(中文翻译在英文正文之后)

While China is best known for table tennis, a new sports phenomenon has emerged since the middle of last year. Thanks to Douyin (TikTok) and other social media, the term Cūn Chāo (村超) went viral. Millions across the country are watching football matches that take place in the remote villages of Rongjiang County, in Southwest China’s Guizhou province, via their mobile phones.

Cunchao, loosely translated as “Village Super League”, is literally a grassroots event, initiated by members of the local Miao ethnic minority. The fame of the event helps the region in selling agricultural regional products as a digital farmer. The products are sold in all corners of the country. Rongjiang is now on the map and is flourishing, it attracts countless visitors and many entrepreneurs in the villages are experiencing success.

According to FIFA, football has its roots in China! During the Han Dynasty there was a similar game called Tsu Chu. Yet, modern football is a relatively new phenomenon in China. In Europe the first football clubs were founded in the second half of the 19th century. Football fields were originally on grass fields linked to schools. In my home country the Netherlands, football got commercialized and linked to big money and mass events since the 1950s. However, playing fields can still be found in many villages, and football still plays somehow a central social role in village life.

In a number of villages in the Zhejiang Province where I do research by walking, I have also come across a few newly constructed football fields. The fields are used eagerly, especially during the weekend. Although I am not a fan of commercial football, it is a peaceful and pleasant entertainment as a small-scale village event. It offers young people opportunities and has a social role. The informal football fields without line marks are the most fun, the ones with the goal between two laid down coats.

中国向来以乒乓球闻名，但自去年年中以来，网络上涌现了一种新的体育现象。得益于抖音（TikTok）和其他社交媒体，“村超”一词迅速在网上走红。全国数百万人正在通过手机观看在中国西南部贵州省榕江县偏远村庄举行的足球比赛。

村超，大致翻译为“村超联赛”，实际上是一项由当地苗族发起的地方倡议。活动的知名度有助于该地区的数字农民销售农产品。产品销往全国各地。如今，榕江已名声大噪，发展迅速同时吸引了无数游客，村里的成功创业者也比比皆是。

根据国际足联的说法，足球其实起源于中国！汉代就有类似的游戏，叫蹴鞠。然而，现代足球在中国还是一个相对较新的现象。在欧洲，第一批足球俱乐部成立于 19 世纪下半叶。足球场最初位于与学校相连的草地上。在我的祖国荷兰，自 20 世纪 50 年代以来，足球开始商业化，纠缠着巨额资金及大量球迷。然而，许多运动场都设立在村庄里，足球在乡村生活中仍然发挥着重要的社会作用。

在我徒步调研的浙江省一些村庄里，我也看到了一些新建的足球场。尤其是周末，更是热闹非凡。虽然我不喜欢商业足球，但作为一个小型的乡村活动，它是一种和平、愉快的娱乐活动。它为年轻人提供机会并发挥社会作用。没有线条的非正式足球场是最有趣的。小时候随便扔两件衣服作为球门区，就可以开始玩踢球了。