Hoping to inspire

Cai Yan, who won a gold medal in the baby nursing event at the Guizhou skills competition for professionals, said she was initially questioned by many new parents, as no one believed an unmarried young woman without a child could qualify for the job.

"I've gained practical experience by looking after my relatives' children and watching and learning from older workers," said the 27-year-old, who is now a teacher at Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College. She hopes that families with babies, especially new parents from rural areas, can learn some baby-nursing methods and ideas from the competition.

Cai's student, Xiang Lirong, won gold in the baby nursing event in the students competition. Xiang said that she wants to return to her hometown — Fengdu county in Chongqing — after graduation to inspire mothers there to learn baby nursing skills and start their own careers in the sector.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Ye Yannyu from Shanghai said that she wants to introduce China's long-standing tea culture to the world and help more tea growers in rural areas and companies sell their products. Ye earned a bronze medal in the tea art event in the professional competition.