Aerial view of a beach in Zhujiajian Island. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2025 National Beach Soccer Championships kick off in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province, on Oct 15, following a press conference held on Oct 14 that unveiled event details and outlined the city's plans to build a "Chinese Beach Soccer City".

As China's only Class A beach soccer event, the championships will feature a men's competition from Oct 15 to 19 on Zhujiajian Island, hosting 12 teams, and a women's competition from Oct 25 to 28 on Taohua Island. Known for its soft and fine sands, Zhoushan has hosted 15 of the past 16 men's tournaments since 2008, earning a strong reputation for excellent event management.

This year's men's tournament is poised to see record participation of international players from eight countries, including Brazil, Spain, and Portugal. The women's event will serve as the selection ground for China's first national women's beach soccer team.

Zhoushan is expected to field two local teams, each aiming to advance to the quarterfinals. According to the city's soccer association, the addition of foreign and national-level players has significantly strengthened their lineups.

Looking ahead, Zhoushan plans to expand its beach soccer infrastructure, introduce more tournaments, and foster a unique sports culture based on professional, accessible, and large-scale facilities.