"The experience of competing with outstanding cheerleaders from home and abroad urged me to train harder in the future. And the title we claimed remarkably boosted my self-confidence," says Zhang.

He and some teammates have also been invited to perform in talent shows, including the online reality show Campus and the TV variety program Gold 100 Seconds.

They got to visit many cities across the country, including Beijing, Shenzhen of Guangdong province, and Haikou of Hainan province.

Zhang is preparing to apply for a postgraduate program at Beijing Sport University.

"Many of my schoolmates tend to stay in Yunnan after graduation. I don't want to do that," he says.

"I've been to many other cities and met excellent people. I want to study in the country's top-class sport university to embrace a better self."

Zhang is now the leader of the cheerleading squad at Pu'er University.

"As a leader, I have to learn how to efficiently communicate with the other 50 or so squad members and organize collective activities with passion and dedication. That has made me talkative and open-minded," he adds.

Li's efforts to promote cheerleading in primary and middle schools in Yunnan province helped to create better career prospects for physical education majors at Pu'er University. Schools in the city's downtown area have their own cheerleading squads and competitions are held every year, he says.

Consequently, schools are willing to recruit new PE teachers who are good at cheerleading.

Shen Yajun, 25, is benefiting from the local trend.

Shen, once a member of Li's cheerleading squad, graduated from Pu'er University last year and became a PE teacher at a local primary school.

"When I was a junior in the university, Li started to dispatch us to local schools to help train young students. From there I accumulated teaching experience," says Shen.

He grew up as a "left-behind "child in a mountainous village in Zhaotong, Yunnan. He used to be quiet and introverted. Upon entering Pu'er University, he became addicted to mobile games and didn't figure out a plan for his future. After he joined Li's squad in the second semester of his freshman year, he gradually figured out what he wanted to do in the future.

"Li infected me with his enthusiasm for the sport (cheerleading).The cohesion of our squad enabled me to be a more responsible person," he says.

He is now a conscientious teacher who gets up at 6:30 am on weekdays to lead his students to do morning exercises and practice cheerleading routines.

"I want to follow in the footsteps of Li, to bring my own students to the international stage where they can broaden their vision and gain recognition," Shen says.