Liyang City of east China's Jiangsu Province has introduced stunning drone shows and preferential policies to entertain football fans and tourists who are drawn to the city by the local grassroots football league.
The Jiangsu Provincial City Football League, dubbed the "Su Super League," features 13 teams each representing a city in Jiangsu. The event has stirred football fever across China, with online viewership soaring into the hundreds of millions.
With matches running from May through to November, the amateur championship has now entered its sixth round as the competition heats up through the summer.
As night falls, a spectacular drone show celebrating the football league is staged at a lakeside park in the city of Liyang, drawing cheers from visitors.
"I saw it and it was absolutely stunning, very impressive," said a tourist.
Alongside the drone show, various entertainment options including water lanterns in the park have also fascinated many tourists.
"We are very enthusiastic, just like today's hot weather, as we take in the beautiful scenery of the poetic water town," said another tourist.
To capitalize on the football events' popularity and boost cultural tourism, local scenic areas are launching various promotional initiatives to draw in more visitors.
"Thanks to the Su Super League and the rich activities available in the scenic area, the number of tourists has skyrocketed, leading to a 50 percent year-on-year increase in hotel occupancy rates," said Chen Xuping, a staff member of the lakeside park.
Chinese city capitalizes on popular grassroots football league to attract tourists
