Over 1,200 anglers hooked on Shengzhong Lake at int'l fishing competition

More than 1,200 anglers from around the world are casting their lines for the 15th China Shengzhong Lake International Fishing Competition in Nanchong City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The event kicked off with a color-filled opening ceremony on Monday. This year features three main events: the National Pond Fishing Competition, the National Reservoir Fishing Competition, and the International Boat Fishing Competition.

Many returning international competitors said Shengzhong Lake has become an unforgettable gathering place for anglers, bringing together sport and cultural exchange.

"It's my fourth time already here on the Shengzhou Lake and my heart goes pumping when I see this invitation. I have so many friends here from all over the world and meet them again, we get super excited. We met for hot pot with I think 15 people, 10 nations, and this is always a great, great experience," said Edi Brader, an angler from Austria.

"I love it here, and I love the fishing and the excitement and everything, and the people around, all the organizers and all the competitors. I love it all. It's perfect. I love it here," said Danish angler Dennis.

"If you look at it as just a competition, I think you here for the wrong reasons. It's the people, it's the atmosphere. It's like the opening ceremony, it's all spectacular. Once you come here, you want to come back straight away, so it is wonderful," said Jack, an angler from Australia.

Shengzhong Lake has been hosting the competition since 2009. This year's event runs through Sept. 24. Alongside the fishing events, competitors and spectators enjoy local food, traditional crafts and specialty products, while experiencing the fishing culture and beautiful scenery.

Over 1,200 anglers hooked on Shengzhong Lake at int'l fishing competition

In an ancient village in central China's Hubei Province, residents are blending time-honored harvest customs with cultural tourism to share the charm of rural China with visitors from around the world.

As autumn arrives, Dayuwan Village is bursting with the season's bounty. Red chilies, golden corn and pumpkins dry in bamboo trays across the streets, courtyards and rooftops, several inscribed with blessings for good weather and a full harvest. Locals call it "shai qiu" - drying the autumn, a custom that has turned from an everyday chore into a festive display, one that now attracts international visitors.

Among those drawn to the village are Azaliia and her friends, for whom the tour offers a window into how people live in another country.

"We want to explore Chinese culture because it's so exciting for us to see how people from other countries live, and their history," she said.

The natural surroundings also caught the attention of her friend Ekaterina.

"Also we have never been to the countryside before in China, and it's very nice to see the nature here and to see how people do these activities in the countryside," she said.

The village is encouraging visitors to do more than watch. To boost rural tourism, Dayuwan has opened its fields to guests, who can work alongside local farmers and try their own hand at the harvest.

For Azaliia, the trip offered the chance to experience the China beyond the guidebooks.

"We are so happy that we have this opportunity to visit and see with our eyes the real China," she said.

By turning its 650-year-old farming traditions into a draw for rural tourism, Dayuwan shows how a village rooted in the rhythms of the seasons keeps its heritage alive.

Ancient Hubei village turns harvest tradition into global tourism draw