We Went to China’s Largest Armored Combat Tournament
Discover how Chinese and international buhurt combat teams battled it out in a small southern county, why some young Chinese women bring ibuprofen to the grave of a centuries-old warlord, and more
Hello TWOC readers!
In late March, TWOC made a special trip to the little-known county of Tongxiang in Zhejiang province for an even lesser-known event: the sixth Comrade in Arms Cup, China’s largest tournament for buhurt enthusiasts.
Clad in historically accurate full-body steel armor, fighters wielded blunted weapons—from swords to poleaxes—and struck one another head-on.
The crowd was a wild mix of history buffs, armor geeks, curious locals, and even a grandmother dressed as the God of Fortune. The result was fierce combat with a full-on time-warp atmosphere. Yet the spectacle also raises a question: How far can a niche sport like this go in China?
Check out our TWOC original mini documentary to find out:
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