When Merziye discovered her affection for football as a young girl, she was met with disapproval from her mother who thought the sport was only for boys. Merziye said she doesn't wish to live as her mother and grandmother who only worked around the house and farm. After secretly joining the Schoo's football team, her mother has come to accept the fact that girls can play the sport too.

This is one of many stories in CGTN's exclusive documentary "Beyond the Mountains: Life in Xinjiang." Watch the full documentary here.