Rural basketball spectacle lifts Miao spirits

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.