-- "In Guizhou, 'Cun BA' is more than a basketball game—it represents the local people’s deep love for the sport and reflects the vibrant growth of rural culture in China."
On July 12, during the China–US Youth Co-Creation and Sharing Session, Nathan Henry Boffenbarger, teacher and leader of the visiting US youth delegation, shared reflections on their journey in Guizhou. He praised the "Cun BA" rural basketball tournament as a cultural bridge connecting Chinese and American youth.
From July 6 to 11, 2025, the event "Passion for Cun BA, Joy in Guizhou", co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, welcomed 38 students and teachers from the United States. Their immersive tour took them to Guiyang, Anshun, Southeast and East of Guizhou. Using basketball as a medium, the group explored local life, engaged in cultural exchanges, and discovered the ecological treasures of the "Mountain Park Province" from multiple dimensions.
In the height of summer, these young "cultural ambassadors" from across the ocean came together in Guizhou to decode the vibrant spirit of youth dialogue and civilizational exchange. At Baling River Bridge—the world’s first kilometre-span bridge in a mountainous canyon, the US teens stood 370 meters above the ground on the viewing platform, exploring the interior structure and marvelling at the engineering feat of this Guizhou’s super projects.
At Huangguoshu Waterfall, dubbed the "No.1 waterfall in Asia," the roaring current brought refreshing coolness to the visitors. In Libo’s Xiaoqikong Scenic Area, known as the "Emerald of the Earth"at 25°N latitude, lush valleys and crystal-clear waterfalls offered a glimpse of the region’s pristine karst forest, the largest of its kind at this latitude worldwide. This showcased Guizhou’s title as the "Kingdom of Karst."
In Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, the largest Miao ethnic settlement in the world, students participated in traditional crafts like batik dyeing, enjoyed a long-table banquet, and experienced the iconic "Mountain Stream Toasting" ritual. These encounters highlighted the rich cultural diversity that has earned Guizhou the nickname "Archipelago of Cultures."
In Taipan Village, surrounded by verdant hills, an open-air "Cun BA" court became the venue for a spirited rural basketball match rooted in the "Sixth of June New Rice Festival." The event served as a new platform for Chinese and American teens to connect.
On the sidelines, villagers cheered players on by rhythmically banging ladles against washbasins; on the court, young players dashed and leapt with passion. Here, on a mountaintop court in rural Guizhou, youth from different backgrounds found a shared language through basketball.
Culture becomes richer through exchange, and youth shines through dialogue. From world-class engineering to untouched ecological wonders, from centuries-old heritage crafts to heartfelt grassroots competitions, the arc of a basketball shot has opened a window into cultural diversity and built a new bridge of friendship between Chinese and American youth across the Pacific.
Contact Info:
Name: May Mou
Email: Send Email
Organization: Culture and Tourism of Guizhou Province
Website: http://www.gzascm.com
Release ID: 89164821
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