A whitewater sports venue in Guangzhou's Baiyun District has unveiled innovative eco-friendly upgrades ahead of the 15th National Games, leveraging natural landscapes and smart engineering to reduce energy use and enhance athlete performance.
The Guangdong Whitewater Canoeing Centre is set to host kayaking and canoeing events this November.
The 225-meter competition channel now utilizes a 4-meter natural elevation drop from the adjacent Liuxi River, replacing pump-driven water systems with gravity-fed currents. This design cuts 90% of conventional energy demands while maintaining world-class rapids. An underground water storage system also addresses dry-season water shortages, ensuring reliable flows year-round.
Athletes gain efficiency from a new conveyor system: instead of carrying boats uphill after runs, they ride a current-fed return channel back to the start—saving 8 minutes per lap and separating crowds from competitors.
Venue buildings integrate passive cooling through wind tunnels and perforated walls, reducing indoor temperatures by 5°C without air conditioning. Rooftop gardens and solar panels on training facilities generate power while absorbing heat—transforming concrete surfaces into climate-responsive shields.
Once separated from neighboring Migang Village by overgrown buffer zones, the venue now connects via widened bridges and riverside promenades. After the Games, spectator areas will be converted into public parks, and upgraded roads have replaced dusty paths with paved, LED-lit routes used daily by residents.
The upgrades reflect China's push for "zero-waste" mega-events: 90% of National Games venues are renovated facilities, avoiding new construction. For Baiyun's residents, the changes bring lasting benefits—cleaner waterways, new parks, and tourism opportunities in what was once an overlooked corridor.
Guangdong's canoe slalom team features athletes aged 14 to over 30, forming a veteran-to-rookie structure where experienced international competitors mentor rising talents. The squad trains over six hours daily using a unique "water-land dual-track" method that integrates on-water technical drills with land-based conditioning.
A critical preview is to be arranged on August 21-24 when the venue hosts the Guangdong Canoe Slalom Invitational—serving as the official test event for November's National Games.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Guangzhou Baiyun Fabu
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
