Stars immerse themselves in Beijing's traditional, and trendy, activities

A trip without a dip into the profound culture is never a complete China Open experience, and tennis' top stars are enjoying a break from the grueling season to soak up Beijing's rich history and tradition.

With world-class facilities, top services and highest prize money in Asia on offer, the China Open never disappoints when it comes to delivering a major-caliber tournament experience for the glittering cast of men's and women's stars it attracts every year.

It's the incomparable "Beijing Experience", though, that sets it apart from the others in the same category, with international players presented with cultural experience trips or events to explore the Chinese capital's timeless heritage, folk customs and modern trends.

It's a treat that suits 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic perfectly, with the Serbian great, known for his inner strength and serenity when facing fierce on-court battles, rejuvenated after a pre-tournament visit to the Summer Palace, an imperial park in the northwestern Beijing suburbs known for its ancient grandeur and tranquility.

After taking a walk around the Kunming Lake to savor the serene ambiance of the park, Djokovic spent some time experiencing two quintessential Chinese traditions.

First, he tried his hand at water calligraphy by learning how to write the Chinese characters of his name with a big brush pen on the ground.

He then moved on to a lakeside pavilion where he practiced baduanjin, a slow, graceful traditional Chinese fitness routine similar to tai chi, with which Djokovic was so enchanted that his 20-minute session had to be extended into an hour-and-a-half, according to China Open's co-tournament director Lars Graff.

Toward the end of his tour, Djokovic stopped by at another pavilion perched on the hillside, where a plaque reading yichi yunzai, or "thoughts slow, clouds remain" in English, captured his attention.

The inscription, derived from a line by renowned Tang poet Du Fu, encourages a mindset of letting go of haste and hostility, while finding inner calm amid nature's quiet rhythm, something which Djokovic appeared to understand well.

"I always play the long game. I always tried to have a long career, rather than doing everything quickly within a few years. So this kind of philosophy resonates with me," Djokovic said in a video documenting his Summer Palace trip posted on Chinese lifestyle and social media platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote.

"China has so much to offer in terms of heritage, culture and history," Djokovic said during his post-match interview after beating Portugal's Nuno Borges in the first round on Wednesday.

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"I really love a lot about Chinese culture, such as calligraphy and practicing the ancient techniques of movement and breathing.

"There is a lot to learn from China and Chinese people.

"That's maybe the reason why I've been able to play so well throughout my career here, just feeling it time by time," said the star, who won six straight titles at the China Open from 2009-15.

During his Summer Palace visit, Djokovic also received a bespoke personal Chinese seal engraved with his Chinese name, which he quickly put to work.

After cruising through his opening round, he used the custom seal to sign autographs for fans, making it a unique crossover between the excitement of professional tennis and elegance of Chinese culture.

"Actually, yesterday, when I got the stamp — or the seal — I personalized one," Djokovic said.

"I came up with the idea to use it in case I win the match.

"After the match, I thought, in a sense, to recognize the Chinese tradition and culture and heritage, but at the same time also have fun with it and do something different."

Other A-list stars following suit in exploring Beijing's classic cultural landmarks include the tournament's 2023 women's champion Iga Swiatek and men's world No 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime.

They spent a day touring the city's historic Drum and Bell Towers before their respective first-round matches.

The two young stars fully immersed themselves in traditional Chinese customs, donning elegant hanfu, the traditional attire of ancient China, and joining in a lively dragon dance ritual at the historic site, a central architectural landmark in ancient Beijing's city layout.

"I loved it. Thanks for the opportunity to see it. You've got to see the history, and it was fun," said Polish six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek.

"This was a great morning with a lot of fun things," Auger-Aliassime said of the visit to the two towers.

"The history behind it and the beauty of it, I think that's what's most impressive. And to have a nice view of this important Beijing site is very cool."

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Unlike her history-inclined colleagues, reigning Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic enjoyed a taste of the trendy modern China: Pop Mart.

A China Open finalist last year, Noskova visited Pop Mart City Park, an immersive theme park dedicated to the viral toy sensation, and fully enjoyed her downtime hanging out with iconic pop culture figures like Labubu, Molly and Skullpanda.

"I thought it would be much smaller, yet this is a whole world," the rising Czech star said, amazed by the park.

"I could spend a whole day here, maybe even two days. I would absolutely go (again), but I would have to bring my nieces.

"I am enjoying the city, overall. So I will always try to explore the city and interact with fans.

"And I always bring an extra suitcase to China, because I know (that I will have to pack many gifts)."

Contact the writers at sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn