Football tournament players experience martial arts in Guangdong

(ECNS) -- Nearly 300 young football players from seven countries took a break from the inaugural "Hope Cup" Greater Bay Area U17 International Youth Football Invitational Tournament to experience traditional Lingnan culture in Foshan, Guangdong Province.

The tournament brought together eight U17 teams from China, France, the UK, Serbia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

During a break in the competition, players visited the Foshan Hongsheng Memorial Hall, where they watched lion dances and Choy Li Fut kung fu performances. Under the guidance of local masters, they practiced the southern Chinese martial art, known for its combination of power and flexibility.

Participants also sampled the Cantonese dessert double-layered milk pudding in the Lingnan Tiandi area and strolled through the historic district, exploring traditional architecture.

The tour also included a walk through a creative industrial park transformed from old factories, where players viewed graffiti art and trendy cultural products.

Running from Aug. 8 to 14 in Guangzhou, the tournament was guided by the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau and organized by the Guangdong Football Association. 

(By Tang Yuxian)