As Xia Yang stands by the polo field, the sound of galloping horses echoes in his ears. The atmosphere is reminiscent of armored soldiers on horseback engaged in an ancient battle, representing his fantasy since his boyhood.

Wearing a polo shirt and equipped with a helmet and pair of ankle-high chukka boots, he readies himself to join the riders. "[Polo] is an interesting sport that involves both riding skills and strategy between two teams, just like football," said the 47-year-old businessman, a polo fanatic dubbed the sport's modern "founding father" in China. 

In recent years, an increasing number of China's wealthy and elite have promoted a number of so-called prestige sports such as sailing and golf, but few have been game enough to take on polo. Xia, who runs one of the two polo clubs in Beijing, is ambitious in his vision to promote the sport beyond the wealthy and help it win the hearts and minds of ordinary people.

Climbing into the saddle

Xia, a former architect-turned-property magnate, was born in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. He moved to Beijing aged 7 with his parents.

An avid painter, one of his favorite artistic subjects is horses. As a boy he was obsessed with ancient swordsmen and their warhorses in classical novels such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which chronicled battles during the end of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). But it wasn't until he became a teenager that he had his first experience on horseback.

"It was during a tourist trip to Tianjin. I mounted a horse to pose for a photograph," he recalled with a smile. "Back in the 1980s, scenic spots often offered horses for travelers to be photographed upon."

He began to take horse riding seriously in 1996 at a training field used by the national equestrian team at Beijing Sport University in Haidian district. His initial motive was to lose weight, but he soon acquired three horses and was riding daily.

It was during this period that the property tycoon made the decision to concentrate his efforts on training racehorses. He found himself at a painful loss in 1999, however, as three of his prized racehorses had to be euthanized following an equine virus outbreak.

"I then promised to acquire my own land for horses," he said, adding he wanted his horses to be used for more than the odd race. "They were spirited horses of strong competence, and polo offered them a wider arena."

Inspired after watching a polo game involving Britain's Prince Charles, Xia traveled the world to learn the finer skills of polo and nurture the sport in China.

Historical roots, modern stigma

Xia's Sunny Times Polo Club, located in the rural surrounds of Beijing's northwest Yanqing county, is a training base for around 50 polo enthusiasts who account for roughly half the city's total number of poloists. The age of members at the club Xia invested 20 million yuan ($3.16 million) establishing ranges from 3 to 63 and includes men, women and children from "different careers in both the business and academic fields," Xia said. 

Polo was introduced to China from Persia via the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and initially thrived among the military and imperial elite. It was gradually abandoned amid the demise of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), sparking a near-century-long hiatus.

It mounted a comeback in China during the early-2000s, when equestrian sports became popular among the country's growing elite. It has courted controversy for being symbolic of excessive wealth among those who lead extravagant lifestyles, but this is a stigma Xia is determined to quash.

"Polo has been demonized by the media because of its depiction as a luxurious hobby of the upper class," Xia explained. "On the contrary, the game reflects people's passion for life through the form of a fashionable, sociable and healthy sport."

The price barrier for participating in polo isn't as high as many might assume, Xia said. The price for an hour-long practice on horseback at the Sunny Times Polo Club is 400 yuan, which is comparatively lower on average than an hour at a golf driving range.

"Only a few rich people consider participating in polo or other equestrian sports to flaunt their wealth," Xia said. "Most poloists are hardworking people who strive in their career for the best and enjoy happiness gained from leading a healthy lifestyle."

Riding into the future

Xia has even taught his 13-year-old son to ride, saying the benefits to children from the sport are rewarding. "Polo also provides people with a platform for socializing. Boys can learn to be brave after falling from horses, and they learn to never give up," he added.

Xia's belief that China is one of polo's most fertile breeding grounds has led him to spearhead a host of tournaments aimed at bolstering its popularity.

He established Beijing's first professional polo team in 2005, which was also the year the Sunny Times Polo Club started hosting the Beijing International Polo Open. The event's fourth tournament will be held between September 17 and 23.

This year's competition will see four teams from the UK, New Zealand, Mongolia and China compete for the championship. It will also coincide with British Polo Day, which involves graduates from prestigious academic institutions including Cambridge and Oxford universities.

Despite the day described by organizers as a "celebration of British luxury and heritage that spans the world," Xia said the event is open to more than just wealthy polo enthusiasts.

"I believe to organize and present the games to the public is one of best ways to let people know the interesting and fun points of the game," he insisted.

"China is home to good horse breeds that can be introduced to polo. If the equestrian industry booms it will also improve the livelihoods of tens of thousands of herdsmen."

But he also acknowledges there are many problems the fledgling sport faces, including a lack of experienced coaches and regulated procedures for horse breeding and training.

"It is time to revive the sport in China," Xia said. "I'm considering expanding polo by inviting six international teams to compete at next year's tournament."