The finale of the 15th Zhenxing Cup National Vocational Skills Competition starts in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, on Nov 15. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

The finale of the 15th Zhenxing Cup National Vocational Skills Competition started in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, on Nov 15.

More than 263 students from vocational colleges in 30 provinces and cities participated in the contest.

This is the first time that the event has been held in Hangzhou rather than Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province in Northeast China, which hosted the event for 15 consecutive years starting in 2005.

Hangzhou sent 10 participants to compete at the final. All finalists from Hangzhou received an intense four-month training course. 

In order to attract skilled workers to the city, Hangzhou announced that it would be offering various subsidies to winners if they decide to work in the city. 

Hangzhou is now home to 494,000 skilled workers and more than 6,000 high-level skilled workers, according to government classification systems.