The first Shengli Cup Badminton Exchange Tournament for young people from Gansu, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan opens in Lanzhou on Sept 19. [Photo/China News Service]

The inaugural Shengli Cup Badminton Exchange Tournament for young people from Gansu, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan opened on Sept 19 in Lanzhou, bringing together 19 teams and 140 young players from universities across the four regions.

The two-day tournament offers a platform for participants to connect through sport and deepen exchanges.

Participants from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan said the event gave them a closer look at Gansu's natural and cultural appeal, as well as the hospitality of local young people.

It is the first youth exchange event in Northwest China centered on badminton. After the event, participating young people from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan will embark on a five-day Silk Road study tour, visiting Zhangye, Jiayuguan, and Dunhuang to explore Silk Road culture and experience Gansu's development.