Fujian village has ethnic martial art in its corner

Perched on a hillside in Fujian province, a picturesque village of the She ethnic group echoes with the sounds of martial arts practice, drawing tourists eager to experience its ethnic cultural heritage.

Zhong Tuanyu, head of Jindouyang village could never have imagined that her dedication to martial arts would change not only her own destiny but also that of the entire village. Zhong, now in her late 40s, began learning She ethnic martial arts at the age of 10. "Everything I've done is rooted in our ethnic culture and She martial arts," said Zhong.

Jindouyang village, located in the Kangcuo She ethnic township in Fu'an city in Fujian, is home to more than 1,000 residents of the She ethnic group, one of China's 56 ethnic groups. In recent years, it has emerged as a popular destination for ethnic tourism.

Thanks to Zhong's innovative integration of rural vitalization and cultural preservation, the village now features upgraded infrastructure and a growing array of cultural programs that celebrate its unique ethnic heritage.

Today, children in traditional attire can be seen practicing the She ethnic martial art, She boxing. The village hosts more than 40 martial arts performances annually, drawing around 20,000 visitors.

She boxing dates back centuries and originally emerged as a means of defending against enemies and wild animals. It is also one of Fujian's provincial-level intangible cultural heritages.

Zhong recalled that she learned the art from her uncle at a time when martial arts were an integral part of daily life in the village.

At 17, Zhong became the village's first female martial artist to compete in the National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities. Her outstanding performance earned her a bronze medal, which marked the beginning of a long series of accolades at competitions across China and abroad.

"As I traveled more, I came to see just how valuable She boxing is," she said.

"It would be a real loss if this culture disappeared."

So Zhong chose to stay in the village and dedicate herself to preserving She martial arts. It was a challenging job as many young villagers were leaving to study or work elsewhere, threatening the continuity of traditional culture, a common issue in many rural communities. Zhong realized that cultural preservation could not be separated from rural development. "Only a thriving village can preserve She boxing," she said.

In 2021, she took the position as the head of the village. "There is no road map for what I am doing, as I am shouldering both the duty of teaching She boxing and guiding rural development," she said.

But her experience helped chart a path forward for the village: using martial arts to drive development. Over the past four years, Zhong has led villagers in revitalizing both their culture and infrastructure. Homes in the village have been renovated into homestays and retreats with She ethnic flair. Tourists can now enjoy martial arts performances, local cuisine, and hands-on lessons in She boxing.

From 2021 to 2024, the village's revenue jumped from 200,000 yuan ($27,445) to 500,000 yuan. Many villagers have become homestay hosts or martial arts performers. Roads have been repaired, and streetlamps installed.

Running the village isn't easy. Zhong constantly balances different interests while ensuring high-quality tourism services and facilities. "If a village wants to develop, the leader can't afford to sit back and do nothing," she said.

Zhong's days are packed with village affairs, from communicating with villagers to implementing projects. For her, there's no such thing as off-duty — she often works late until past midnight.

"Zhong is not only a leading martial arts inheritor but also the respected leader of our village," said villager Zhong Liuhua. "We've all seen the changes with our own eyes."