ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fangmatan

Okay, so fangmatan is a game that people in China have been playing for a really long time! It's a little bit like tag or hide-and-seek, but with some extra cool stuff added in.

Here's how it works: players divide into two teams, and one team is "It." The goal of the game is for the "It" team to catch all the players on the other team before time runs out.

But wait, there's more - the players on the other team aren't just running around aimlessly! They're trying to collect objects called "cattails" and bring them back to a safe spot called the "den." If a player gets to the den with a cattail, they get a point for their team.

So, the "It" team has to try to catch players before they can get to the den with a cattail. But the players can hide in certain areas or use special "magic" powers to escape being caught. For example, sometimes a player can put their foot on a special rock that makes them invisible for a short time!

Overall, fangmatan is a very exciting game that combines speed, strategy, and teamwork. It's been played in China for hundreds of years and is still a beloved pastime today!