Yulin Sports Center Stadium – stadium description

How did a major new stadium develop in Yulin?

In February 2018, the city of Yulin in Shaanxi province was awarded the right to host the 17th provincial games, which were scheduled for 2022. In preparation for hosting the event, a number of new sports facilities were built, the most important of which is Yulin Sports Center complex, the centrepiece of which is a 32,000-capacity stadium.

When was the new stadium in Yulin built?

Construction of Yulin Sports Center began on February 21, 2019, with completion taking place in the summer of 2022. The first event held at the new stadium was the opening ceremony of the 17th Shaanxi Provincial Games, which took place on August 6, 2022. As part of the Games, athletics competitions were also held at the stadium. The main part of the Games ended on August 11, 2022. On September 15, 2022, the complex was opened to the public.

What are the features of Yulin Sports Centre Stadium?

The stadium features an athletics track, surrounded all around by stands that can accommodate 32,000 spectators. Along the pitch, on either side, the stands are much larger and are made up of two tiers. Video screens have been installed on the arches. The plastic seating in the stands is a mixture of two colours: red (dominant in the lower sections) and grey (present especially in the upper sections). In addition, a number of yellow seats are arranged in the name of the city.

The entire auditorium is covered by a canopy supported by a steel structure consisting of parabolic segments in the upper part and additionally supported by a reinforced concrete colonnade running along the crown of the stadium. From a bird's-eye view, only the end sections of the parabola are visible, covered with transparent polycarbonate, while the majority of the roof is covered with large copper-gold panels made of aluminium. Floodlights have been placed on the edge of the canopy.

The same panels as on the roof are also found on the façade. The successive layers of panels overlap, creating an original form that has earned the building the nickname 'crown of the desert'. The copper-gold colour alludes to the colours found in the Loess Plateau and also symbolises the region's wealth in mineral resources. On the south side, instead of panels, a large screen was placed on the façade. At night, the stadium facade can be illuminated. From the outside, an elevated promenade surrounds the facility.

What does the surroundings of Yulin Sports Centre Stadium look like?

The stadium is the main component of Yulin Sports Center complex. It also includes a sports hall with an auditorium for 6,000 people, as well as an indoor swimming pool with a capacity of 2,200 spectators. In addition, the sports centre includes an athletics training track, tennis courts as well as basketball, volleyball and badminton courts. A park is also part of the complex.

The centre was built in an intensively developing area in the western part of Yulin. It is surrounded by new streets and buildings, including the large Yulin Convention and Exhibition Centre, adjacent to the complex to the south. The construction of Yulin Sports Centre was one of the city's most important recent investments and is its latest showcase. Particular attention was paid to sustainability and ecological aspects in the development of the project.