Zhangye carnival blends aviation, e-sports, and cultural tourism

China United Airlines' Game for Peace painted aircraft lands at Zhangye Airport on May 4. [Photo provided to gozhangye.com.cn]

The 2026 Zhangye Aviation, E-sports and Cultural Tourism Carnival opened on May 4 at Zhangye Grand Theater.

The event blends the popular game Game for Peace with the local specialty, grass sprouts chicken, promoting cross-sector integration among aviation, e-sports, and cultural tourism.

At the opening ceremony, Yugur ethnic songs were performed, and China United Airlines' Game for Peace painted aircraft was showcased.

A China United Airlines representative said that Zhangye would serve as the first benchmark for an integrated aviation, e-sports, and cultural tourism model.

The 2026 China United Airlines Game for Peace City Challenge Tournament runs from May 4 to 8, with daily public competitions at 1 pm at Zhangye Grand Theater.

Outside the venue, a cultural tourism fair offers local delicacies including grass sprouts chicken and Zhangye malatang (a kind of spicy hotpot). An intangible cultural heritage area showcases Yugur embroidery and Zhangye paper-cutting. Co-branded merchandise such as figurines, blind boxes, and fridge magnets is also available.

During the event, winning players and cosplayer teams will visit scenic spots like the Colorful Danxia, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, and Matisi Grottoes, leveraging e-sports popularity to promote cultural tourism.

Leveraging the carnival, Zhangye is breaking traditional boundaries in cultural tourism, telling its stories in ways young people love. The event runs until May 8.