Wei Jie claudia@hotmail.com EXCITEMENT filled the air during the first weekend after the highly anticipated opening of the Shekou Culture and Sports Park, as local sports enthusiasts flocked to the state-of-the-art facility to explore its offerings. Long-awaited sports facility “The morning tickets for the swimming pool sold out quickly Friday night, with only a limited number of afternoon tickets remaining available,” said a staff member at the swimming pool reception desk late Saturday morning. After six years of construction, the Shekou Culture and Sports Park has filled a void in comprehensive public sports facilities in the Shekou Subdistrict. “I’ve been eagerly anticipating this moment for years,” said Sharin, from Israel, on the facility’s opening day Sept. 4. Having moved to Shekou with her family three years ago, the park is only a five minute walk from their home. As a stay-at-home mother, Sharin is excited to finally have a proper swimming pool nearby. While many housing complexes in the area have pools, they are typically open for only five months each year and geared towards children’s recreational use. Many avid swimmers, like French expat Emmanuelle Williamson, previously had to travel to other communities and subdistricts to swim before the park opened. “Now I can swim in our own neighborhood,” she said. Williamson added that she used to travel to the Nanyou area to swim, which was not as convenient for her. The new swimming pool is also providing local students with a long-term training facility. “I’m already considering enrolling my son for training here,” said the mother of a sixth-grader at the Yucai No. 4 Primary School, which is located just north of the park. The sixth-grader, named He Muyong, has been training three times a week at a swimming club near the Coastal City shopping center, which is about 3 kilometers from his school. He said that a number of students from his school also train with his coach at the club. “Although it isn’t very far away, it takes at least half an hour to get there considering the heavy traffic on Houhai Boulevard,” said his mother. Cultural & sports landmark Covering an area of more than 6,700 square meters within the Dongjiaotou Community, the Shekou Culture and Sports Park features an outdoor area with a running track and sports facilities. It also includes a five-floor indoor complex, two of which are underground. This new complex offers local residents a diverse range of high-quality fitness and leisure amenities. In addition to mainstream sports such as swimming, basketball, soccer, and badminton, the complex also includes facilities for niche sports like squash, taekwondo, indoor surfing, and rock climbing. To top it off, a well-equipped gym is located in the basement. On the cultural side, the complex offers dance rooms, a music training center that offers musical instruments like the violin, cello, oboe, clarinet, and others, and a bookstore that sells imported English books. “This facility truly integrates culture, sports, and leisure, which enriches the lives of the public,” said Li Zhina, deputy governor of Nanshan District, during the opening ceremony, which was also attended by Nanshan District Party chief Huang Xiangyue. Technology-enabled management At the entrance to the swimming pool, a biometric device allows residents to gain entry by scanning their palms. This same method allows users to access lockers in the changing rooms, eliminating the need for keys. “This new palm technology is both fascinating and convenient,” said a resident surnamed Li. Carrying a key can be inconvenient, especially when swimming. “It’s not uncommon for people to accidentally leave their keys in the lockers after changing or for children to misplace them by the pool before diving in. Implementing palm technology will save us from this hassle,” Li added. To enhance the experiences of visitors, the Shekou Culture and Sports Park has embraced fully integrated digital services. Visitors can easily make reservations for various sports facilities, buy tickets, and even sign up for training courses through the “南山文體通” or “南山體產” WeChat mini-programs. Fees During non-peak hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, discounted rates are available. No discounts are available during peak hours, which are from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. | 