HAIKOU, China, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- While a chill has gripped most areas of China, in Dongfang, a coastal city in south China's Hainan Province, runners in short-sleeved shirts were running a half-marathon under warm sunshine.

"The weather here is perfect for long-distance running," said Wang Wandong from northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. "After the race, I plan to visit the city for two days with my family."

As a key hub on Hainan's western coast, Dongfang has transformed sports events into a new driver of vitality, consumption and industrial upgrading. Events like half-marathon and rural basketball tournaments known as "CunBA" help maintain the city's vitality in winter.

With a mild and dry climate, Dongfang is an ideal place for outdoor activities. According to Zhuang Tian, director of the Dongfang Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the city has now built 417 basketball courts as almost every village has one.

"CunBA" swept through Dongfang from November to December last year, attracting 460,000 spectators and 320 million online views.

"We all love playing basketball. We gather for training on weekends and fight for the honor of our village," said Zhou Shukai, a player from Shangrong Village.

During last year's tournament, Dongfang recorded 211,300 tourist visits - 70,900 overnight stays and 140,400 day trippers, contributing 198 million yuan (about 27.9 million U.S. dollars) to tourism revenue.

On game nights, the aroma of chicken hotpot filled the air as local restaurants would open late into the night.

"With all these sports events, business has been booming. We're so busy that I'm planning to hire more staff," said Fu Meixiang, a local hotpot restaurant owner.