A lion dance performance from Beilun district entertains spectators before a game. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

In Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, a grassroots basketball league tournament has morphed into a vibrant display of local identity, where sport meets centuries-old tradition and the taste of home.

On July 16, the Zhejiang City Basketball League began its Ningbo division games. At the premier grassroots sporting event — initiated by Zhejiang province to promote nationwide fitness and to tap into the potential of community-level basketball events — courtside action extended far beyond the scoreboards.

At the Fenghua Sports Center, each team brought more than just athletes — they brought stories, rituals and flavors rooted in their own districts.

Before the opening tip-off, two visually striking cloth dragons danced their way across the court, captivating the crowd with sweeping movements and a pulsating presence.

The performance drew on Fenghua's proud reputation for being the cradle of cloth dragon artistry, a national-level intangible cultural heritage known for its agility and vivid symbolism.

Elsewhere, fans were treated to Cixi city's celadon music performances and Beilun district's dynamic Meishan lion dance, a 200-year-old tradition. The blend of athletic intensity and cultural richness clearly impressed spectators.

Between games, food stalls served up local delicacies: Waxberry pastries from Cixi city, Ninghai county's soup dumplings and Jiangbei district's famed rice cakes.

"We want the younger generation to know where these flavors come from," said a vendor from Jiangbei's Cicheng ancient town. "Cheering for your team tastes better with heritage on the side," he added.