Since tipping off on March 21, the Guangdong City Basketball League has been gathering momentum across 21 cities in the province. Now, as the tournament heads into its fifth round on April 25, the intensity on court continues to rise. Beyond the competition itself, attention is also turning to how teams are expressing their identity off the court.
A series of AI-generated visuals is also linking the 21 teams to the landmarks and cultural symbols of their respective cities.
Meizhou: Hakka walled complex & plum blossoms
Meizhou's jersey design draws on the silhouette of a Hakka walled complex, known locally as Weilongwu, a traditional circular earthen structure closely associated with Hakka culture in southern China. Meizhou is a city in northeastern Guangdong Province near the border with Fujian, and it is widely regarded as one of the key centers of Hakka heritage in China.
Shaped by centuries of migration and settlement, the region has become one of the best culturally preserved Hakka areas in the country.
Within this context, the walled complex is more than architecture. It reflects traditional clan-based living, with its enclosed layout symbolizing unity, shared identity, and collective resilience, ideas often associated with Hakka culture.
The plum blossom also carries local cultural significance. It was officially designated as the city flower of Meizhou in 1993, and is widely associated with resilience in difficult conditions, a quality often linked to the phrase "bitter cold, sweet scent." Blooming in the cold of winter while retaining its fragrance, it is widely seen as a symbol of endurance and the ability to thrive in adversity.
Together, the design elements point to a visual identity rooted in community and continuity, shaped by cultural heritage and expressed through sport.
Huizhou: West Lake & Sizhou Pagoda
Huizhou's jersey design is anchored by Sizhou Pagoda, a historic tower located on an island in Huizhou West Lake in central Guangdong Province to the east of Guangzhou.
China's most famous West Lake is in Hangzhou, but Huizhou also has its own West Lake. Its early development began in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), when local official Chen Cheng helped manage and modify the lake, which was then called "Fenghu."
The name "West Lake" came later, after the famous poet Su Shi was relegated to an official post in Huizhou. In a poem written during his exile in Huizhou, he referred to "Fenghu" as "West Lake," and the name has been used ever since.
The Sizhou Pagoda was first built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and later rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It remains one of the oldest surviving structures in the West Lake area and a key landmark of the city. It is also one of the three ancient pagodas that once stood in Huizhou's urban area. The structure is an octagonal, pavilion-style tower, a traditional form of Chinese architecture rarely seen elsewhere.
Huizhou West Lake is known for its calm waters, small islands, willow trees, and arched bridges, creating a landscape where nature and the city blend.
Text: Li Muzi, Tan Guanzhou (Intern)
Poster: Tan Guanzhou (Intern)
