15th National Games' cross-region cycling race adds new connectivity in Greater Bay Area

The Men's Individual Road Cycling Race of China’s 15th National Games opened Saturday, marking a historic milestone as the first cross-region event in the games' history that spans across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, showing strong connectivity in south China's Greater Bay Area.

The 231.8-kilometer race set off from the Zhuhai Museum, taking 103 cyclists across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest sea-crossing bridge. They entered Hong Kong and Macao through seamless customs clearance at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. After more than five hours on the road, all riders successfully crossed the finish line.

As riders crossed three regions on a groundbreaking route, the race became more than a competition; it stood as a powerful symbol of connection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"After we complete our work in Macao, we will hand it over to the Zhuhai section. Our mainland colleagues will continue to be responsible for medical and road-clearing work. This time, we can achieve seamless connectivity and no interruption in between," said Addy Chan Kuai Son, a volunteer for the 15th National Games.

"I was incredibly excited to be here today to watch the National Games road cycling race. This is a race spanning three regions for the first time in National Games history. As a dweller in the Greater Bay Area, I feel extremely proud and honored. When the athletes competed across three regions, I felt a strong sense of unity and a close bond within the Greater Bay Area," said Li Yunshan, a student of Macao University of Science and Technology.

The 15th National Games will officially open on Sunday across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, marking the first time for the three regions to co-host the country's premier multi-sport event.

The National Games, held every four years, are China's highest-level and largest national multi-sports event. The last edition in 2021 saw over 12,000 athletes compete in the northwestern province of Shaanxi.

15th National Games' cross-region cycling race adds new connectivity in Greater Bay Area

A specialized fair opened in downtown Shanghai on Friday, aiming at breathing new life into China's time-honored brands and bolstering their appeal among modern consumers.

The event serves as a key platform to showcase the heritage of these iconic labels by integrating traditional craftsmanship with contemporary market trends.

A total of 44 quality time-honored brands gathered at the fair showcasing their classic products and innovated versions.

"We saw many new products [of the time-honored brands]. They are improved versions," said Chang, a local resident.

Time-honored brands are the pacesetters of Chinese industrial and commercial development. They embody a mix of fine Chinese cultural traditions, the nostalgia of everyday life, and rich economic and cultural values, making them popular among consumers.

In recent years, Shanghai has stepped up its efforts to nurture and support these brands, encouraging them to preserve their heritage while driving growth through innovation, thereby helping to continuously stimulate consumer demand.

Some brands maintain an annual product refresh rate of around 30 percent and have launched numerous hit products through cross-industry collaborations and business model innovations.

"Young designers make up a large proportion of our team. We also do collaborations with popular IP characters, using modern aesthetics to reinterpret traditional crafts in our designs," said Cao Jingyi, a jewelry designer from a Chinese time-honored brand.

Shanghai launches specialized fair for time-honored brands to spur consumption