Two Daur people play field hockey. [Photo/VCG]

Daur field hockey

Field hockey, called "Beikuo" in the Daur language, is a traditional sport with a long history. According to records, a sport called "hitting a ball while walking", which is similar to the present field hockey, was very popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). While it gradually disappeared in other parts of China, it has been passed down from one generation to another in the Daur regions.

The stick the Daur people used to play the game was about one meter long, mostly made of oak, and hooked at the bottom. The ball is made of apricot root or felt and is as big as a tennis ball.

On each festival or happy occasion, the Daur people will hold a "Beikuo" game. At night, they will play the game with a fireball made up of birch tree knots.