A visitor takes photos of the pendants at the market in Nantong Sports Convention and Exhibition Center. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Nantong Sports Convention and Exhibition Center in Jiangsu province was buzzing with excitement on May 9 as a unique market event attracted crowds of soccer fans and local residents.

The market was organized to coincide with the match between Team Nantong and Team Nanjing in the 2026 Jiangsu Football City League, also known as Suchao.

Visitors entering the market area were greeted by over 100 stalls lining the square's perimeter. The stalls offered a variety of items, including Suchao merchandise like Soccer pendants, local cultural heritage products such as blue calico and banyao kites, as well as interactive games themed around technology, health, and sports.

Many fans arrived early to enjoy local Nantong delicacies while exploring the cultural heritage products. "I bought a Team Nantong jersey magnet, a blue calico doll, and collected stamps from all 13 teams," said Liu Xiangru, a fan from Hai'an. She and her friends drove from Hai'an in the morning and visited the market right after lunch.

Among the many stalls, the health-themed area was among the most popular spots. At the "Ping An Health Cloud" booth, visitors could play a puck game, aiming to drop discs into designated holes to win health-related prizes. Nearby, at the Nantong Integrated TCM Hospital booth, people lined up for the "ball dribbling and herb seeking" challenge, where participants dribbled a ball while searching for medicinal herbs, with correct answers earning them prizes.