In Chengdu, Sichuan, southwest China, young players dressed in ancient round-collared robes bowed with moon-shaped staffs and then sent a woven ball spinning with a crisp crack, marking a vivid revival of bu da qiu, a thousand-year-old stick-and-ball game similar to cricket. The ceremony and play echoed old ritual as much as sport.

Bu da qiu dates to 775 AD and rose in popularity during the Tang dynasty. Competitors use crescent-shaped staffs to strike a bamboo-woven ball, trading strategy and precision as each side seeks to guide the ball into the opponent’s goal. The contest tests quick reflexes and close teamwork as much as individual skill.

Players said taking part let them experience the charm of a traditional sport and feel a living link to a thousand years of culture. In modern Chengdu, the ancient game has found fresh energy and a new audience.