SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.
"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."
The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.
The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.
In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"
Steady operating performance, innovation-driven growth, and ESG integration reinforce long-term value creation
ZHENGZHOU, China, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yutong Bus ("Yutong", SHA: 600066), a global commercial vehicle manufacturer, delivered steady and sustainable operating performance in 2025 as it continued advancing the global transition toward low-carbon public transportation. In 2025, Yutong Bus delivered 49,518 vehicles, marking a 5.54% year-on-year increase.
 
Yutong's bus sales increased by 5.54% in 2025, continuing to advance technological innovation, social commitment, and environmental responsibility worldwide.
Robust Business Performance and Win-Win Partnerships with Public Transport Operators
In 2025, Yutong continued to expand its investments across Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. By establishing direct service stations and regional spare parts centers, the company enhanced post-sales vehicle reliability and operational uptime. The launch of its service brand, EnRoute+, demonstrated Yutong's commitment to providing more efficient, intelligent, and scenario-specific support throughout the whole vehicle lifecycle.
Innovation-Driven Achievements
Building on its solid operational track record, Yutong maintains annual R&D expenditures above 5% of its operating revenue. The company launched its EV Long-life Tech, which achieves a breakthrough lifespan of 15 years or 1.5 million km for pure electric buses through key innovations in batteries, motors, and electronic control systems. Meanwhile, Yutong's product innovation has also gained industry recognition. At the 2025 Busworld Europe in Belgium, the Yutong T14E and U15 models were awarded the "Grand Award Coach " and the "Grand Award Bus" respectively.
Product performance and operational reliability were validated through international market applications. In the Philippines, Yutong's C12Pro model recorded a 12% reduction in fuel consumption per 100 km compared with the previous generation. In Europe, the IC12E battery electric intercity bus completed 1,200 km of full-scenario testing across four Nordic countries, demonstrating adaptability under diverse operating conditions. In Ghana, Yutong V6 van achieved a combined fuel consumption of 9.2 L/100 km. In Kazakhstan, the maximum operating mileage of a single Yutong C12Pro vehicle can reach 2 million km.
Collaboration and Shared Growth with Society
Yutong works hand-in-hand with operators worldwide to deepen cooperation, achieving a strong integration of corporate and shared social commitment.
In Central Asia, Yutong's cumulative bus deliveries have exceeded 10,000 units. In Pakistan, 400 pure electric buses were delivered in 2025; in Chile, 372; and in Greece, 100. In the fourth quarter, Yutong delivered 723 buses in Morocco for the African International Sports Tournament to support event transportation. At the same time, the company actively promotes global localization and employment, creating a range of stable local jobs and continuously strengthening ties with host communities.
Long-Term Practices in Sustainable Development
Yutong values ESG management and is committed to driving sustainable development through systematic and long-term practices. In 2025, the company received an 81‑point EcoVadis Gold rating, reflecting strong performance across sustainability, ethics, and responsible supply chain management.
Environmental initiatives included the continued expansion of Yutong's "Net Zero Forest" project, supporting the planting of approximately 47,000 trees across China, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, fulfilling its green commitment of "One Bus, One Tree." The company also deepened community engagement through public advocacy and education programs, including" Let's Go Green" campaign to promote public transportation in countries like Greece and "School Bus Safety Tour" initiatives in Kazakhstan, promoting road safety awareness and responsible mobility for children.
In 2026, Yutong will always remain committed to its mission of "Bring enjoyable travels to the public and create greater value for customers". Together with global partners, the company remains committed to advancing sustainable public transportation systems and contributing to a greener, more inclusive future for global mobility.
For more info, please visit https://en.yutong.com/.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Yutong Bus Reports Continued Sales Growth in 2025, Advancing Sustainable Public Transportation Worldwide
