The press conference for the 2025 China International Windsurfing Masters was held at the Shanghai Chess Institute. The conference revealed that the competition will take place from November 13 to 17 at Yuandang Lake in Jinze Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai.

Since its establishment in 2018, the China International Windsurfing Masters has successfully hosted six editions. After six years of refinement, this year’s competition has been officially approved by World Sailing as an Olympic-class event with 50 points and published on its annual calendar, further elevating the event’s status.

This year’s competition features three categories: professional, masters, and amateur. The professional group consists of current high-level domestic and international athletes. Elite competitors from the Chinese national windsurfing team and national championships, including past Olympic participants, will all make appearances. Among international athletes, multiple high-level competitors from France, Italy, Japan, South Korea and other countries have confirmed their participation, including the men’s professional defending champion Fabien Pianazza.

The competition will follow World Sailing’s 2025-2028 racing rules. Multiple high-level domestic and international judges have been invited to officiate, including 3 international-level judges and 5 national-level judges, to ensure the event’s fairness, impartiality, and professionalism.

This year’s event will be held at Yuandang Lake within the Grand View Garden in Qingpu District. Compared to previous venues, this location offers more open waters and better wind conditions, providing competitors with more complete racing conditions. Additionally, this year’s course has been changed to slalom racing, which allows spectators to directly see competitors’ real-time rankings, significantly enhancing the event’s viewing experience compared to traditional buoy courses.

The competition medals were also unveiled during the press conference. The design centers around the concept of “harnessing the wind and waves, unifying movement and stillness,” aiming to transcend the static nature of traditional medals and create a precious memento that carries the soul of windsurfing and resonates with winners. Surging waves surround the medal’s edges, echoing the central windsurfing board. The rotating board freezes the dynamic competition scene within a small space, bringing the wind to life and making the waves move. With a light touch of their fingers, winners can relive the thrill and freedom of riding the wind on the competition course, symbolizing that the sports spirit never stops and life’s journey continues forward.

The influence of sports events extends beyond the competition itself. Through the “sports + tourism” model, the event will fully leverage its impact by designing unique “follow the competition to travel” routes that attract spectators to visit surrounding areas. During the event period, organizers will also arrange for competitors to visit featured attractions such as Jinze Ancient Town, Grand View Garden, and Fangting Water Courtyard. Leveraging unique resources including ancient town scenery, rural charm, and ecological parks, both competitors and tourists can deeply experience the distinctive charm of Chinese countryside while enjoying the excitement of water sports.

Shanghai Chess Institute

The Shanghai Chess Institute is a prominent center for chess education and promotion in China, established to advance the development of both Chinese chess (xiangqi) and Western chess. It has played a key role in nurturing competitive players and popularizing the games through training, tournaments, and cultural exchange since its founding.

Yuandang Lake

Yuandang Lake is a freshwater lake located on the border of Jiangsu province and Shanghai, forming part of the larger Lake Tai system. Historically, it was a bay of the East China Sea before natural sedimentation and land reclamation cut it off, forming a lake. Today, it is an important ecological site known for its wetlands and biodiversity.

Jinze Town

Jinze Town is an ancient water town located in Shanghai’s Qingpu District, known for its well-preserved Song and Yuan dynasty bridges and traditional architecture. Historically a prosperous trading hub due to its canal network, it features nine classic stone bridges from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) periods, earning it the nickname “Town of Bridges.” The town maintains its historic charm with old streets, temples, and waterside dwellings that reflect its rich cultural heritage.

Qingpu District

Qingpu District is a suburban district of Shanghai, China, known for its rich history as one of the birthplaces of ancient Shanghai culture. It features significant water-town heritage, such as the ancient town of Zhujiajiao, which dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, it serves as an important ecological and cultural zone, blending historic preservation with modern development.

Grand View Garden

Grand View Garden is a classical Chinese garden in Beijing, modeled after the fictional garden described in the 18th-century novel *Dream of the Red Chamber* by Cao Xueqin. It was constructed in the 1980s to recreate the literary setting, featuring traditional pavilions, rockeries, and waterways. The garden serves as a cultural tribute to the novel and an example of Chinese landscape architecture.

Jinze Ancient Town

Jinze Ancient Town is a historic water town located in Shanghai’s Qingpu District, dating back over 1,300 years to the Tang and Song dynasties. It is renowned for its well-preserved ancient bridges, with seven original stone bridges from the Song and Yuan periods still spanning its canals. The town offers visitors a glimpse into traditional Jiangnan water town life with its old streets, temples, and tranquil waterways.

Fangting Water Courtyard

The Fangting Water Courtyard is a historic residential complex in Suzhou, China, exemplifying classical Chinese garden design. Built during the late Qing Dynasty, it seamlessly integrates architecture with nature, featuring elegant pavilions, winding corridors, and tranquil ponds. It reflects the traditional Chinese philosophy of creating a harmonious microcosm of the natural world within a living space.