SURVEYS in 2013 and 2015 found that swimming and badminton were the most popular sports in Jiading. Thus, the district initiated plans to build more such facilities for locals. For instance, Anting Town added 45 competition-level badminton courts last year alone.

"We have launched badminton league matches for local players since 2015. There are more than 30 badminton clubs located in the district now," said Xu Kui, deputy director of Jiading District Sports Bureau.

A competition system is now deployed, which enables the government authority to focus on management while social organizations arrange competitions and events. Such an approach allows more sports companies and clubs to take the initiative and organize creative and popular sports events that meet the requirement of locals.

For example, the Shanghai Road Cycling Tour co-hosted by OLYM, a sports company in Jiading.

And late last month, Jiading became one of the five districts for the 2016 Shanghai Coordinates City Orienteering Challenge. The drizzle didn't dampen participants' enthusiasm.

As the number of cyclists grows rapidly in Jiading, the bureau is planning a multi-colored cycling path for local residentss. The 30 kilometer path, expected to be in use by the end of the year, will connect Shanghai urban areas with Huaqiao, a town of Suzhou's satellite city Kunshan.

A supporting guideline is also under research to further develop the sports industry in Jiading. According to the plan, the district aims to regulate the operation of all kinds of sports events and competitions and support local sport programs and amateur league matches.

District officials believe that more than 45 percent of Jia-ding residents will take part in sports activities by 2020.