Entertainment
WorldCon ushers in more opportunities for Chengdu as “sci-fi incubator”
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CHENGDU, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) — Sci-fi aficionados attending the opening ceremony of the 81st World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) on Wednesday night were treated to an exhilarating two-minute “space journey,” to the accompaniment of haunting female vocals.
The introductory movie took them from the nebula-shaped Chengdu Science Fiction Museum to various famous sites on Earth, such as Sanxingdui and the Pyramids, then out across the solar system. Having arrived at the Pillars of Creation — where life was born — located about 6,500 light-years away, they hurtled back to the museum.
Such was the prelude to this year’s edition of WorldCon, the world’s largest and longest-running sci-fi gathering. This time around, it is taking place in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, making it the second city in Asia and the first in China to host the event.
CHENGDU & SCI-FI
The decision to hold the 81st WorldCon in Chengdu was made at the 79th World Science Fiction Convention in Washington D.C. in 2021. Chengdu, as a bidding city, won the hosting competition after science fiction fans from around the world cast their votes.
Chengdu boasts the ancient Shu civilization, dating back some 4,500 years, a fact that gives it a strong historical pedigree. Meanwhile, it is also a leading incubator of science fiction writing in China.
It is home to the magazine Science Fiction World, which has a bigger circulation than any other sci-fi publication in the world, launching the careers of many of the country’s most renowned authors, including Hugo Award winner Liu Cixin.
In an interview at the convention, Liu said that choosing Chengdu as the host city for WorldCon is a “natural thing.”
“The WorldCon will allow Chinese sci-fi writers, readers and industry insiders to have more communication with their peers from all over the world. Science fiction literature has undergone profound changes, and we can take this convention as an opportunity to have more discussions on its evolution and how to make it better in the future,” Liu added.
Ben Yalow, co-chairman of the 2023 Chengdu WorldCon, echoed Liu’s words, citing the popular Chinese idiom “where water flows, a channel will form” to explain why WorldCon has come to Chengdu.
Believing the Chengdu WorldCon will be a win-win event for sci-fi fans in China and the West, Yalow said hopes to meet and connect with more Chinese sci-fi fans.
“I am looking forward to communicating with sci-fi fans to explore the new ideas sparked by the collision of Chinese and Western cultures at the convention.”
SCI-FI & BEYOND
As an emerging industry in China, science fiction has already expanded beyond the bounds of literature. It has taken on a much broader scope, driving the growth of correlated industries, including film and television production, as well as commercial operations.
The output value of China’s science fiction industry, including publications, films and others, totaled 87.75 billion yuan (about 12.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022. China has produced a series of science fiction films, such as “The Wandering Earth,” that have earned billions of yuan at the box office. China is also believed to have the world’s largest number of science fiction aficionados.
Leveraging its sci-fi advantages, Chengdu has quickened the pace in boosting related industries.
Over 800 special-effects shots in “The Wandering Earth” were produced in Chengdu. Meanwhile, the creative team behind the animation movie “Ne Zha,” which raked in over 4.9 billion yuan at the box office, grew up in the nurturing atmosphere of Chengdu’s sci-fi circles.
La Zi, editor-in-chief of Science Fiction World magazine, said that Chengdu has accumulated the best sci-fi intellectual property in China over 40 years, meaning that Chengdu’s science fiction industry has ushered in a rare historic opportunity.
“Sci-fi fans, who have grown up under the influence of Science Fiction World for decades, are the new force in boosting the future development of the sci-fi industry,” he added.
The Chengdu WorldCon has set a new milestone for the development of its sci-fi industry. The city has put into motion over 40 projects combining sci-fi with film production, games and tourism. Preparations for a conference to promote the sci-fi industry are also underway, with 12 major projects to be signed, attracting an estimated total investment of up to 8 billion yuan.
Jiang Zhenyu, an associate researcher at the China science fiction research institute of Sichuan University, sees this week’s event as providing impetus for the industry’s development.
“The 2023 Chengdu WorldCon will provide a stage for sci-fi practitioners across China, and will also become a new breaking point for the diversified development of the science fiction industry in Chengdu and across China,” said Jiang.
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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.
The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.
The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.
Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.
Other ticket options
- Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
- Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
- Friday: Dh75
- Under 15s: Free
- People of Determination + carer: Dh375
Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.
Bigger family attractions
Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.
The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Six sports and top rugby action
Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.
Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.
The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.
The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.
Music all weekend
Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.
Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.
For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.
With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.
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