As well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing and the International University Sports Federation's (FISU) flagship Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China is also due to stage Asian Games in Hangzhou, Asian Youth Games in Shantou and World Team Table Tennis Championships in Chengdu - all in 2022.

That would be a stark contrast to 2020 and 2021, when China's borders were largely shut because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country staged very few international contests, and it has also brought China's record on human rights under scrutiny.

Chengdu 2021 was among the events postponed because of the pandemic and is now set to run from June 26 to July 7 this year, but retains the same branding.

Organisers of the FISU World University Games staged a drone light show to commemorate the start of the Winter Olympics, and China's busy year of hosting.

Hovering above World University Games Park in Chengdu, the drones created patterns and displayed messages including Beijing 2022 motto "Together for a Shared Future", while city landmarks such as the Tianfu International Financial Centre were also illuminated in a dazzling display.

Other Chengdu 2021 festivities designed to piggyback off the publicity of the Winter Olympics and boost the profile of the FISU World University Games revolved around panda mascot Rongbao.

Rongbao sang with an ensemble at Kuanzhai Alley, dedicating the performance to Bing Dwen Dwen, the Olympic mascot who is also a giant panda.

Children were also dressed as Rongbao for a fireworks display celebrating the Spring Festival.