Ethnic sports foster unity in Chongqing

In a vibrant village in Chongqing's Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county, a bamboo-woven spherical ball bounced between teammates during a recent match, its tinkling bell echoing through the air. The bamboo ring ball match was one of the highlights of the 14th Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Week, which began last Wednesday.

The annual weeklong event aims to promote interaction and unity among the region's diverse ethnic communities, while also serving as a prelude to China's National Day Holiday, which starts on Tuesday, local authorities said.

"The sport looks simple, but it requires a lot of skill and physical strength," said Mao Fuchuan, a 38-year-old accomplished bamboo ring ballplayer from the village.

Bamboo ring ball, known in Chinese as zhulingqiu, is one of a variety of traditional ethnic games — including elephant-tug-of-war, board shoes racing and cockfighting — that are being featured at the event, which is also staging performances showcasing intangible cultural heritage traditions such as Taiyuan folk songs, bullfighting and pole lion dancing.

"These ethnic sports are excellent for preserving cultures and fostering ethnic unity," said Wen Zhenhua, Party secretary of the local ethnic and religious affairs committee. "By engaging in competitions, we encourage young people to carry forward these traditions."

Located in southeastern Chongqing, Pengshui is home to 318,000 Miao people, who make up 45.4 percent of the county's population. It has the highest concentration of Miao people of all ethnic minority counties in China, according to local officials.

In recent years, Pengshui has breathed life into a wide array of intangible cultural heritage traditions, including Miao crossbow craftsmanship, and has integrated ethnic cultural elements into daily life through artistic products, study tours and scenic attractions.

"These activities deepen understanding of different ethnic customs and foster a strong sense of community," Wen said.

Pengshui's rich heritage has also become a draw for tourists. Each year, on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, a Chiyou sacrificial ceremony is held at a stone totem pillar in Chiyou Jiuli Town, a Miao-themed architectural site. The ceremony attracts around 1.5 million visitors annually.