Traditional competitions celebrate ethnic culture

Among the highlights were a series of traditional sports originating from the Wurigong Festival of the Hezhe ethnic group, featuring unique events such as deer-hair ball, snow rabbit hunting and archery.

Wurigong means "auspicious day" in the Hezhe language, and the festival was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage representative projects in 2021.

On the deer-hair ball field, participants sprinted and hit the ball on snow-covered ground, with the ice and snow sometimes helping them and other times causing them to fall, sparking laughter from spectators.

You Chuang, a 44-year-old Hezhe farmer, is a seasoned player of the sport.

"I first encountered deer-hair ball in my teens and performed at the Sixth National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities in 1999," he says."I've participated in various ethnic activities since childhood, but only sports can truly reflect the resilience and perseverance inherent in the Hezhe people, showcasing our skills in fishing and hunting on ice and snow."

"I hope more such activities can be held to pass down these traditions," he adds.

On the adjacent archery field, participants dressed in outfits that blended ethnic elements with athletic practicality performed a seamless sequence of movements -drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, aiming, and releasing — in one fluid motion.

Hezhe archery originated from ancient fishing and hunting practices, essential survival skills for their ancestors. Today it has evolved into a sporting activity that carries the collective memory of the culture.

To help participants from different regions and cultural backgrounds better understand Hezhe culture, the organizing committee simplified some of the rules, allowing them to engage fully with the snow and ice traditions.

"We hope to introduce our ethnic group through these traditional Hezhe folk activities and let more people experience the charm of ethnic sports together," says Wang Yiwei, director of the Economic Development Service Center of Jiejinkou Hezhe town.

The event also attracted many spectators, including residents from neighboring regions and Russian tourists.

"After each competition, the venue was opened to the audience so they could take part, allowing tourists from all over the world to experience authentic ethnic customs," says Wang, who added that there was also an ice sled that people could ride.