Chongqing — On a school playground in southwest China’s Chongqing , dozens of students move in unison to the beat of pounding drums, gliding, jumping and spinning through a shuffle dance routine that blends contemporary street culture with elements of local heritage.

The performance, showcased recently by primary and secondary school students in Fengdu County, reflects a growing effort across Chongqing to reimagine education beyond the classroom by combining physical activity, cultural heritage and character development.

The initiatives come as China promotes a nationwide “healthy schools” program aimed at strengthening students’ physical and mental well-being alongside academic achievement.

In a guideline issued by the Ministry of Education, authorities called for the development of “healthy schools,” emphasizing physical activity, arts education, labor education, mental health support and healthier lifestyles. The policy seeks to shift the focus from academic performance alone toward students’ overall physical and psychological development.

Across Chongqing, educators are responding by drawing on local resources — from traditional embroidery and folk culture to martial arts — to create programs designed to engage students while preserving regional traditions.

In Fengdu County, schools have introduced shuffle dance, a high-energy dance style known for its rapid footwork and gliding movements, into daily recess activities.

Students perform a shuffle dance routine during a school activity showcase in Fengdu County, Chongqing. (Photo/Interviewee)

To give the program a distinctive local identity, choreographers incorporated movements inspired by Fengdu Shengu Dance, a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage tradition, along with designs influenced by bird motifs found on ancient artifacts unearthed in the county.

“We wanted to create something that reflects local culture while matching the interests of today’s students,” said Tan Xiujuan, who helped develop the county’s shuffle dance program.

The initiative was introduced into school recess activities in October 2025 and has since been adopted by more than 50 primary and secondary schools across the county, according to local education authorities. Students say the program has made exercise more appealing.

“Shuffle dance is energetic and powerful,” said Tan Ruixin, a student at Rongzhi School in Fengdu. “After dancing during recess, you sweat a lot and feel refreshed.”

Yu Tao, secretary of the Communist Youth League Committee of Southwest University, said school sports programs can be more effective when they reflect students’ interests and local cultural characteristics.

“Different regions can make use of their own cultural and sports resources,” Yu said. “This not only increases participation but also helps students develop a stronger connection to their hometowns.”

More than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away in the mountainous county of Wuxi, educators are pursuing a different approach. At Xianfeng Primary School, students learn Wuxi Tiaohua, also known locally as Wuxi Jiahua, a traditional embroidery craft.

Students learn the traditional craft of Wuxi Jiahua at Xianfeng Primary School in Wuxi County, Chongqing. (Photo/Interviewee)

One recent afternoon, Tang Lijuan, a representative inheritor of the craft, moved between rows of students, guiding them as they carefully stitched colorful patterns into fabric.

The embroidery tradition has been passed down for generations in the border region of present-day Chongqing, Shaanxi and Hubei. Historically, girls often began learning the technique in childhood and used their embroidered works as part of future wedding dowries.

“The patterns contain people’s simple hopes for a better life and reflect the creativity of folk artisans,” said Yang Xiaoping, principal of Xianfeng Primary School.

The school has offered embroidery instruction for 15 years.

“This is not simply about teaching a traditional skill,” Yang said. “It helps students develop concentration and patience, understand their cultural roots and build confidence in their own culture.”

The embroidery program has expanded to multiple schools across Wuxi County, where educators are also developing courses based on local traditions, including Wuxi’s historic salt-spring culture and Laoying Tea culture.

Peng Wenbo, a professor at the School of Education at Chongqing Normal University, said cultural heritage programs can play an important role in long-term educational development.

“Schools should create activities that students enjoy while integrating cultural heritage into daily education,” Peng said. “This helps form distinctive educational programs and supports sustained development.”

In Kaizhou District, traditional martial arts have become a cornerstone of efforts to integrate sports and education. 

Students practice martial arts in Kaizhou District, Chongqing. (Photo/Interviewee)

Students can regularly be seen practicing punches, stances and coordinated routines on school playgrounds throughout the district. Educators say the programs are designed to promote both physical fitness and personal development. Kaizhou schools have incorporated lessons on martial ethics into training, combining instruction in etiquette, honesty and respect for rules with athletic practice. 

The district’s sports programs have also produced notable competitive results.

This month, Kaizhou student Wang Kun won the 60-63.5-kilogram division at the National Youth (U18) Men’s Boxing Championships. Another student athlete, Liu Shu, successfully defended her title in the women’s 48-50-kilogram division at the National Youth (U18) Women’s Boxing Championships held in Baoding, Hebei Province.

At the Chongqing Boxing Championships, the district sent 76 student athletes, who collectively won 11 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 19 bronze medals.

He Qiang, dean of the School of Physical Education and Health Sciences at Chongqing Normal University, said programs rooted in local traditions can help schools broaden participation in sports while creating pathways for talented young athletes.

“Kaizhou has made effective use of its traditional cultural resources,” He said. “At the same time, it has created opportunities for students to develop both athletic skills and personal character.”

As China advances its “healthy schools” program, educators in Chongqing are increasingly looking beyond textbooks for ways to support student development. Whether through dance, embroidery or martial arts, schools are experimenting with approaches that connect learning to local culture while encouraging students to lead healthier and more balanced lives.