"Archery isn't a niche pastime," Wu says with a smile. "It's a window into who we are."

During the National Day holiday in October, Wu and his three staff members welcomed hundreds of visitors daily. His club now has over 60 regular members, from six-year-old beginners to enthusiasts in their seventies. Some, like a member from Shanghai, even moved to Yining to study traditional archery full-time.

"When people pick up a bow, they often imagine themselves as heroes," Wu says. "The moment their arrow hits the target, that dream comes alive — and that's when culture truly takes root."