Calling my Chinese readers

Bong Way Wong waits to perform in a 1966 novillada at San Sebastián de los Reyes (Image from ‘The Search for Bong Way Wong and the Chinese Bullfighters’)

In his book ‘The Search for Bong Way Wong and the Chinese Bullfighters’, the American writer and human rights activist Paul Polansky lists 23 Chinese toreros - Enrique Guan Yu, Julio Bao, Antonio Chi, Antonio Hong, Chan-Fo-Tong, Chen-Liang-Cheng, Entimio Bong, Luis Fa Ran, Conrado Chu Cuan, Toribio Jian Tei, Manuel Po Nan, Antonio Zhao Guan, Juan Guan, José A Chou, Vicente Hong, Lee Ham, Enrique Wong, Gilberto Chiu, Esperanza Achi Mak, Violeta América Siu Chong, Felipe Chiu, Roberto Wong and Paul’s friend Bong Way Wong. The bulk of these performed in Mexico during the 1940s and 50s, although Vicente Hong and Bong Way Wong also donned suits of lights in Spain.

Paul Polansky went to China as part of the research for his book, and, when he visited the Club Taurino of London around 2017, he surprised the club members by reporting that Spanish-style bullfighting was very popular in China and that the country even had a weekly television programme covering the spectacle.

Which may explain why China has recently overtaken the USA in being the country in which most readers of toros:toreros reside. Over the past year, the number of visitors to this website has almost doubled, but currently one-third of visitors to this site (34%) are based in China, compared to 19.5% in the US and 11.5% in the UK. Does it also explain why far and away the most visited article on the site (ever since it was first published in July 2025) is ‘What has happened to Olga Casado?’ This piece has received 1,535 visits in the year to date - way ahead of the next most popular article (on Manuel Granero) which has had 317 views during that period.

All of this means I am curious as to the interest in China towards bullfighting and media coverage there of the spectacle. Perhaps one or more of my Chinese readers can enlighten me. They can contact me by writing to twaficion@outlook.com or by posting a comment on this article. I’d be grateful to hear from you.