BEIJING: Approximately two months after the conclusion of the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese people’s enthusiasm for sports is driving an increase in travel and consumption during the week-long National Day holiday, with numerous visitors swarming into sports venues to participate in or watch various sports activities. On the holiday, which lasts from Oct. 1 to 7, a saddle club in Changchun, the capital of northeast China’s Jilin Province, saw the number of reservations doubling to more than 100 courses a day.
“In addition to locals who bring their children for equestrian courses, many tourists and horse lovers from other parts of China come for horse riding,” said Zhang Jianpeng, the club manager. Dressed in riding gear, Wang Tianyu practiced controlling the rein and jumping over obstacles on horseback under the guidance of a coach.
“I want to make use of the holiday to improve my equestrian skills, and also enjoy the autumn scenery and delicious food here. The experience is particularly fulfilling and enjoyable,” said Wang, from Henan Province.
In August, China’s State Council issued guidelines to promote high-quality development in service consumption, including expanding sports facilities, encouraging diverse sporting events and deepening pilot projects to stimulate sports-related spending. –Agencies
