The Barcelona star has begun his three-week visit in Beijing, where he toured the Great Wall, the UNESCO-listed fortification stretching more than 20,000 kilometers that served as an ancient military defense system for centuries, Global Times reported.
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A photo shared on Chinese social media shows midfielder Pedro González López, better known as Pedri, exploring China’s Great Wall. |
He also visited the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO World Heritage Site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties once held ceremonies to pray for good harvests.
The temple’s distinctive design, with a circular northern section and a square southern section, reflects the traditional Chinese belief that “heaven is round and earth is square.”
Beyond sightseeing, Pedri sampled local cuisine and later continued his journey to the eastern cities of Suzhou and Shanghai.
Throughout the holiday, the 23-year-old was frequently spotted wearing Spain’s new two-star national team jersey, commemorating the country’s World Cup titles in 2010 and 2026.
Pedri also immersed himself in Chinese sporting traditions by trying Cuju, a ball game dating back more than 2,300 years and widely regarded as one of football’s earliest predecessors. Dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, he practiced juggling the ball and attempted to score using the game’s historic rules.
The trip also included a ceremonial appearance at the “Tai Lake Derby” between Suzhou and Wuxi, where Pedri performed the honorary kick-off in front of nearly 32,000 spectators, combining his sightseeing itinerary with football-related promotional activities.
Spain won their second World Cup title in history on July 19 after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. Pedri came on in the second half.