Xingansu-Gansu Daily (Reporter Niu Qiaoli) news: "If you can walk, you can play football." That's the saying from Yikesake Village, Shang'atushi Town, Artux City, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Here, football is more than just a sport; it's a passion.

On September 17, 2025, following Xinjiang Daily's "Stepping into Beautiful Xinjiang" reporting team, the reporter set foot on this land brimming with football's charm and immersed in the rich football culture of Yikesake Village.

Upon entering Yikesake Primary School, a football sculpture standing in the center of the small square immediately catches everyone's attention, as if narrating the inseparable bond between the campus and football. Walking around the teaching building to the playground, two teams of young players engage in an intense football match under the careful guidance of their physical education teacher.

The young players sprint and compete on the field, their youthful vigor and love for football infecting everyone present.

On the sidelines, children who are having their physical education class gather around, eagerly sharing their own stories with football. "I love playing football the most!" "Running on the field makes me really happy!" The children's clear eyes sparkle with excitement.

In recent years, Yikesake Primary School has, through unremitting exploration and practice, successfully established a school-running model that combines high-quality teaching with football-related characteristics. The school has not only achieved excellent results in various competitions but also integrated the spirit of football into its teaching.

Akramjan Abdurehman, principal of Yikesake Primary School, introduced that the school starts with cultivating children's interest in football, allowing them to gradually set positive growth goals while enjoying the pure joy of the sport.

At Yikesake Primary School, football has long been integrated into the students' daily lives. With a dedicated football class every week and the football field bustling during morning, lunch breaks, and club activities, many students also head to the village's football club after class for more systematic and professional training.

Photo shows students compete fiercely on the field in Yikesake Village, Shang'atushi Town, Artux City, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xingansu-Gansu Daily/Niu Qiaoli)

Yusanjan Amat, a physical education teacher, has been a witness to and a driving force behind the evolution of the school's football education. Since his graduation in 2015, he has dedicated himself to the football teaching at Yikesake Primary School. "Initially, fewer than 20 students participated in football training. Now, the number has grown to nearly 90, and we even established a girls' football team this year," he said.

To ensure that students of different ages receive the most suitable training, he has carefully designed a tiered teaching plan: focusing on building a solid foundation in football skills for younger students and enhancing physical fitness and football techniques for older ones. Under his guidance, the young footballers are thriving.

The charm of football extends beyond the students to the villagers, who are all ardent football fans. As early as 1908, villagers crafted primitive footballs by wrapping cotton with leather and competed fiercely on a football field known as "Tuopuhana." This love for football has remained vibrant through the centuries.

Photo shows students practice football skills on the sidelines in Yikesake Village, Shang'atushi Town, Artux City, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Xingansu-Gansu Daily/Niu Qiaoli)

The village not only preserves the century-old football field but also boasts eight football teams, a unique red football courtyard, a century-old football museum, and a professional football club. The football culture is deeply embedded in the villagers' daily lives, with a strong football atmosphere permeating every corner.

Leading by example, the entire Shang'atushi Town now has 22 football fields, 39 teams, and three amateur clubs, with over 60 matches held annually and participation exceeding 50,000 person-times.

Here, football continues to write touching stories of passion and perseverance.