For active Ningxia aunties, skateboarding is way of life

Hou Yun, a teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts at Ningxia University, said she felt lost and did not know what she would do when she retires until she saw Ni and her team skateboarding earlier this year while she was taking a walk in the park.

The 56-year-old, who will retire soon, said that she did not want to accept old age and declining health, or be left behind by changing times. She also said that she admires Ni's courage.

Hou joined the team and said that skateboarding is not exclusive to the young.

"You can't just put both feet on the board at once. You put a foot on one side of the skateboard first, and then put your other foot on it, and this way, you avoid falling over," Hou tells beginners, sharing her experience of learning to skateboard.

"As long as they can overcome their fear, it's not as difficult as it seems," she said.

Hou said that the team welcomes newcomers, as members can learn, exchange tips and help each other.

The women all said they feel more alive after taking up skateboarding. They also feel younger, both psychologically and physically. Ni said that the sport not only makes them happy, it also makes them healthy. "We will not stop skateboarding," she added.

Feng Xiaoyun and Xue Rui contributed to the story.