The World Table Tennis China Smash 2024, is nearing its close after eleven days of fierce competition between the world's top players. As Chinese people enjoy their week-long National Day holiday, many have come to the western suburbs of Beijing to soak up the excitement. Huang Yue has more.

HUANG YUE Beijing "I'm now at the Smash Park on the western outskirts of Beijing. This is a place for table tennis lovers to immerse themselves in the sport. Here you can watch live matches on the big screen while sitting on the lawn enjoying the cool autumn breeze. If you're lucky, you might even meet the star players and score an autograph."

Watching matches together with family and friends, and cheering for their beloved players, people are calling this one of the coolest ways to spend the holiday this October. The Smash Park features four main zones for outdoor competitions, interactive entertainment, brand exhibitions, and dining.

DJ performances are also staged during breaks between matches, adding to the festive atmosphere. What thrills many fans is the daily meet-and-greet, where star players interact with the crowd and sign autographs.

MA QIUYU Beijing Resident "I've been a huge fan of table tennis for many years. I watched the matches inside the venue on September 29. It's fantastic to have an event like this in Beijing during the National Day holiday. The atmosphere is amazing!"

As the premier event on the World Table Tennis circuit, this year's WTT Smash is taking place from September 26 to October 6 at Beijing's Shougang Park.

Notably, the event is held in the Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating, and Figure Skating venues – facilities used during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

LIU YANG Tourist from Shandong Province "I came from Qingdao with my wife and kids specifically to watch the matches. I work in architecture and urban design, so I'm really impressed with how Shougang Park has transformed from a steel factory into Winter Games venues, and now into a space for the WTT Smash."

This is the first time in over six decades that Beijing has hosted a top table tennis event under the International Table Tennis Federation. Champions will receive 2,000 world ranking points. Beijing has secured the rights to host the WTT China Smash from 2024 to 2028, all set to take place at Shougang Park, making full use of its Winter Olympics legacy.

(Source: CGTN)