Stadiums across China are open to the public for free this summer to immerse sports enthusiasts in a world of sporty joy.
In Guangzhou, capital city of south China's Guangdong Province, the locals are able to book swimming pools, badminton and basketball courts online via their smart phones.
In Kunming, capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province, several sports complexes free of charge are teeming with residents.
In Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, the authorities have built 31 large sports parks, 16,700 fitness paths and more than 1,700 outdoor sports facilities for the people.
By the end of 2023, China boasted nearly 4.593 million sports venues, with an area of 4.071 billion square meters, an increase of 171 percent and 104.4 percent, respectively, over 2013.
The per capita sports ground reached 2.89 square meters, achieving the goal of 2.6 square meters proposed in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) in advance.
Chinese stadiums open to public for free amid summer heat
Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.
In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.
Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.
In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.
"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.
"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.
"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.
Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.
The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.
Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai
