Multiple Regions Host Dragon Boat, Table Tennis, and Nighttime Cultural Tourism Events as Japanese Civic Groups Call for Peace

From Oct. 3 to 4, multiple cultural tourism, sports, and civic events unfolded in China and abroad. In Wanning, Hainan, the 2026 Hainan Free Trade Port Rural Dragon Boat Race Wanning Finals welcomed its first competition day on the 3rd at Gangbei Port in Hele Town. Twenty local Hainan teams and eight invited teams competed in multiple rounds of 100-meter, 200-meter, and 500-meter straight-course races on a natural lagoon course. ^[1]

In Fu'an, Ningde, Fujian, the second “Family Fu’an” Fu’an Table Tennis Tournament, themed “Ping-Pong, Family Fu’an,” opened on the evening of the 3rd. The event adopted a model of “professional premium events + mass fitness events + all-area carnival economy,” using the National Day holiday as an opportunity to achieve “one event, activating consumption in a city, and driving cultural tourism across the region.” Table tennis world champions Chen Xinhua, Guo Yuehua, Chen Zihe, and others attended the opening ceremony. ^[3]

In Hezhou, Guangxi, during the National Day holiday, many places rolled out distinctive nighttime cultural tourism activities. Bonfire golden hits galas and music festivals were staged one after another, deeply blending mountain-and-water night views with cultural performances. This created an immersive holiday experience for residents and visitors and continuously invigorated nighttime cultural tourism consumption. ^[6]

In terms of natural scenery, a natural tidal tree spectacle appeared in autumn at Red Beach in Panjin, Liaoning. ^[2] In cultural reporting, China News Service published a report on Oct. 4 titled “(Savoring China | Craftsmanship) Cheongsam Holds Hong Kong Charm, Needle and Thread Conceal a Universe.” ^[5]

Internationally, several Japanese civic groups jointly held a “War Exhibition” on the 3rd in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, displaying historical materials about Japan’s launching of an aggressive war during World War II, calling on Japanese society to uphold peace and opposing the Takaichi government’s moves to expand the military and amend the constitution. The organizers said they hoped these displays would allow the Japanese public to correctly understand history and prevent Japan from once again taking the path of war. ^[4]