The 2021 Fencing Open Competition commenced in Pingle county of Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Oct 2, gathering nearly 1,000 competitors and over 70 referees.

The competition is the first national fencing competition to settle in Guangxi, and a total of 84 individual and team champions have joined the competition.

Pingle county has long had the goal of turning Guilin into an international tourism city and has made great effort in establishing a high-end sports brand integrating sports, culture, health and tourism.

Two fencers compete in the event. [Photo by Su Gui/chinadaily.com.cn]

The event was also expected to drive tourism consumption in other sectors, spanning transportation and accommodation.

"Pingle will pave out a new model that integrates sports and education, turning the county into a demonstration area for the integrated development of sport and education," said Zhou Zhengying, Party secretary of Pingle county.