Rural basketball spectacle lifts Miao spirits

The finals of a rural basketball league are held on Saturday in Taipan village of Taijiang county, Guizhou province. [Photo by Yang Xiaobo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The "beautiful countryside" basketball tournament finals were held on Saturday, in Taipan village of Guizhou's rural Taijiang county. The annual event went viral online last summer, acquiring a catchy name: VBA, or Village Basketball Association.

The Miao ethnic group usually starts the event on the sixth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, celebrating the traditional Chixin Festival through a variety of activities, the liveliest of which is the basketball competition.

Organized by local residents, the rural basketball league has gained popularity over the years, drawing a growing number of spectators and participants alike. Local authorities have upgraded the surrounding facilities and added more than 20,000 seats to enhance the spectator experience.

The finals of a rural basketball league are held on Saturday in Taipan village of Taijiang county, Guizhou province. [Photo by Yang Xiaobo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Four representative teams — from Qiandongnan, Tongren, Zunyi, and Bijie — competed for the championship in this two-day competition, which showcased the passion and skills of basketball players from rural areas as they competed and demonstrated teamwork on the court.

Distinctive Miao cultural performances were staged during the intermissions, and local agricultural products were displayed in a small market beside the basketball court.

Unlike the NBA, the VBA does not have professional players, referees, cheerleaders or a large-scale venue. But the enthusiasm of spectators for basketball is no less than that of the NBA. Moreover, the league matches have helped boost the development of the local economy and tourism.

Wang Jin contributed to this story.

The finals of a rural basketball league are held on Saturday in Taipan village of Taijiang county, Guizhou province. [Photo by Yang Xiaobo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Basketball fans step onto the court to receive their prizes after winning the basketball shooting challenge. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Local children shoot basketballs to win prizes. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The finals of a rural basketball league are held on Saturday in Taipan village of Taijiang county, Guizhou province. [Photo by Yang Xiaobo/For chinadaily.com.cn]