Global youth gather in Guiyang for high-stakes esports invitational

Domestic and international participants face off during the invitational in Guiyang. [Photo provided to eguizhou.gov.cn]

As part of the 2026 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week, the 2026 China-ASEAN Generation Z International Youth Esports Invitational commenced on July 29 in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province.

Twenty-one youth teams from universities across China and ASEAN countries gathered at Guiyang X Sci-Fi Valley, with online viewership projected to exceed 10 million.

The inaugural 2024 invitational attracted more than 300 young people from countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Malaysia, drawing 100,000 online views. In 2025, the invitational was upgraded and expanded into an esports competition featuring youth from China, ASEAN, Japan, and South Korea.

That same year, Guizhou Open University partnered with NetEase Digital Industry Organization to establish the Guizhou Province Esports Industry-Education Integration Community, developing a talent training system that includes customized classes, live-streaming broadcaster facilities, and professional skills certification.

The 2026 invitational achieved a dual upgrade in both venue and lineup. Guiyang X Sci-Fi Valley is equipped with a professional esports stage, holographic battle screens, and an immersive viewing and cheering zone.

Teams from top-tier domestic and international universities, including China's Peking University, Thailand's Dhurakij Pundit University, and Cambodia's Beltad International University, will engage in multiple rounds of fierce competition over the coming days.

Using digital sports as a bridge, the invitational serves not only as a communication platform for Generation Z youth to sharpen their skills and make friends through competition, but also as an important platform for boosting Guizhou's high-quality development and serving China-ASEAN regional cultural and people-to-people diplomacy.