beijing
When the arc of a tennis ball soaring through the air intersects with the vitality of Guangzhou's Nansha District, a grand feast of cultural exchange themed around sports kicks off. On the evening of November 24, international live streamers, internet influencers and Generation Z foreign youth participating in the 2025 "China Travel·Nansha State of Mind - Live Exploration and Immersion with Global Creators" event gathered at the Guangzhou Nansha International Tennis Center. Taking tennis as a medium, they experienced the sports vitality of the Greater Bay Area and explored Nansha's international charm and cultural inclusiveness through swinging rackets and interacting with each other.
Group photo of the event
Photo by Huang Shi
As a landmark tennis venue with the most complete types of courts and supporting facilities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Nansha International Tennis Center covers a total area of 145,000 square meters. It boasts 32 tennis courts as well as comprehensive supporting facilities including hotels, catering services and fitness centers.
Pakistani international live streamer and influencer Fan Zan learning to play tennis Photo by Huang Shi
At the event site, foreign internet influencers held professional tennis equipment to personally experience the joy of swinging rackets, and constantly recorded this professional sports scene by the courts. "The facilities here are amazing! With such complete supporting services, they are fully up to the standard of international competitions!" exclaimed Fan Zan, an international live streamer and influencer from Pakistan, while filming the courts.
A set of figures outlines the development path of tennis in Nansha: since its operation in 2020, the Nansha International Tennis Center has successfully held 136 tournaments and events. Among them, 32 events are scheduled for 2025, with the total number of event days exceeding 220 throughout the year. Since 2023, it has successfully hosted the WTA Guangzhou International Women's Tennis Open and the ATP Guangzhou Nansha International Tennis Challenger for three consecutive years. "I didn't expect to see such a dense schedule of international events in Nansha, which shows that the tennis atmosphere here is extremely strong. If you have time, you can also come to experience this international and youthful place," said Nguyen Thi Thanh Thanh, an international live streamer and influencer from Vietnam.
Vietnamese international live streamer and influencer Nguyen Thi Thanh Thanh Photo by Huang Shi
The surprises of the visit extended far more than that. The youth training system of Juntai International Tennis Academy became the focus of everyone's attention. The academy has introduced a professional European coaching team and an advanced Spanish training system, attracting more than 40 young elite players from across the country for long-term training, including many who rank among the top 10 in the nation. What's more remarkable is that from 2024 to 2025, the academy's students have won a total of 15 championships in national and international youth tournaments. Local athletes from Nansha have achieved outstanding results in provincial and municipal competitions, bringing honor to Guangzhou many times.
Zhang Hao, a Generation Z foreign youth from Bangladesh and also a tennis enthusiast with nearly two years of learning experience, praised sincerely: "When I first started learning tennis, not many Chinese people around me played the sport. After being inspired by Olympic champions, a tennis boom emerged, and many people came to learn and play tennis. It's really great to see so many people participating in tennis."
Zhang Hao, a Generation Z foreign youth from Bangladesh
Photo by Huang Shi
Looking beyond the youth training achievements to the global stage, the center's international cooperation network is equally eye-catching. It is understood that the Nansha International Tennis Center is a partner of three major international tennis organizations - WTA, ATP and ITF. Furthermore, it has established long-term cooperation mechanisms with world-class institutions such as the National Tennis Centre (UK) and the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Spain, continuously injecting global resources into the development of tennis in Nansha. This open and integrated posture has also made it a popular choice for tennis enthusiasts from Hong Kong and Macao to travel north for sports and consumption.
Zhang Hao, a Generation Z foreign youth from Bangladesh, exchanging tennis skills Photo by Huang Shi
The small tennis ball not only serves as a link connecting international exchanges but also vividly reflects Nansha's modernization drive based on the Greater Bay Area and embracing the world. A brand-new story about sports, culture and urban development is starting from this land thriving with tennis passion and moving towards a broader stage.
Copyright ©1997- by CRI Online All rights reserved
