Celebrated form of boxing packs new punch

Government support

Niu Hehou's initiative to popularize his ancestors' heritage coincided with policy changes introduced by the central authorities.

In August, 2010, the Ministry of Education and the General Administration of Sport jointly released a guideline to popularize martial arts education in primary and middle schools, starting in the fall semester that year.

The guideline stated that martial arts were a treasured part of traditional Chinese culture and would play an active role in improving the physical and psychological health of young students.

At a news conference in 2012, the General Administration of Sport said implementation of the guideline had been successful, Xinhua News Agency reported. The administration and the ministry would further promote martial arts education in rural schools, the report said.

Xinhua quoted Gao Xiaojun, former president of the Chinese Wushu Association, as saying that martial arts education in school is irreplaceable, as it serves both physical exercise and cultural education purposes.

In May, 2012, Niu Hehou succeeded in getting Niu-style Hong boxing listed as county-level and municipal-level intangible cultural heritage. In 2017, it was listed at provincial level.