"I came to Chengdu for the giant pandas, and I stayed for the people and the sports," says Lamia Arab, from London, the United Kingdom. She moved to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, in 2017. She is now a lecturer at Chengdu University. Sports have served as her "passport" as she has integrated into Chengdu, and culture has been the "adhesive" that has glued her to the city. In her eyes, Chengdu is not just a hustling, bustling city; it is also a vivid microcosm, where sports and culture blend, and tradition and modernity collide.
Diverse Sports
"On my third day in Chengdu, the first thing I did was sign up for a membership at a local gym," Arab says. "I've always placed great importance on exercise. If I don't work out for several days, I will feel uncomfortable all over."
Her dedication to fitness became her "key" to integrating into Chengdu, and it helped her gradually find a sense of belonging in the unfamiliar city. Arab recalls being introduced to the Chinese woman who shared her passion for sports. "She helped me understand the membership terms, showed me around the gym, and told me about the various classes offered. So, I adapted to the new environment quickly. Since then, most of my friends in Chengdu have been people I have met through sports," Arab says.
In Arab's eyes, Chengdu's sports resources are one of the city's most "generous" gifts. As a teacher at Chengdu University, she enjoys the well-equipped sports facilities on campus, including not only the Olympic-standard swimming pool, next to the office building, but also the track and tennis and basketball courts. She is able to dive into an invigorating workout anytime.
Chengdu hosted the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games in 2023. As the athletes' village was located on Chengdu University's campus, the university opened its sports venues to teachers, students and residents after the games. The university's sports venues literally were a true legacy of the World University Games.
Says Arab: "I have noticed an increase in the use of sports facilities on campus, with more teachers signing up." She believes the World University Games were the catalyst that sparked people's enthusiasm for sports and fitness. "Students are also visiting gyms, on and off campus, more often, making full use of the fitness courses and various kinds of equipment, and even trying activities they wouldn't normally participate in."
Arab has become an active figure in Chengdu's fitness community. Her exercise list is impressively diverse: Challenging her physical limits in Spartan races, feeling the breeze while cycling along the city's greenways, following the beat in group fitness classes at the gym, and, occasionally, relaxing with a jog on the campus track.
"In Chengdu, there are just too many ways to stay active, and sometimes it's hard to choose," Arab jokes. In the city, sports are not exclusive to a few, but a lifestyle accessible to everyone. Sports, Arab suggests, allow people to find their own joy in a diverse life.
Heart of Local Culture
"If someone asks me, 'What is zongzi (a traditional Chinese food made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo, reed, or other large flat leaves)?' or 'Do you want to go eat chuanchuan (a popular hotpot-style street food in Chengdu)?' I can answer with ease and fluency," Arab says.
When it comes to the cultural customs of Chengdu, Arab gives the impression she is a "local expert." This is due to her colleagues and friends, who have introduced her to the "heart of Chengdu's culture," in the most authentic and down-to-earth ways.
"My friends often invite me to celebrate festivals with them. They introduce me to their families, and they take me to try various delicious foods. Without them, I wouldn't have experienced the authentic Chengdu flavors," Arab says.
Through the celebration of festivals, Arab has learned about China's traditional sports. "During my first year in China, I learned about dragon-boat racing, a unique sport closely tied to China's Dragon Boat Festival, and there was a story behind it," she recalls.
When she speaks about dragon-boat racing, her eyes become full of admiration. "The patriotism shown by the poet and statesman, Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), helped me understand people's reverence for him, and it was because of him that this wonderful sport of dragon-boat racing came into being."
Although she hasn't tried dragon-boat racing, Arab says she is prepared to give it a go. "My physical condition is actually suitable for this sport. My upper body strength, and my core strength, should be able to handle the intensity required for racing, and should help my team win," Arab says.
Throughout the years, Arab has wandered along Chengdu's streets, and through its alleys, to experience the city's history and warm, vibrant life.
"I've been to the mountains, visited the ancient Dujiangyan irrigation project, admired the beauty of Du Fu Thatched Cottage (former residence of one of China's greatest poets, Du Fu [712-770]), laughed joyfully at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and immersed myself in the lively atmosphere of Kuanzhai Alley (a popular historical and cultural district). I've been to most places in Chengdu, and my friends say I'm 'more local than the locals.' Though it might be a bit exaggerated, I am happy to hear it," Arab says, with a smile.
Arab followed the 2025 Chengdu World Games through online broadcasts as she couldn't attend live because she had to return to London to visit her family. "I specifically watched the tai chi and nanquan martial-arts competitions, as these are sports I'm not very familiar with. The athletes' movements were smooth and seamless, possessing both power and aesthetic beauty. It was truly fascinating," Arab says.
The Games' opening ceremony allowed Arab to experience Chengdu's "international flair," and "Chinese flavor." Says Arab: "Having lived in China for more than eight years, I feel very proud to see this beautiful city achieve such success."
Arab suggests the Games not only intensified Chengdu's sporting atmosphere, but also filled the campus with vitality. "Several students told me they served as volunteers for the Games, and I could sense how proud they were to have been involved in such an event," she says.
Arab has noticed far more people are participating in sports on campus than ever before. "Whether it's hockey, basketball or tennis, everyone's enthusiasm for sports is soaring. The sporting atmosphere at Chengdu University has become stronger than ever," she continues.
Expecting Newcomers
"In China today, there is such a variety of sports that you can try a different one every day for a month without repeating," Arab says. She is proud to have witnessed the tremendous changes that have taken place in Chengdu's sports ecosystem, and in its cultural atmosphere.
Completion of Chengdu's Tianfu Greenway was a major turning point, she says. "After that, people started cycling, running and skateboarding in the city. Sports are no longer confined to fixed venues, but have become integrated into every aspect of daily life," Arab says.
Such changes are reflected not only in the abundance of sporting scenarios, but also in the interactions and integration of Chinese and foreign residents, Arab says. In recent years, she adds, Chengdu has attracted more foreigners who have settled down in the city, and many of those newcomers have formed football, basketball and frisbee teams.
"Rong" is the abbreviation of Chengdu. Migrants living and working in Chengdu are nicknamed "Rongpiao," or "Rong drifters." As one of the "Rongpiao," Arab is delighted to participate in cultural exchanges. "I've introduced tai chi to my family and friends in the UK, showing them videos of Chinese residents practicing tai chi, and sharing the benefits of this exercise, such as stress relief and physical strengthening," she says. She believes her firsthand experience is more vivid, and convincing, to them, compared with contents available online.
"I live in Chengdu, and I experience it all personally, so I can tell them the most authentic experiences. I believe traditional Chinese sports are fascinating, not only because of their unique forms of movement, but also because of the history, culture and values they embody. In China, ancient culture and traditional sports are well-preserved, and passed down, and they still burst with great vitality today. This is one of the reasons I have fallen in love with China," Arab says.
As she looks ahead, Arab says she is full of anticipation. "I believe more foreigners will come to Chengdu, to watch games, and to compete and participate in sports activities. The city's sports community will grow stronger, and cultural exchanges will become more frequent."
In the eyes of foreigners, like Arab, Chengdu's development is a vivid snapshot of Chinese modernization: Using sports as a medium to let all people enjoy a healthy lifestyle; preserving culture, and allowing tradition and modernity to shine together; and, embracing openness to promote mutual exchanges between Chinese and foreign civilizations. Chengdu is constantly expanding the boundaries of urban development, and showcasing the city's vitality and warmth to the world, Arab says.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly March 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
