The game’s afoot for eager residents

Soccer has become a major reason for people to gather together in a rural part of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

Since the Sanhe village committee completed laying two 3,000square-meter soccer pitches in 2016, more than 100,000 visitors have visited annually to play or watch games, authorities said.

“We were surprised at the result and didn’t expect so many visitors,” said Tan Jie, Party chief of the village. Tan came up with the idea in 2013 as a way of attracting people from nearby areas and improving sales of agricultural produce.

Soccer fans from cities in the province, such as Shifang and Guanghan, have taken part in games in the village.

The large numbers of visitors saw the sales revenue for grapefruit, a major crop in the village, rise from 9,000 yuan ($1,376) per 0.067 hectare in 2013 to 20,000 yuan in 2018.

In 2017, Chengdu Economic Daily reported that the winning team in a 2015 soccer competition, the first held in the village, received 6,000 yuan and 50 kilograms of grapefruit.

Every year, the soccer season on the two pitches lasts six months, and the sponsors pay for the fruit given to the 30 participating teams.

Wang Xiong, from Chengdu, told the newspaper that the fruit tasted good and that he and his teammates always bought some to take home after soccer games.

Party chief Tan and his colleagues have also overseen construction of other soccer-themed tourist facilities, including restaurants, homestays and a recording studio.

“The aim of developing the industry is to improve villagers’ livelihoods. Sports are just the beginning because we will add more facilities,” he said.

After each game, the players and spectators have a meal in the village and some even stay overnight.

“We have created a good environment and the hotels and shops encourage people to stay as long as possible. They can drink coffee or red wine and even pick fresh vegetables,” Tan said.

In 2017, Chengdu Economic Daily reported that Sanhe had hired coaches from the city’s Southwest Petroleum University to provide weekend training sessions for teenagers from the village and other nearby settlements.

Villagers can attend the camp, which provides two-hour sessions every weekend, for free, while outsiders pay 200 yuan a month.

“Teenage soccer teams usually generate more income than adult ones because the parents often accompany their children and spend money in the village,” Tan told the newspaper.

In 2018, per capita income in the village reached 23,423 yuan — double that in 2013, Tan said.

“The villagers have an intense desire for better facilities and new job opportunities. They no longer have to go to cities for work because they can earn good money in the coffee shops and hotels at home,” he added.

In March 2019, the village held a starry sky music festival, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors.

Tan said it is vital to attract skilled new residents such as architects, interior designers and talented musicians.

In September, China Sports Daily reported that the village had cooperated with the Chengdu Sport University to build an industry research base. Sanhe has also joined hands with the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in the provincial capital to introduce performances in coffee shops in the village.