How a Basketball Game Electrified an Entire City

This summer, Huangyan's "Village BA"—modeled after the NBA—captivated the city, blending local dialects with basketball and street food with cheering crowds. The 2025 event featured 28 local teams competing over 22 days, drawing over 100,000 spectators. Beyond entertainment, it awakened Huangyan's passion for basketball, grassroots dreams, and deep-rooted hometown pride, proving its resonance as more than a game.

Court highlights—game-winning shots, dramatic comebacks—rivaled professional leagues. Players, often neighbors or coworkers, created a heartwarming atmosphere. Shanghai fan Chen Lei was moved by event videos showcasing Huangyan's scenery and delicacies—and the event itself has sparked tourism growth. The Huangyan District Sports Development Center promoted "Travel Huangyan with Village BA" routes, including nightly kayak rentals at Shabu Town's Fan'er Village and the China Citrus Exposition Park basketball court, now a landmark. Director Li Lüxi emphasized using sports to elevate tourism.

The event also became a cultural stage: opening ceremonies blended dialect songs, Huangyan guci (drum ballads), and street dance. Taizhou Yongning Industrial Investment Group Co., Ltd.'s pop-up market offered celadon wheel-throwing and Song Dynasty-inspired attire. Organizer Wang Bin noted this year's focus on folk performances, local prizes, and breaking the notion that "culture belongs only in museums." Post-game, attendees explored cultural landmarks.

For rural revitalization, Yangtou Village leveraged the event to renovate courts, expand roads, and add greenery. Evening games became a ritual for villagers like Shi Tianxiang, merging rural infrastructure with urban resources through the event. Huangyan's "15-minute fitness circle" reflects its lasting legacy: a lifestyle shift, an urban-rural bridge, and a catalyst for cultural confidence.