China's "Auntie Basketball," a grassroots game rooted in the traditions of ethnic communities in Guizhou, has crossed the Pacific, bringing players and audiences together through friendly matches and cultural performances in the U.S.. For the 21-member delegation, the first overseas tour was not just about showcasing a unique style of basketball, but also about reconnecting old friends and building new bonds through sport.
GUIYANG, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- A basketball game born in the villages of southwest China has found a new audience thousands of miles away, turning a grassroots sporting exchange into a celebration of friendship, culture and shared joy.
A 21-member "Auntie Basketball" delegation returned to China's Guizhou Province on October 9 after completing its first overseas cultural and sports exchange tour in the United States, bringing home memories of new friendships forged across the Pacific.
Unlike conventional basketball, "Auntie Basketball" is a community-based sport rooted in the traditions of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou.
The game takes its name from a local custom in which married women return to their home villages to visit their families. Known locally as "aunties," the women play a relaxed version of basketball that allows participants to run while holding the ball and features flexible substitutions, placing enjoyment and participation above strict competition.
From September 28 to October 6, the delegation visited schools and communities in California, Nevada, Utah and Washington state, playing friendly matches and showcasing Guizhou's ethnic traditions.
"For this exchange, the seeds were planted two years ago. It is a reunion among old friends," said Yang Guoxiang, deputy director-general of the Qiandongnan Prefecture Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism.
The reunion had its origins in 2024, when a U.S. youth delegation visited Taipan Township in Taijiang County, the birthplace of China's popular "Village BA" basketball tournament.
During that visit, American teenagers played alongside local Auntie Basketball players, experiencing the game's relaxed atmosphere and distinctive rules.
Two years later, the players met again at the Tulalip Tribes Sports Community Center in Washington state.
"When we stepped onto the court, several American girls recognized us right away and came over to greet us. We were surprised and excited," said 41-year-old player Yu Ping.
She recalled how the American visitors had initially struggled to adapt to the unconventional rules during their first encounter in Guizhou.
"At the beginning, they were not familiar with our rules and felt a little shy. But after playing for a while, they quickly adapted and learned to run while holding the ball," Yu said.
For many members of the Chinese delegation, the tour marked their first journey overseas.
Of the 21 participants, 16 were players drawn from local communities, including teachers, forest rangers, nurses, bus drivers and company employees. Most were around 35 years old and came from the Miao, Dong and other ethnic groups.
For Li Damei, a player from Nangong Town in Taijiang County, basketball has been a lifelong passion.
"There were not many entertainment options when I was young, so I started playing basketball in fifth or sixth grade. Sometimes I became so absorbed in the game that I forgot the time and even burned meals in the kitchen," she recalled.
Now in her 50s and a grandmother, Li has lost none of her enthusiasm for the sport.
Before the trip, however, she worried that American audiences might struggle to appreciate their unconventional style of play.
"I was nervous at first, wondering whether people there would accept our way of playing. But they embraced it wholeheartedly. Seeing them enjoy the game made me very happy," she said.
The delegation played four friendly matches during its U.S. tour, attracting enthusiastic participation from local communities. Some spectators asked to join the games, while children took to the court to try Auntie Basketball for themselves.
But the exchange extended well beyond the basketball court.
At halftime and after matches, the players changed into traditional costumes to perform Miao Flying Songs, the Fanpai Wooden Drum Dance and the Golden Pheasant Dance, introducing American audiences to Guizhou's intangible cultural heritage.
Though not professional performers, the women brought the same confidence and enthusiasm to their cultural displays as they did to the games.
Yang said the delegation had adapted its traditional clothing for the overseas tour, preserving distinctive cultural elements such as Miao hairstyles, embroidery and silver ornaments while allowing greater freedom of movement on the court.
Visitors also had opportunities to explore Guizhou specialties, including Roxburgh rose fruit products, spicy potato snacks, Miao embroidery, batik handicrafts, silver ornaments and traditional Yao bath-care products from Congjiang County.
The combination of sport and cultural activities proved popular with local audiences.
"I think the whole event was wonderful. It was a great cultural exchange," said Deyamonta Diaz, director of the Youth Exchange Center of the Tulalip Tribes.
"We got to share some of our culture, and we loved experiencing your culture as well. It was like the Village BA - full of energy, passion, smiles and laughter."
The Chinese players also visited American campus basketball training sessions, sports facilities and youth development programs, gaining new perspectives on how the sport is organized and promoted.
Following the tour, Qiandongnan plans to expand the international reach of its rural sports and cultural activities, including Shibing County's light volleyball competitions and village folk song performances.
For the basketball-playing aunties, however, the most lasting memories may be the friendships formed on the court, where different languages and backgrounds proved no barrier to sharing the joy of sport. ■
