Sports
“It is extremely painful for someone buried in mental work if they don’t regularly move their limbs.” — According to Chinese Internet legend, Leo Tolstoy said it, but I have never found proof
Football⚽
I fell in love with football after the 2010 South Africa World Cup, as the tournament’s atmosphere is always infectious. In junior high, I tried out for the school football team but missed selection by a few points. In high school, I served as captain leading our class team in school tournaments. During university, I joined the departmental football team as the starting right back in intercollegiate matches. Although our team never achieved remarkable results, and nearly disbanded after the “golden generation” including myself graduated, football remains a joyful memory. Inspired by that 2010 World Cup, I became a fan of the Netherlands team and Bayern Munich because of my favorite player, Arjen Robben. Regrettably, I’ve yet to attend a live football match.
Cycling🚲
In junior high school, I rode a Giant mountain bike for my 5km commute to school. At 14 years old, cycling 20km daily (round trip morning and afternoon) wasn’t a burden but pure enjoyment. The exhilarating sense of speed and freedom while cycling simply can’t be matched by running.
I didn’t get my second bicycle until two years ago, this time for sport rather than transportation. Guangzhou University Town is ideal for cycling – being an island with minimal traffic lights and few pedestrians/vehicles. I now try to cycle 1-2 times weekly. My longest ride so far was a 100km round trip to Foshan in one day to sample local cuisine.
Tennis🎾
I first encountered tennis in university PE electives, but discovered a natural aptitude. Within six months of learning, my partner and I reached the quarterfinals in school doubles tournaments. After my regular partner graduated, my playing frequency decreased significantly. Zheng Qinwen’s Olympic gold medal victory is inspiring, hopefully boosting tennis’ popularity in China.
Video Games
Like other digital natives of Generation Z, I share a special connection with video games. Since my uncle brought a GTA: Vice City CD to our home when I was in first grade, gaming has been integral to my life. I firmly believe video games constitute the “Ninth Art” – great games aren’t just entertainment, but vehicles for storytelling, idea-sharing, and cultural preservation.
Creating my own game was a childhood dream partially realized during sophomore year when friends and I developed a simple web-based game (playable on my website). Though technically rudimentary, it successfully conveyed cultural concepts through narrative.
As life gets busier, gaming has evolved into social glue maintaining connections with distant friends. Cherish every friend who makes time for gaming in hectic schedules.
Board Games
While the internet is humanity’s greatest invention, I still prefer face-to-face gaming with friends. My university dorm was perfect for this – at peak, my cabinet stored nearly 50 board games of various types: German-style, American-style, party games, TRPGs… We tried everything, hosting weekly game nights that sometimes attracted 10 players from different dorms. My favorites remain TRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Call of Cthulhu – their rule-light nature sparks adults’ dwindling imagination.
Of course, all games require friends and time. After graduation, our golden age ended, especially for complex setup-heavy games. Still, board games remain a top choice when friends reunite.
Magic: The Gathering
Truth be told, MTG remains niche in China – so much that a casual player like me placed 23rd in a national championship. I identify as a blue mage, though I detest facing blue decks (laughs). While white’s order resonates with me, I dislike control decks’ slow pace. Tempo decks blending aggression and control are my favorite.
Photography and other gadgets📷
I believe “Life is about constant tinkering.” Staying curious and experimenting with gadgets defines me. Currently exploring photography. After building my personal website, I’m considering getting a private server to migrate it from the cloud (though unnecessary currently).
