Chasing the Light丨Can't keep it a secret anymore! The students of this university can actually "cross the river on a single reed"!

From the "Dog Days" to the "Three Nines," as long as the weather permits, at Hechi University in Hechi City, Guangxi, there is always a group of students under the guidance of their coach, holding paddles and standing on single bamboo, riding the wind and waves on the green waters.

On a certain date, the members of the Hechi University's Bamboo Rafting Team trained in the natural river. Backward, turning, bending, and changing poles, each person on a single bamboo showcased the marvelous skill of "crossing the river on a reed," often eliciting exclamations of amazement from onlookers.

This is the daily training routine of the Bamboo Rafting Team at Hechi University. Originating from the Chishui River Basin, Bamboo Rafting is a traditional minority sport with a long history. It was included as an official event in the 9th National Traditional Sports Games for Ethnic Minorities held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, and was selected into the fifth batch of national intangible cultural heritage representative projects in 2011.

On a certain date, members of the Hechi University Bamboo Rafting Team participated in the Bamboo Rafting event at the "Ethnic Sports Extravaganza" series of competitions held in Guilin City, Guangxi. As a competitive event, Bamboo Rafting demands a high level of physical fitness from participants, particularly in terms of balance and coordination, and also requires strength, endurance, and skill. As an entertainment performance, this activity inspires a spirit of struggle and courage, providing people with the joy of being amidst the mountains and waters.

From traditional bamboo to modern bamboo poles made of new materials, from folk craftsmanship to competitive sports, the sport of bamboo rafting on a single pole has become increasingly standardized, and traditional culture has been effectively protected and developed in the process of inheritance. Over the past decade, the School of Physical Education at Hechi University has blazed a "brilliant" path for the inheritance, protection, and development of bamboo rafting on a single pole.

In the year, during a major discussion on the办学特色 (educational characteristics) at Hechi University, the School of Physical Education established its办学定位 (educational positioning) as "centering on physical education and teaching, with the development and utilization of traditional ethnic sports as a breakthrough." In the same year, Lan Jianzhuo, who is now the dean of the School of Physical Education at Hechi University, attended a training course for bamboo rafting coaches in Zunyi, Guizhou, as a representative of the faculty. Upon returning from the training, Lan Jianzhuo seized the opportunity to actively work on establishing a bamboo rafting team.

However, competitive sports have higher demands, so how should the sport of "floating on a single bamboo" be developed? How should it be trained? How should athletes be selected? ... A series of questions were placed before Lan Jianzhuo. With strong support from the Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, the Autonomous Region Ethnic Affairs Commission, and the school, the team delved deeply into the cultural connotations of "floating on a single bamboo," promptly explored and summarized teaching and training methods for the sport. They also strengthened communication and cooperation with local authorities, designed and choreographed performances showcasing the skills of "floating on a single bamboo," actively participated in local festivals, demonstrated the charm of the sport to the public, and continuously enhanced its social recognition and influence.

Perseverance pays off. Through years of practice and exploration, the bamboo rafting team of Hechi University has become increasingly proficient in their technique. In the consecutive two National Traditional Sports Games for Ethnic Minorities, the bamboo rafting team representing Hechi University won gold medals for the Guangxi delegation. They have also achieved remarkable results in other competitions, maintaining a leading position in the national standings.

In Lan Jianzhuo's view, using the training, competition, and performance of the single bamboo drifting project as a vehicle can better achieve the dynamic inheritance of intangible cultural heritage projects. "We have already incorporated the single bamboo drifting sport into the curriculum as part of our talent cultivation plan. In the future, we will fully leverage the research and talent advantages of universities, continuously innovate, and bring this traditional folk skill into the lives of the masses in various forms, ensuring its better protection and effective传承."