Mountain venue sees polo reach new heights of appeal

Surrounded by green mountains, shrouded by white clouds, over 100 Chinese spectators enjoyed a summer afternoon in Wulong district, Chongqing, watching an international women's polo match, sipping Champagne and listening to music played by a popular local symphony orchestra.

In recent years, polo, once hailed as "the sport of kings", a high-end team sport with ancient roots, has started to gain popularity in China, as a group of Chinese polo lovers have been trying to revive the sport's culture in the country.

"I knew little about polo before I was invited to watch the match this time, but now I am deeply attracted to this niche sport," said Wang Yanshan, a spectator who flew from Beijing to the southwestern municipality over the weekend early this month.

In pink, the dress code of the event, the Chinese spectators tasted the charm of the polo event. They sat under the white tents, drank pink sparkling wine and afternoon tea, and chatted with friends, while cheering for the polo players on the field.

From Aug 1 to 3, the 1003 Polo Club hosted the inaugural Rose Polo Cup, an international tournament dedicated to female riders, at its newly built facility on Xiannyu Mountain, or Fairy Mountain, in the district which boasts a breathtakingly beautiful natural landscape.

It attracted top polo players from Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland, Argentina, Ireland and China. They formed three teams, British Rainbow Team, Singapore Claremont Family Office Team and Canadian Sunshine Team, to compete against each other. The British Rainbow Team won the title.

As a mixed-gender sport, polo has historically been dominated by male players, but women currently represent the fastest growing sector of the game, accounting for 40 percent of US Polo Association membership.

"It is the highest level of women's polo competition in China," says Luo Bin, a polo player herself and the co-founder of the club.

"I hope to take this opportunity to help Chinese players enhance their game, provide the public with a social experience around the sport, as well as make the world polo enthusiasts know about the rapid development of Chinese women's polo."

Founded in 2017 in Beijing with another polo lover, Jackie Wang, the club aims to revive the sport in China, especially among women and young people.

In China, paintings, murals, figurines and other images of polo can be traced as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-907), with both male and female aristocrats depicted chasing the ball on horseback.

During the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), modern polo was introduced by expatriates who lived in cities, such as Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin.

During the 1930s, it enjoyed a period of popularity in China and, in 1959, during the first-ever National Games, polo was included as an official sport.

"Situated in the high mountains with an average 1,750 meters above sea level, our club enjoys beautiful views and ideal weather for the sport," Luo says.

Partnering with Wulong district government, the club has a total area of more than 170,000 square meters. It boasted nearly 100 Argentine polo ponies imported from the South American country this year and a top venue that can host international events.

It also has stables, indoor horse training fields, sand polo fields, event polo fields, grazing areas and other business formats, as well as bars, a clubhouse and art exhibition halls.

Hou Tianbo, director of the development department of the Chinese Equestrian Association and deputy director of the Polo Professional Committee, says that this event, staged in a top tourist spot, is an innovative approach to attract general public to the sport.

"At present, sports have become an important part of many people's lives. While challenging the physical and spiritual limits of human beings, they are also constantly creating more possibilities for social progress and life," he says.

"Chinese polo development is still in an early stage and needs a lot of investment and promotion," he adds.

As polo requires significant investments on horses, training, equipment and facilities, it used to be out of reach of the general population. Now, thanks to the club founders, the Xiannyu Mountain club can offer affordable service packages to the people to experience the sport. For instance, a 45-minute polo coaching session costs 598 yuan ($83) for 6- to 17-year-old first timers.

As a famous summer retreat with an amiable climate, the Xiannyu Mountain area attracts thousands of people every year.

"We had many children this summer wanting to play the sport," Luo says. "I hope to bring polo to many people."

This year, the news of the club importing nearly 100 polo ponies from Argentina drew the attention of Argentine Ambassador to China Marcelo Gabriel Suarez Salvia. Argentina is called the Capital of Polo for its leading role in the sport.

He brought his family to attend the Rose Cup and addressed the event, saying polo serves as a medium for deepening exchanges and cooperation between China and Argentina in sports, culture and other fields.

"In Argentina, we bond with horses and connect through polo," the ambassador says. "As the world's largest horse exporter, Argentina is providing crucial support globally, fostering the development of polo worldwide and serving as an important bridge for friendship and cultural exchange between China and Argentina."

It's hoped that this sport can enhance its international profile as it aims to attract more global guests to experience its unique landscape and rich culture, according to local authorities from Wulong district, a formerly low-income mountain region in Chongqing.

"We will make Xiannyu Mountain 1003 Polo Club a signature international tourism project and a 'golden business card' of Wulong's tourism sector," He Qing, the district's Party chief, said at the event.

Wulong district has also taken a series of innovative approaches in developing tourism, providing services and activities for people with various needs, such as field studies for students, competitions for outdoor sports fans, exhibitions for art lovers, health and wellness services for seniors and romantic honeymoon packages for young couples.

Since 2003, the district has hosted the China International Mountain Outdoor Sports Open, one of the largest outdoor cross-country events in the world.

The high-profile international polo event also attracted the attention of local sponsors, which are always a key part of polo events. Chongqing automaker Seres becomes one of the first Chinese new-energy vehicle companies to sponsor a polo event.

"Polo is a sport that combines tradition and modernity, just like our NEVs that boast traditional luxury design and innovative technology," says Clifford Kang, vice-president of Seres. "Also as a Chongqing company, we should actively support the major local event."