In the heart of China’s northeast, a city once defined by its industrial might is making waves—literally. Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, is strategically harnessing the power of elite sports to carve out a new identity and fuel its economic transformation. The recent debut of the China (Shenyang) Rowing Development Index Report (2025) provides a compelling data-driven narrative of this successful urban evolution, showcasing how a “sport+” mode is cultivating new economic boosters and putting the city on the global map.
The Index: Measuring a Meteoric Rise
The newly released index reveals that rowing in Shenyang has undergone what analysts term “leap-forward development.” This rapid growth is attributed to the city’s strategic use of its natural asset, the Hun River, coupled with forward-thinking municipal policies. The report positions a city’s influence as the core competitiveness for hosting major sporting events, a metric crucial for attracting elite athletes and securing a place on the circuit of globally renowned competitions.
The data confirms Shenyang’s growing clout. In 2024, the sub-index measuring the number of high-level rowing contests held in the city surged by 14.58 percent to 211.54 points. Simultaneously, the sub-index for participating athletes jumped by 16.26 percent to 510 points, signaling both quantitative and qualitative growth in the events it hosts.
A Bridge for Global Youth and a Showcase for Modernity
This strategy was on full display in late August when Shenyang hosted the 2025 Asian Rowing U-19&U-23 Championships. The event was a resounding success, drawing 258 athletes from 15 countries and regions. More than just a competition, it served as a dynamic platform to showcase the “inclusive, developing, and green” philosophy of Asian rowing.
As Shi Shengyuan, a head of the event’s organizing committee, noted, the championship did more than award medals; it presented Shenyang’s modernity to the world. It effectively built a bridge for Chinese and Asian youths to communicate and connect through the universal language of sport, enhancing the city’s international profile.
From Tourist Traffic to Economic Boosters
Beyond the finish line, the true success of Shenyang’s strategy lies in its sophisticated economic modeling. The index outlines how the city has successfully developed “sports+cultural tourism” and “sports+industry” modes to convert the tourist traffic from major rowing events into sustainable economic growth.
A powerful, self-driven development pathway has now taken shape. This ecosystem is supported by government-established platforms, the broad participation of market players—including 30 local racing boat and equipment producers and 20 registered rowing clubs—and a consistent increase in visitor flows driven by diversified thematic activities.
Han Jiaxing, a researcher from the report’s issuer, believes Shenyang is perfectly positioned to ride the tide of water sports that are burgeoning across China. This growth is fueled by a favorable national policy environment and ongoing consumption upgrading among the Chinese public.
In Shenyang, rowing is no longer just a regional competitive sport; it has become the city’s influential “name card.” It is emerging as a key scenario where sport integrates seamlessly with varied types of consumption, proving that urban revitalization can be powered by the steady rhythm of oars dipping into the water.
