The excitement remains palpable for resident Lin Xiaoqian, even after the 2025 Cup of China ISU World Figure Skating Grand Prix concluded in Banan District, Chongqing. "It's so convenient to see world-class ice performances right on our doorstep!" she exclaimed. This event, which attracted top athletes from 14 countries and regions, marked the fifth time it has been held in Banan.
In 2024, Banan hosted 41 large-scale commercial performances each attracting over 5,000 attendees, accounting for more than 90% of such venue-based events citywide and firmly securing the top spot. In the first 11 months of 2025, the district staged 44 major sports and performance events, again leading the city in number. What makes Banan such fertile ground for the sports and performance economy?
Strong, high-quality infrastructure provides the foundation for this success. The Huaxi LIVE·Yudong venue in Banan, with a capacity for 16,000 people, is versatile enough to host a wide array of sporting events and entertainment performances.
Banan has strategically developed a "10-minute consumption circle" around its venues, creating an integrated layout that combines "sports/performances + commerce." This strategy effectively transforms the audience experience from "watch and leave" to "stay and play."
"A trip to Banan is absolutely worth it! After watching the World Table Tennis (WTT) matches, we used consumption vouchers for a hot pot meal and then visited Fengsheng Ancient Town to buy intangible cultural heritage文创 products," shared Mr. Wang, a fan from Xi'an, whose itinerary exemplifies Banan's push for integrated cultural, sports, tourism, and commercial development.
In 2025 alone, the WTT赛事 events attracted over 1.5 million tourists, while the figure skating competitions generated revenue of 390 million yuan. Evolving from a single venue to an entire commercial district, Banan has used hardware upgrades to overcome any "location anxiety."
Banan treats major events as a nexus to connect resources across the entire district, building a "Travel with the Events" IP. In the "events + cultural tourism" sphere, it has integrated local resources like ancient towns, hot springs, and traditional Baxian courtyards to create 16 premium tourist routes and launch numerous seasonal themed activities. Furthermore, attendees can enjoy discounts at scenic spots by presenting their concert or event tickets.
Data from January to November this year shows that event-related consumption in Banan exceeded 4 billion yuan, driving employment for more than 23,000 people. Annual passenger flow is expected to surpass 10 million人次, with the average length of stay extending from 1.2 days to 2.5 days.
To better accommodate large-scale events, Banan has systematically optimized its transportation network. A newly implemented intelligent traffic dispatch system can疏散 venue perimeter crowds within 15 minutes. The renovation and upgrade of the Huaxi commercial circle not only serve visiting spectators but have also significantly enhanced the quality of life for local residents. Seizing the opportunity, Banan is also establishing an urban "10-minute fitness circle" and a rural "15-minute fitness circle," ensuring the benefits of these events reach more citizens.
Riding the momentum of the event economy, Banan is focused on building an industrial chain centered on "Event IP + Cultural and Creative Derivatives." This involves developing products like WTT co-branded sports equipment and文创 items based on Banan's mountain song intangible cultural heritage. Consequently, a cluster of businesses specializing in sports equipment sales, cultural creativity, and event operations has settled in the area, forming a cultural and sports industry cluster with an annual output value exceeding 2 billion yuan.