Since watching a Clipper yacht leave his hometown's harbor at age 10, professional sailor now races internationally and inspires youth to see sailing as a career, Xing Wen reports.

Few cities in China allow you to sail straight from the heart of downtown. From the docks of the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, you can cast off and ride the wind across Fushan Bay, with the CBD's high-rises looming behind you — a geographical quirk that sets it apart from nearly all other coastal destinations.

Built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics sailing competition, the center is a source of pride for Qingdao native Zheng Yi, whose dream also set sail there.

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In the spring of 2006, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet made its first-ever stop in China, docking in Qingdao, Shandong province.

A grand send-off ceremony packed with crowds and the beat of drums and gongs was held near the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center.

It was there that 10-year-old Zheng, on a family spring outing, happened to witness the scene, watching the big boat bearing the name Qingdao, the first Clipper yacht ever named after a Chinese city, sail out of the harbor.

Among the crew was Guo Chuan, the first Qingdao native to compete in the Clipper race.

"That moment planted a seed in my heart: I want to become a sailor, too, representing my hometown and sailing across the oceans," Zheng recalls.

Fortunately, the following year, while in the fifth grade, Zheng was selected, simply because he could swim, for a 10-day summer camp organized by the city's "Sailing into Schools" initiative.

During the camp, he lived and trained with other elementary school students from across the city, learning to sail OP dinghies every day.

"There seemed to be hundreds of sailboats sailing on the water at the same time. It was a spectacular scene," he recalls.

"Qingdao's sailing atmosphere at the time gave ordinary kids like us the chance to get involved in this sport."

When the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay reached the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, Zheng joined other young sailors in a flotilla of small dinghies, serving as a backdrop fleet as they witnessed the torch being passed through the harbor.

"That was the first time I realized how big the stage for sailing really is; it can take you far," Zheng says.

And he went far.

In the 2017/18 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Zheng was selected as an ambassador crew member aboard Qingdao, competing in the first leg of the season — a journey from Liverpool, the United Kingdom, to Punta del Este, Uruguay.

In 2019, as the youngest Chinese sailor in the fleet, he took part in the 2019/20 Clipper Race, racing all eight legs of the global circuit for the first time.

"Circumnavigating the globe taught me little by little how to communicate, collaborate and connect with sailors from different countries. It not only improved my language skills but also helped me stay emotionally steady in the face of uncertainty," he says.

Now racing for China One Ningbo, Zheng has come a long way — from a wide-eyed 10-year-old staring up at sailboats from the dock to a professional sailor competing regularly on the international stage.

Since the "Sailing into Schools" program's initiation in 2006, the city has trained approximately 45,000 young sailors, according to the Qingdao Sports Development Center.

Zheng observes that, for the most part, children in Qingdao have no fear of the sea.

"Growing up alongside the sea, eating seafood, and spending days by the shore give Qingdao kids a natural bond with the ocean," he says.

"There's no barrier, no fear. It's in our bones: we love the water, and we're not afraid to take risks."

Today, while preparing for various M32 sailing competitions, Zheng continues to manage his social media accounts, hoping more people will learn about his sailing journeys.

"What I really want to do is inspire more Qingdao children to dream of sailing," he says.

"Many local kids love it, but not all of them know it can be a career, a path that leads to the world. I hope my story will show young people in Qingdao, just like the boy I once was, that sailing isn't just a fun activity. It's a road that can take you anywhere, a path to realizing who you are."

Xin Kejiang, deputy director of the water sports development and promotion department at the Qingdao Sports Development Center, notes that the public sailing experience events hosted at the center are always well received. In a recent release of 500 spots, all were fully booked overnight.

He adds that while the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center continues to serve as a training ground for primary and secondary school students, as well as local university sailing clubs, its tourism function has grown significantly in recent years, offering catamaran and monohull sailing experiences for both adults and children.

The center now receives more than 130,000 sailing tourists annually.

Xin himself prefers monohull sailboats. "The greatest thrill comes from battling the wind and waves — especially in strong winds, when the boat can heel at a 45-degree angle, and waves wash over the deck. It's highly athletic, intensely stimulating, and a real test of skill," he says.

For Xu Xiaoxiao, a visitor from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, opting for the more stable catamaran experience during her trip in early August turned out to be a highlight of her visit to Qingdao.

"Lying on the deck of the sailboat at dusk, watching the sunset glow over the skyscrapers onshore as the boat gently rocks with the swell, not too rough, just the right amount, is incredibly therapeutic," she says.

"Next time, I'd like to try the more thrilling monohull."

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Nearly two decades after the Olympic flame left Qingdao, the sailing center remains a place of beginnings. For Zheng, it was where a childhood dream took wing. Today, it offers the same wind to anyone who steps aboard, whether chasing a trophy, a sunset or a future they haven't yet imagined.

If you go

Getting there: Over 20 high-speed trains depart daily from Beijing South Railway Station, serving Qingdao Station and Qingdao North Station. The fastest journey takes just over three hours. Located in the old-town area, Qingdao Station is the preferred stop for tourists. Upon arrival, take Metro Line 3 to Wusi (May Fourth) Square Station. From there, it's about a 20-minute walk to reach the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center.

Sailing experience: Various sailing experiences for adults and children can be purchased in advance on online platforms such as Dazhong Dianping and Douyin, with prices ranging from 50 to 200 yuan ($7.4-29.6). Popular options include luxury catamaran tickets and two-person monohull sports sailing tickets. Chartering a seven-passenger sailboat costs over 600 yuan.