(Yicai) Sept. 6 -- Hangzhou and five other Chinese cities are getting ready to welcome hordes of visitors as the 19th Asian Games are slated to start in less than three weeks, partly overlapping with a public holiday.

Most residents of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province should be able to find an event venue close to their homes, Yicai learned. This edition of the Asian Games will partly fall on China's National Day holiday so even the co-hosting cities of Shaoxing, Ningbo, Huzhou, Jinhua, and Wenzhou expect a lot of tourists.

Mr. Le, a Hangzhou resident who is fond of niche sports, told Yicai that he already booked tickets for matches of field hockey and cricket close to his house. An Indian client of his told him that a lot of renowned Indian players are likely to be seen on the field.

Shaoxing, a city located more than 60 kilometers away from Hangzhou, will host baseball and softball matches, as well as rock climbing competitions. Some men’s volleyball and women’s basketball games will also be held in the city. Le, who is also a baseball fan, said that he intends to go to Shaoxing with his family to spend some time in the ancient city after watching the games.

Jinhua, around one hour away from Hangzhou by high-speed railway, will organize some men's soccer matches and games of sepak takraw, a popular sport in Southeast Asia that is similar to volleyball but is played without using the hands. Visitors to Jinhua can enjoy the city with a history of thousands of years and even make a pit stop in nearby Yiwu, known around the world for its massive marketplace for small commodities.

Ningbo will host beach volleyball and yacht-racing competitions, organized in tourist resorts. Moreover, Huzhou will have some matches of volleyball, as well as those of 3x3 basketball. Wenzhou was chosen to host several women’s soccer matches and dragon boat racing due to its rich cultural heritage. Moreover, the city is renowned in China for its particularly active private economy.

The Hangzhou Asian Games will officially open on Sept. 23 and last till Oct. 8 but some matches such as soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, and cricket will already start on Sept. 19. Meanwhile, China's National Day holiday will be observed from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Emmi Laine