, Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Cooperation in the financial sector is important as it can help stabilize the global economy, moving it from recovery to better growth, with immediate effects," Gao said.

The reported agenda of the meeting demonstrated that both China and the US are willing to enhance communication and coordination in the financial sector. In-depth discussions on macroeconomic and financial issues will help deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two sides, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

As the world's two largest economies, dialogue and cooperation between China and the US are also of great significance in bilateral trade and in maintaining the global economic order, Wang said. 

Mitigating economic risks

Experts noted that the need for policy coordination between China and the US is particularly highlighted. The US' weaker-than-expected unemployment rate also sounds warning of an economic recession, further underscoring the urgency of Washington to cooperate with Beijing in terms of economic and financial policies.

In this context, cooperation between China and the US in financial stability is crucial for mitigating the risks of instability from the US and the spillover impact on global market, they said.

The US unemployment rate jumped to near a three-year high of 4.3 percent in July amid a significant slowdown in hiring, heightening fears the labor market was deteriorating and potentially making the economy vulnerable to a recession, Reuters reported.

In contrast, the Chinese economy has demonstrated resilience with stronger growth momentum in July, navigating through downside risks as more pro-growth policies have kicked in. The output of industrial enterprises above the designated size went up by 5.1 percent year-on-year, while retail sales rose by 2.7 percent, official data showed Thursday. 

A broad range of key indicators maintained steady expansion, with production and demand on the rise, overall employment remaining stable, and new growth drivers building up, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Enhancing cooperation in financial stability helps maintain the stability and development of bilateral economic and trade relations, creating a more favorable business environment for both countries' enterprises, Wang said.

In the context of the rising likelihood of an interest rate cut by the Fed, coordination between the two most important global economies in monetary policy becomes even more critical in order to avoid an excessive impact and fluctuation in the global financial markets, Wang added.

US urged to stop politicizing economic issues

While talks and potential policy coordination between the two countries are in the interests of both sides as well as the global economy, the US has been escalating its crackdown against China, which has seriously deteriorated China-US trade ties, experts said.

In May this year, the Biden administration announced that it was imposing additional tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, including EVs. In June, the US Treasury Department issued draft rules to restrict certain US investments in semiconductor, AI and other high technology sectors in China.

Experts believed that the US should work with China to seek potential areas of cooperation while handling differences properly to ensure a solid foundation for mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. 

The US should stop its unfair trade practices, remove the additional tariffs, and create a level playing field for economic cooperation with China, Wang said.

Since both sides have established dialogue mechanisms, the US should improve communication with China, avoid politicizing economic and trade issues, and work toward win-win cooperation. Only in this way can both countries achieve sound economic growth, build trust, and pave the way for smooth communication and collaboration in trade, Wang added.