In Wusu City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mongolian wrestling, known as Bokh, is kept alive by national-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritor Mengke Nasun.
Along with horseback riding, archery, Bokh is one of the three traditional manly skills in Mongolian ethnic culture.
Bokh is a sport of strength, technique and courage. It sets no age limit, and the wrestler would not know what opponent he shall face until stepping into the ring, which tests a wrestler's nerves before the match starts.
Bokh wrestling also reflects the cultural ritual and heritage of the Mongolian ethnic group. Before the match, people would perform the dance of the falcon - a totem symbolizing power, according to Mengke Nasun. Since encountering Bokh at the age of 12, Mengke Nasun has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting this ancient sport. Through his efforts, Bokh has entered local schools, allowing young people to experience its power and charm.
"As an inheritor, it falls on me to pass this on. If not me, who?" Mengke Nasun said.
Bokh entered local schools in 2016. Through Mengke Nasun's efforts, many local children of the Mongolian ethnic group got to know and learn this traditional sport of their ancestors.
"Some students didn't even know what wrestling was. Before the match, we explain the rules of wrestling on-site, as well as the etiquette," Mengke Nasun said.
More than just a sport, Bokh symbolizes perseverance and honor. To Mengke Nasun, every Mongolian man should experience Bokh, a dual tribute to one's self and culture heritage.
"We've already organized four citywide matches and the participants are very enthusiastic. In our town, as a man, you should wrestle at least once in your life. It's an honor for men," said Mengke Nasun.
Xinjiang's Mongolian community keeps wrestling tradition alive by passing it on
China saw fruitful scientific and technological innovation achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2020-2025) for national socioeconomic development, effectively supporting the country's high-quality development, said Wang Zhenzhang, former Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, on Saturday.
Wang, also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, made the statement at a group interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 4th annual session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, where he elaborated on China's sci-tech innovation achievements in the 2021-2025 period.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's sci-tech innovation yielded a large number of outstanding achievements. For example, in that period of time, China's high-speed train met the target of running at a maximum speed of 450 kilometers per hour, making people's travel faster and more convenient. Additionally, in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), embodied intelligence and multimodal AI assistants, there have been many highlights," Wang said.
In the field of quantum technology, China has achieved a series of new breakthroughs in quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum measurement, while previous sci-tech innovations in the sector of new energy have been transformed into emerging and leading industries, he said.
During 2021-2025 period, the number of researchers in China kept expanding, with improving professional capabilities. In addition to effectively addressing scientific questions and overcoming technical challenges, they also succeeding in precisely grasping the direction and priorities of the sci-tech frontiers, he said.
He specifically outlined the role that China's sci-tech enterprises played in this course.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's sci-tech enterprises strengthened their capabilities in technological innovation and results application. In that period of time, they also emerged as a powerful new force in basic research," Wang said.
In those five years, China also made significant progress in R&D investment and improvement of the research ecosystem. This includes substantial advancements in policies and laws related to this sector, as well social consensus on building sci-tech strength, he said.
"In the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), or in a future period of time, achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology remains a top priority in our efforts for realizing [Chinese] modernization. At the same time, we need to enhance opening up and cooperation in science and technology, seeking high-quality development through science and technology, generate new quality productive forces through science and technology, and pursue sustainable development and competitiveness through technological achievements," Wang said.
The 4th annual session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee opened in Beijing on Wednesday and will run through March 11.
China sees fruitful sci-tech innovation achievements in 2021-2025: CPPCC member
