What happens when sports and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) meet? The traditional ICH sport of diabolo, with its tosses, spins and flips, captivated the audience with its spectacular performance, arousing bursts of applause.

As the Dragon Boat Festival drew near, on June 9, the "Gathering of ICH Sports, Rise of China Chic" Yangpu Wujiaochang ICH Culture and Sports Experience Week kicked off in the historical conservation area of Jiangwan Stadium. The dazzling programs and activities not only delighted the eyes of the public, but also made ICH items perceptible and accessible.

Wang Hao, Deputy Head of Yangpu District; Hu Lin, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Yangpu District Committee, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director General of the Yangpu Culture and Tourism Administration; Tang Jiayun, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director General of the Yangpu Sports Bureau (YSB); Qin Heng, Secretary of the Party Work Committee and Director of the People's Congress Work Committee of Wujiaochang Sub-district; Yu Hua, Deputy Director General of YSB; Shao Xiaoyan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Work Committee of Wujiaochang Sub-district; and other leaders and guests attended the opening ceremony.

At the venue, the organizers set up two areas: an ICH display area and a sports market. ICH items like tiger-head shoes, palm leaf weaving, fitness Qigong and Mianquan boxing attracted the attention of visitors. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and joy.

Palm leaf weaving, a municipal ICH item from Wujiaochang, and Mianquan boxing, which has gone from Yangpu to the world, are both national ICH items. The latter, derived from ancient Mianquan, is a Han Chinese boxing characterized by its smooth, gentle and fluid movements, and has been recognized as a national ICH item.

Everyone reveled in the festive atmosphere, embracing the charm of traditional culture and the passion of sports. Residents said that the combination of ICH and sports during the traditional Dragon Boat Festival feels intimate and significant.

This year also marks the Paris Olympics and the 4th Yangpu Sports Games. To further the national strategy of fitness for all at the community level, Wujiaochang, under the guidance of YSB and in collaboration with Jiangwan Sports Center, has crafted the Sports Season for All. The program includes a variety of competitive events, skill experiences and health lectures, with nearly 80 sessions in total.

On the day of the event, both the "Shanghai Cup" 10s Rugby Open and the "Wujiaochang Cup" Land Rowing Competition were in full swing at Jiangwan Stadium. The sun shone brightly over the verdant field, where athletes from across the globe exerted themselves, drawing throngs of spectators to cheer them on.

On the other side, the dragon boat-inspired rowing machines were lined up for competition, featuring both team relay and individual challenge events. During the breaks, families with children took to the machines for interactive experiences, discovering the joy of "land dragon boat racing", and embracing a sense of fulfillment and delight.

Held at century-old Jiangwan Stadium, the event not only catered to the cultural and sports needs of residents, but also, through the synergy of business, tourism, culture and sports, served as a vital driver for local consumption and urban vitality.

The excitement will continue in the coming week with an array of diverse activities such as Song Dynasty-style tea ceremony, ICH-themed Peking Opera films and Baduanjin wellness exercises, all of which are anticipated to engage residents with enthusiasm.

Wujiaochang, based on the cultural and sports needs of its residents, has attempted to integrate ICH with sports health. By staging a series of events at Jiangwan Stadium, a landmark with a long history, it aims to harness the collective power of business, tourism, culture and sports to fuel local consumption and arouse urban vitality. Diverse formats and content of the activities were designed to enrich the festive atmosphere.