Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

The second annual craftsmanship competition got underway in Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai, on Aug 11, boasting to be bigger and better than last year's event.

The 2017 Craftsmen in Xiangzhou, vocational skills competition, will run until late September, and aims to attract more skilled professionals and craftsmen to the district.

After the success of the first event, Xiangzhou has invested heavily to attract more participants this year, with each winner taking home 10,000 yuan ($1,501).

According to organizers, the competition categories have been increased from six to 11 this year, with the addition of e-commerce, western food cooking, vehicle sales and maintenance, and power cable installation.

Xiangzhou in Zhuhai opens a month-long vocational skill competition on Aug 11, to showcase skilled professionals.

The competition categories reflect the areas in which Xiangzhou is in most need of attracting skilled people, said the organizers. Other fields include emerging industries such as advanced equipment and print consumables manufacturing.

Whereas last year's competition was only open to professionals, this year's event allows anyone to enter in any category they feel they are skilled in.

The top six participants in each category will take home prizes doubling that of last year, an amount linked to their final ranking.

Other awards will be given to winners including a "Xiangzhou Craftsman" subsidy of 5,000 yuan ($750.6) and another 5,000 yuan ($750.6) to encourage new talent.

Operators warm up during the preliminary rounds of the 2017 Craftsmen in Xiangzhou on Aug 11. [Photos courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

The event is sponsored by the Organization Department of CPC Xiangzhou District, Human Recourses and Social Security Bureau, Federation of Trade Unions of Xiangzhou District, and Xiangzhou's Human Resources Development Management Service Center.