'Sport of kings' begins new reign of popularity

"We visited many historical sites including those in Tianjin, Shanghai and Hohhot in the Inner Mongolian autonomous region, and consulted with experts and descendants of polo players," he says, adding that, while the sport was popular in ancient China, it remains a relatively niche pastime today.

"Argentina's polo standards are globally top-notch, akin to China's excellence in table tennis. In contrast, China's polo standards are more comparable to Argentina's table tennis proficiency," Wang Guohua says.

He says that, despite the nearly 4,000 equestrian clubs in the country, there are only a handful of polo clubs.

"China's polo history and culture have deep roots, with close ties to many historical events.

"Through the book, we hope to give the world a glimpse into that history," Wang Guohua explains, adding that his daughter is currently working on publishing an English version of the book and that the family's future plans involve publishing ancient Chinese poems about polo.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn