China News Service, Yinchuan, October 25th. Title: Taiwanese youth take root in Ningxia and develop baseball and softball “paradise” from scratch
China News Service reporter Yang Di
“The Taiwanese friends who came to participate in the competition told me directly: Wow! You did a great job in hosting this event!” The 2024 Cross-Strait (Ningxia) Youth Slow Pitch Softball Invitational Tournament that ended not long ago made people in Ningtai Qinglin Zhixun felt an unexpected effect. When he first arrived in Ningxia 8 years ago, he never thought that Ningxia, located in the northwest region of the mainland, could host large-scale events that attracted more than 300 players from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Lin Zhixun teaches baseball and softball in Yinchuan, Ningxia. Photo by Xie Yu
Lin Zhixun was originally a Taiwanese professional baseball player. After retiring, he came to Yinchuan, Ningxia in 2016 to work in the fitness industry. At that time, baseball and softball were a completely unfamiliar sport to the locals, and Lin Zhixun discovered that there were opportunities in it. In early 2022, with the support of friends and family, he began to resume his “old business” and promote baseball and softball in Yinchuan.
When he first started, Lin Zhixun’s teaching venue was on the rooftop of a gym. The conditions were simple and there were only a dozen people participating in baseball and softball activities. Now, he and his companions have built an indoor training hall, and the club they founded has nearly a hundred core members alone.
In the first year of promoting baseball and softball, Lin Zhixun and his team targeted adults as their main audience, and the number of fans grew rapidly. “When the membership of the club stabilized, we began to transition to promoting the sport to schools.”
Lin Zhixun was rejected a lot when he promoted it to schools. However, with the persistence of the team and the assistance of relevant departments, some schools began to slowly understand and accept this sport. Nowadays, many primary and secondary schools in Yinchuan have opened baseball and softball interest classes. “After we taught the students, everyone’s feedback was very good.”
In Lin Zhixun’s heart, baseball and softball is a team sport full of happiness and cooperation. Every successful attack and defense comes from the cooperation of the team. With the help of this sport, he has made many good friends in Ningxia.
Lin Zhixun said that with the promotion of baseball and softball in Ningxia, young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait can use baseball and softball games to enhance mutual understanding. “During the competition, many Taiwanese friends tasted haggis, sheep’s head and other specialties, and also went to Shapotou Scenic Area to experience sandboarding and camel riding. Many people told me that they have fallen in love with Ningxia.” Lin Zhixun said, “Everyone was talking to each other on the court. Comparing skills and sharing life with each other off the court, baseball and softball have built a friendly communication bridge for young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
In addition to daily teaching and training, Lin Zhixun also opened multiple social accounts to share and record life, local culture and food. “Many Taiwanese friends have learned about my life in Ningxia through my videos.”
“I have lived in Ningxia for 8 years, and it has become my second hometown.” Lin Zhixun said that he likes Ningxia’s slow pace of life and enthusiastic and straightforward people. He also met and fell in love with a Ningxia girl and became “Ningxia’s son-in-law” “.
Talking about the future, Lin Zhixun said that he hopes to promote the branding of cross-strait baseball and softball events and invite more Taiwan compatriots, especially young people, to participate. He also hopes to form a professional team for Ningxia to participate in more events. (over)
