Following Chinese players winning the World Snooker Championship for two consecutive years in 2025 and 2026, public interest in the sport across China has surged dramatically, according to official data.
The 2026 World Snooker Championship, won by Chinese player Wu Yize, accumulated 549 million video views across the World Snooker Tour's (WST) Chinese social media accounts -- a 241-percent increase compared to the previous edition, WST data showed.
Nearly one month after Wu's victory, statistics from major social platforms show that the number of snooker or billiard-focused content creators has grown by 29 percent year on year, while the volume of snooker or billiard-related discussions has risen by approximately 31 percent.
Driven by the star effect, a growing number of young people are taking up the sport. Gathering with friends for a game of snooker or billiard after work has become a popular form of leisure and social interaction.
"There are many self-service snooker clubs in Shenzhen. It's very convenient, as we can just scan the QR code and start playing. It feels great, especially the moment you pot a ball. Many of my friends also love this sport, and we take it as a way to socialize," said a billiard enthusiast in south China's Shenzhen City.
The billiard booms not only in first-tier megacities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but also in some smaller cities in China.
"We really enjoy playing billiard. I come about four or five days a week. It's easy to learn," another billiard fan said.
According to data from the Chinese Billiard Sports Association, there are more than 245 million active billiard fans across China. China has over 200,000 snooker and billiards clubs nationwide, and more than 550,000 snooker and billiard-related businesses.
Chinese players' world snooker championship bids ignite public enthusiasm for billiards
A series of cross-Strait exchange activities have been held in north China's Shanxi Province, providing platforms for people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to explore shared history, culture, and business opportunities.
A ceremony worshiping Emperor Yandi, a legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, was held in Gaoping, a county-level city in Shanxi on May 24.
The worship ceremony featured rituals including incense offering, the reading of eulogies, ritual bowing, and traditional Chinese instrument performances. The solemn event brought together people from both sides of the Strait, strengthening their shared sense of cultural belonging and deepening consensus around a common Chinese identity.
"Because (in Taiwan), we've known since childhood that we are descendants of Emperor Yandi and Emperor Huangdi, so attending this ceremony really meant a lot to me," said Hsieh Yu-Chan, a Taiwan resident.
"It truly gives me the feeling of being as the descendants of Yandi and Huangdi. I was deeply moved. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come again next year," said another Taiwan resident.
Shanxi Province has a solid industrial base and a favorable business environment. The province has rolled out preferential policies for Taiwan residents, attracting more than 100 Taiwan-funded enterprises to invest and settle in.
On May 23, an event highlighting cross-Strait business exchanges was held in the province's Jincheng City, attracting nearly 150 Taiwan businesspeople and youths, enhancing mutual understanding and exploring business opportunities.
"(Shanxi's) cultural tourism, healthcare, and coal chemical industries, in particular, offer excellent opportunities for Taiwan businesses, while Taiwan businesses are also very strong in producing key components for AI computing power. The prospects [for cooperation] are very promising," said Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland.
"The mainland's economy is actually very strong. I think the success rate of starting a business and investing here is at least twice as high as in Taiwan. So I encourage young people in Taiwan to come and visit more often," said Chang Han-hsuan, a businessman.
During the event, participants also visited local enterprises, a short video production base, and popular tourist attractions across Shanxi.
Cross-Strait cultural, business exchange activities held in Shanxi
