Mermaid performers make splash at inaugural Asian Cup in Hainan

After two days of thrilling competition, the 2024 China Mermaid Open Grand Final and the inaugural Asian Cup concluded on Friday at Atlantis Sanya in south China's Hainan Province, signaling a new milestone in the development of mermaiding and water sports in Asia.

The event brought together over 70 athletes from across the continent, showcasing not only the grace and athleticism of mermaiding but also the growing appeal of water sports to Asians.

Friday's freestyle skills competitions were a highlight of the Asian Cup, with champions decided based on combined scores from the two-day event. China's Guo Ke claimed the men's singles title with a performance inspired by the legendary Monkey King, or Sun Wukong from Chinese folklore.

"I am very satisfied [with my overall performance], especially with my makeup and styling. However, there's room for improvement in terms of technique, for example, in handling unexpected situations and recovering smoothly from mistakes. The character of the Monkey King, in particular, is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and resonates strongly with the audience," said the men's singles champion.

Guo's teammate, Huang Xiaoying, finished first in both prescribed skills and freestyle skills to win the women's singles title. Huang also competed in the team event, where her excellent performance helped secure the championship for Team China.

"I would give myself a 90 [out of 100] because I felt a bit rushed during my performance today, probably due to excitement and nervousness. That said, winning the women's solo championship as well as our [team]'s championship makes me very happy and genuinely thrilled," said Huang.

"Looking ahead to next year, training will remain a regular part of my routine alongside my work. As for competitions, I'll keep an eye on the events announced in our country and decide which cities to visit. It'll also give me a chance to explore the local cuisine," said the athlete.

The successful conclusion of the event signals a bright future for mermaiding in the region. Atlantis Sanya Vice President Heidi Perez Cao Jorge Ova expressed enthusiasm about the event's impact on the sport's growth.

"We are so glad that this competition has finished successfully today and we have the first Asian Mermaid champion. How exciting is this? We hope that through this competition, more and more young people will be inspired and learn about the sport and join it," said the vice president.

"With professional advice from the government, hard works from both judges and the staff, we have the confidence to host more world-class competitions in the very near future and we are already planning for it," she said.

Mermaid performers make splash at inaugural Asian Cup in Hainan

China's latest high-speed train model has reached 450 kilometers per hour in test runs, pushing the frontier of the country's high-end manufacturing and further underpinning its strategy of promoting industrial upgrading through technological innovation.

The CR450 high-speed train, China's newest-generation high-speed train, has completed half of its road tests, marking a milestone for the country's railway industry and reflecting closer integration between manufacturing and research, according to a leading railway scientist.

"Extensive work has been carried out on the CR450 project since 2025, and significant progress has been made. So far, the train has completed about 300,000 kilometers of testing, with more than half of the evaluation process already finished," said Zhao Hongwei, a chief researcher at the China Academy of Railway Sciences.

Developed entirely with independent intellectual property rights, the CR450 also demonstrates stronger resilience in China's industrial supply chains. The project is boosting related sectors such as machinery, metallurgy, electronics and chemicals, as key components are now produced domestically.

"A high-speed train is a highly complex piece of engineering equipment. We estimate it contains more than 40,000 components, along with multiple control systems. These parts come from many different sectors, supported by an entire industrial ecosystem. So projects like this naturally drive the development of the broader industrial chain," said Zhao.

The train also offers a glimpse of the direction China's manufacturing sector is heading for, as the government has pledged during this year's" two sessions" to promote the full integration between technological and industrial innovation.

Speaking at the Ministers' Corridor during the annual meetings, Li Lecheng, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized the need to translate scientific breakthroughs into tangible industrial progress.

"We will follow the principle that industry sets the questions and technology provides the answers. A new round of initiatives will upgrade key manufacturing supply chains, drive breakthroughs across the entire chain, and speed up their conversion into new quality productive forces," said Li.

China’s new high-speed train unveils ambition to bridge technology, manufacturing