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FOCUS | 焦点

Cradling dreams and glory

托举梦想与荣光

Location: Yuxi City
Narrator: Zhou Shiping, coach at the Yuxi Youth Sports School gymnastics hall

Long-Stay Travel Journal in
Yuxi City

1. Must-Visit Spots
Start at the city’s symbolic
Hongta Mountain, then make your
way to Qinghua Street to discover
blue-and-white porcelain and sample
local snacks. At Fuxian Lake, watch
sailboats near Mingxing Fish Cave,
hike up Bijia Mountain in Luch-
ong, and relax on the white sands
of Moon Bay. For a journey back
in time, visit the Chengjiang Fossil
In the gymnastics hall of the Yuxi Youth Sports School, there’s a Site Museum to uncover the mysteries
coach whose focus is palpable and whose tone stays gentle. Though grey of Cambrian life.
now streaks his hair, when he enters the gym, the energy in the room
lifts—coaches and athletes alike train with a little more purpose. “Coach 2. Food Recommendations
Zhou is our anchor,” said Wang Wenjun, a coach on the Yuxi team. “When Copper Pot Fish with Potato Rice:
he’s here, everyone feels steady.” It is a sentiment shared by everyone. The classic pairing at Fuxian Lake.
Zhou is a gymnastics coach from Qiaojia, Zhaotong. From 2016 to The delicate sweetness of the lake
2024, he coached with the Chinese National Gymnastics Team. Over his fish, steamed in a copper pot, along-
career he has trained four world champions, among them Fan Yilin, Mao side smoky, firewood-cooked potato
Yi, and Sui Lu, as well as many national champions. His athletes have rice, is pure comfort.
competed in three straight Olympic Games. Yang Fanyuwei, Yunnan’s Eel Rice Noodles: Often called
standout on the uneven bars, secured a place on the national team at Yuxi’s breakfast of choice. A bowl
what’s considered a later age and went on to win two World Cup titles— brings together freshness, fragrance,
another result of Zhou’s long-term guidance and belief. gentle heat, and a taste all its own.
After retiring in December 2024, Zhou received offers from provin- Cold Rice Noodles or Rice Sheets:
cial teams elsewhere but chose, without hesitation, to return to Yunnan Dressed in a tangy, sweet-and-sour
and coach again. “I came back not only to give back to my home prov- sauce that’s light, bright, and perfect
ince,” he explained, “but even more because I believe deeply in Yunnan’s for warm days.
gymnastics potential. We have the altitude, the facilities, and the right Soy-Powder Glutinous Rice Balls:
training environment. Young athletes here often have physiques that suit Soft, chewy, and rolled in fragrant
the sport. I want to help build on the strengths Yunnan already has.” roasted soybean flour or dipped in
After returning, Zhou visited gymnastics programs in Kunming, sugar. A Yuxi dessert staple.
Honghe, Chuxiong, and Wenshan to evaluate local talent pools. Based Chilled Rice Porridge: Glutinous
on what he saw, he chose the Yuxi gymnastics team as his focus. “The rice simmered with brown-sugar syr-
training facilities at the Yuxi Youth Sports School are better than those of up and preserved fruit, served cool.
more than 80% of professional teams in China,” he noted. “This can be Refreshing and lightly sweet.
a provincial training hub. The balance between sport and academics here
is also strong—young athletes can train seriously without falling behind
in school. And because the Yuxi team feeds directly into the provincial
squad, the age groups align well. We can start building now toward the
next National Games and the Brisbane Olympics.”
Though his family remains in Shanghai, Zhou has settled into a life
split between places. “The Yuxi Youth Sports School has given me a
place to stay, and I’ve bought an apartment in Kunming,” he said. “I’ll be
going back and forth.” He has already helped design a detailed training
plan for the Yuxi team, raising the difficulty level and polishing routines
for both the men’s and women’s squads ahead of the provincial games.
He also works directly with young coaches, teaching them how to spot
safely, break down skills, and manage a team.
“My whole life has been gymnastics, and my heart has always been
tied to Yunnan,” Zhou reflected. “What I want most now is to help young
athletes from here reach bigger stages.” In addition to his role as expert
coach for the Yuxi team, he has been appointed special advisor to the
Yunnan Provincial Sports Team. To him, Yunnan is both home and the
very place he has chosen to open the next chapter of his life.