Cunba - by Wen Cao (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

CunBA: Hoops, Hope, and Heart of China's Mountain Courts captures the energy, emotion, and cultural depth of a grassroots basketball movement that has become a defining symbol of rural China. Set in the lush hills of Guizhou Province, this narrative nonfiction work explores how local villagers, driven by passion and community pride, turned an informal basketball tradition into a national phenomenon.

Through vivid storytelling, firsthand interviews, and immersive scene-setting, journalist and author Cao Wen presents CunBA as more than a sporting event-- it is a cultural celebration, a symbol of ethnic unity, and a powerful expression of modern rural life. As the tournament brings together folk customs, traditional festivals, and youthful energy, it reflects both the enduring vitality of village communities and the promise of rural revitalization in the new era.

Blending reportage with a literary flair, CunBA offers readers a rare window into contemporary China beyond its cities. It is a story of joy, resilience, and transformation-- where basketball becomes a shared heartbeat for a region, and a game becomes a bridge between tradition and change.

About the Author

Cao Wen is a journalist and author with a longstanding focus on culture, tourism, and sports. She has covered major international sporting events, including the Beijing Winter Olympics and the World Gymnastics Championships in Nanning. Her long-form reportage on CunBA, " Small Hoops, Big Era," was awarded the Second Prize at the 33rd China Journalism Awards. Cao is also the author of The Next Stop: A Guide to Studying Abroad and Endless Pursuit: Tang Weixing's Road to the Go World Championship.