In May, the Guangdong City Basketball League enters its sixth round, with the pace of the competition continuing to rise across 21 participating cities. Each game not only reshapes the standings, but also deepens the connection between teams, fans, and the cities they represent.
Off the court, a series of AI-designed jerseys transforms each team's identity into wearable city culture. Landmarks, architecture, and local symbols are woven into the design, making each jersey a visual representation of its hometown.
Dongguan: Dongguan Basketball Center
Shown in blue, white, and gold on the jersey, the Dongguan Basketball Center is more than just a sports venue. It stands as one of the city's most recognizable basketball landmarks. Designed to meet both FIBA and CBA standards, the arena's architecture is inspired by the abstract image of a basketball dropping through a hoop, shaping a clear and distinctive identity.
Dongguan is a city in southern China's Guangdong province, located in the Pearl River Delta between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Widely known as a "basketball city," Dongguan has a strong grassroots sports culture. Thousands of courts can be found in neighborhoods, schools, and public spaces, making basketball part of everyday life.
The city is also home to the Guangdong Southern Tigers, an 11-time CBA champion and one of the most successful clubs in Chinese basketball history. The team plays a central role in shaping Dongguan's sporting identity.
From community courts to professional arenas, basketball exists at every level of the city. In Dongguan, it is not just a sport, but a part of urban culture itself.
Shanwei: Honghai Bay
Across the jersey, shades of blue reflect the coastal setting of Honghai Bay. The design draws on the movement of the sea, with waves, shoreline, and the icomic offshore concrete tower forming the central visual focus.
Shanwei is a coastal city in eastern Guangdong province, in southern China. It lies along the South China Sea, between Shenzhen and Shantou, on the eastern edge of the Pearl River Delta. With a long coastline and a strong connection to the sea, the city's identity is closely shaped by its maritime environment.
Honghai Bay, on the Zhelang Peninsula in Shanwei, is known for its open waters, long sandy beaches, and exposed coastline. Strong winds and steady waves shape the area, giving it a raw and ever-changing coastal landscape. It has also become a popular seaside destination in recent years.
At the jersey's center is the silhouette of a bunker-like concrete tower standing offshore at Honghai Bay. Set between the sea and the sky, the weathered structure has quietly become a well-known local landmark and a popular spot for visitors and photographers.
Now abandoned, it now stands in contrast to the natural movement of the coastline around it. Built in the 1990s, the tower was originally part of a wave power station developed by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The location was chosen for its strong wave conditions. Years of exposure to wind, salt, and sunlight have left visible marks on the structure, with worn surfaces and cracks telling the story of time.
Under the theme "Tides of Victory," the design reflects Shanwei's close connection to the ocean—where nature, history, and local identity naturally come together.
Text: Li Muzi, Tan Guanzhou (Intern)
Poster: Tan Guanzhou (Intern)
