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From September 22 to 27, the global showcase of skills came to a successful close in Shanghai.
A single skill can move the world.
The WorldSkills Competition, organized by WorldSkills International, originated in 1950 and has since been held every two years. It is one of the world's largest and most influential international vocational skills competitions, renowned as the "Skills Olympics." Young skilled professionals from around the world compete and exchange ideas on this stage, demonstrating with their hands and wisdom how "skills change the world."
The theme of this year's competition is "Skills Change the World, Skills Light the Future." The competition covers six major sectors — Transportation and Logistics, Construction and Building Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, and Social and Personal Services — with a total of 64 skill competitions.
This year's competition was held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, with venues at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) and the Shanghai Expo Culture Center. A total of 1,385 competitors from 68 countries and regions competed across 64 skill areas; the World Skills Conference and the World Skills Expo were held concurrently, forming a "one competition, two events" format.
The Chinese delegation comprised 220 members, including 71 competitors, 64 experts, and 64 translators and support staff. They competed in all 64 skill categories, ultimately earning 41 gold, 11 silver, and 4 bronze medals, along with 6 medallions for excellence. This placed them at the top of both the medal table and the overall team standings, setting a new record for the delegation's best-ever performance.
The 64 skill competitions span six major sectors, encompassing both hardcore manufacturing and finely honed craftsmanship——
Rail Vehicle Technology, Automobile Technology, Aircraft Maintenance, and more. He Xiaoman's Albert Vidal Award came from Rail Vehicle Technology.
CNC Milling, Robot Systems Integration, Industrial Control, and more. Six consecutive gold medals in CNC Milling stand as a testament to China's manufacturing strength.
Bricklaying, Wall and Floor Tiling, Landscaping——international contestants built a Chinese-style garden in Shanghai, creating one of the event's most memorable moments.
Five consecutive gold medals in Fashion Technology, along with Graphic Design, Floristry, Baking, and Hairdressing — where aesthetic sensibility meets technical mastery.
Cloud computing, cybersecurity, and mobile app development — fierce competition in the digital skills arena.
Health and social care, cooking, and hotel reception — the warmth of service also deserves recognition.
Away from the competition floor, the entries were equally stunning: Baking contestants "painted" on bread with scoring patterns, bringing leaf veins, flowers, and facial profiles to life; Floristry contestants wove nature and creativity into their pieces, with ingenious touches in everything from flower baskets to sculptural installations; and Hairdressing styles were refined down to the finest detail—every skill is the result of time and patience.
The core IP of this year's WorldSkills Competition——the mascots "Nengneng" and "Qiaoqiao": their names derive from the phrase "skilled craftsmen," and their design is inspired by the Shanghai landmark Oriental Pearl Tower. Dressed in workwear with safety goggles and gloves, they hold a Luban lock representing the spirit of traditional craftsmanship, giving a thumbs-up to every competitor.
Centered on these two mascot IPs, the organizers have developed over 130 product categories and more than 300 items of licensed merchandise, spanning plush figures, commemorative badges, mortise-and-tenon ornaments, trendy bags, and more. Among them, the plush blind boxes feature outfits themed to six major competition categories, with ultra-rare hidden editions beyond the standard lineup. A collaborative series also introduces "Xiaoneng" and "Xiaoqiao" AI mascots powered by large language models, bringing a strong tech edge. The WorldSkills licensed merchandise pop-up store has already appeared at Xujiahui New 600 YOUNG, letting the public take home a piece of "skilled craftsmanship."
On the evening of September 27, the 48th WorldSkills Competition came to a successful close in Shanghai. During the closing ceremony, the winners of 64 skill categories and competitors from 68 delegations were revealed one by one. Between the award presentations, a performance blending intangible cultural heritage crafts, traditional opera stunts, and guochao street dance set the venue ablaze.
The closing ceremony also featured the WorldSkills flag handover ceremony——the 49th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Aichi·Nagoya, Japan in 2028. Skills know no borders, and youth is in its prime. We look forward to the light of skills illuminating more dreams four years from now.
