Cui Yongxi trains at Dongguan Basketball School. A mural of ex-NBA player Jeremy Lin serves as motivation for aspiring young players. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY

To strengthen this system, Dongguan Sports School, Dongguan Basketball School, Dongguan No 4 High School, Guangming High School, and the Dongguan Exhibition Center recently launched a collaborative platform combining training, competition, education, and cultural immersion.

Dongguan's basketball identity now extends into culture, art, and urban life. Since 2021, the city's iconic basketball-themed sculpture "Laura" has received a makeover each year — reflecting its dual identity as both a "national basketball city" and "China's trendy toys capital".

In Dongguan, basketball intersects with youth culture, intangible cultural heritage, philanthropy, rural vitalization, talent development, and innovation.

"In Dongguan, everything can connect with basketball," Wang said.