The Village Super League, or Cunchao, is underway in Rongjiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou Province during the May Day holiday that runs from May 1 to 5, drawing both Chinese and foreign visitors who are eager to soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant rural football tournament.
On Friday, passionate crowds gathered at the football match venue to cheer on a friendly match featuring teams from Brazil and Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou.
On the field, the atmosphere was electric as both teams played hard to showcase their impressive skills, earning enthusiastic applauses from the crowd.
"This is my first time to watch the Village Super League on site. I love it. Thanks to the Village Super League for bringing me so much joy this May Day holiday," said a visitor from Guangdong in south China.
The new Village Super League season, which kicked off on January 4, features over 3,000 players from 108 village teams, up from 62 teams last year.
Initiated in 2023, the league is now stepping onto the international stage, especially through friendly matches with teams such as those from Brazil competing alongside local players.
"I think Rongjiang is a great place, and the people here really love football. The people of Rongjiang are passionate about the sport. Welcome to Rongjiang!" said Achraf Benrabii, a player from the Brazilian football team, in Chinese language.
In addition to the friendly match, the Brazilian football team also explored the scenic spots in the county and immersed themselves in the unique local ethnic culture.
China's Village Super League brings excitement for both Chinese, foreign visitors
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
