Volleyball fever sweeps through small town in Ordos

Herdsmen play volleyball in Angsu town of Ordos. [Photo/Nuan News]

In the quaint town of Angsu, located in Ordos of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, a remarkable phenomenon is taking place: volleyball has become the heartbeat of the community.

Despite having a permanent population of fewer than 8,000, this small town boasts an impressive 49 volleyball teams, with over 5,000 residents passionately engaged in the sport.

Recently, the volleyball courts in Angsu reopened to great fanfare, drawing widespread attention. Here, volleyball is a way of life more than a pastime.

During the off-farming seasons, it's common for local herders to drive tens, or even hundreds, of kilometers just to play a match.

Herdsmen play volleyball in Angsu town of Ordos. [Photo/Nuan News]

The town's volleyball craze can be traced back to a 58-year-old herder named M.Khogjlt. Driven by a love for the game, he built the first volleyball court on the grasslands.

As the founder of Grassland Village Volleyball, he spends his days tending to his farm and his evenings organizing matches. He not only arranges tournaments for farmers and herders but also established a committee and a WeChat group to keep everyone updated on match results in real-time.

Last year, the "Grassland Village Volleyball" tournament held in the town ignited the community's enthusiasm even further. Volleyball matches have now become a cherished tradition for celebrating the Lunar New Year among the local farmers and herders.