The main venue event of the 2026 National Fitness Day, together with the launching ceremony of Guangdong Provincial Fitness Day, was held at the Nanhai Sports Center in Foshan, Guangdong, on August 8.
This year's National Fitness Day featured two national main venues: Nanhai (Foshan, Guangdong) and Hegang (Heilongjiang). As the southern venue, Nanhai delivered a sports carnival that blended performances, competitions, industry exhibitions and leisure activities—bringing a top-tier fitness gala right to residents' doorsteps.
At 8:30 a.m., the opening ceremony kicked off in the basketball arena at the Nanhai Sports Center, featuring three signature cultural-and-sports performances. The Essence of Nanhai, performed by a 900-strong lineup from local sports and martial arts associations, presented the beauty of Lingnan martial arts and traditional culture. The City of Vitality followed, with 550 performers from university clubs and the Nanhai Wushu Association. The Youth Champions featured students from Henggang Primary School in Shishan Town, accompanied by 20 lion dancers and two colorful dragon props. All three performances incorporated local Nanhai cultural elements such as Wing Chun, lion dance and colorful dragon dance, fully showcasing the region's cultural and sporting flair.
After the ceremony, the day's core competitions got underway. In the main arena, the 2026 Nanhai Lion Dance Championship and Greater Bay Area Invitational kicked off with great fanfare, bringing together 40 lion dance troupes from across the Greater Bay Area, with about 500 athletes competing. The arena echoed with drumbeats and energetic lion movements—student teams demonstrated the success of Nanhai's campus-based lion dance programs, while community-run teams impressed with exquisite skills and creative routines.
At the same time, the 2026 Aerospace Sports League (Shishan Station) and the Greater Bay Area Drone Soccer Brushless-Motor Open took place in the auxiliary hall at the Nanhai Sports Center. Top drone soccer teams from the Greater Bay Area competed head-to-head.
Beyond the two main competitions, the Nanhai Sports Center hosted a wide range of public fitness activities throughout the day, catering to citizens of different ages and interests. Total participation was expected to exceed 5,000 person-times.
Reporter: Sun Jingfeng
Photos: Liao Mingcan
