Global athletes snatch up China-made goods during Chengdu World Games

As the 2025 World Games draw to a close in southwest China's Chengdu, athletes and visitors from around the globe are celebrating athletic achievements with a shopping spree, taking advantage of the city's famously vibrant selection of retail offerings.

From high-tech gadgets to local cultural souvenirs and mouthwatering street food, foreign athletes have been enthusiastically embracing Chengdu's consumer culture, transforming the city's bustling commercial hubs into international gathering spots.

Near the Games' conclusion, the Egyptian Wushu Sanda team made a final stop at Chengdu's bustling Hehuachi Market, a renowned wholesale and retail hub. The team's head coach Rami Kamel was shopping for souvenirs and other goods to bring home.

"The people are perfect. Everybody here smiles in your face. The hospitality is wonderful," said Kamel.

Another popular destination has been the New Century Global Center -- a colossal complex with a total floor area of 1.76 million square meters, recognized as Asia's largest single-building structure. For many international guests, it's a must-visit landmark.

"We know that it's the biggest building in Asia, and it's why we want to visit it. And we are really passionate to visit it," said Clemence Laroche, a member of the French delegation.

Austrian athlete Noel Salzburger was equally impressed with Chengdu's diverse architecture.

"I think it's a very cool city, [with] very big buildings and a very crazy mall, because back in Austria, we don't have this big of buildings. It's crazy," said Salzburger.

New Zealand's athlete Pheline Rosin praised not only the variety, but also the quality of the goods they found in the city.

"Whatever you want, it's there, you can get it. It's pretty cheap as well, [with] good quality, and the food is really good," said Rosin.

Ease of payment has also won high marks. Chengdu has rolled out comprehensive foreign-card payment coverage across key tourist sites, shopping districts, hotels, and scenic spots, allowing international visitors to shop with convenience.

Multiple commercial zones now feature centralized tax refund centers or in-store "instant refund" services, making the shopping experience seamless for overseas travelers.

"It's easy for us to travel, to (go) shopping. Everybody is very kind. We just have to ask if we don't know where to go," said Agnes Legroux, another member of the French delegation.

As Chengdu pushes forward in building itself into a global hub for consumption and tourism, the city is leveraging this international event to open its doors wider than ever.

First held in 1981 and staged every four years, the World Games is the highest-level international multi-sport event outside the Olympic Games, featuring sports and disciplines that are not on the Olympic program. This year's competition runs from Aug. 7 to 17.

Global athletes snatch up China-made goods during Chengdu World Games

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media