First Asian Taijiquan Day celebrated with grand public performance in Beijing

The inaugural Asian Taijiquan Day was celebrated with a grand public performance in Beijing's Fengtai district on Friday. The event brought together 3,210 tai chi enthusiasts from Fengtai, Haidian, and Shijingshan districts, who showcased the fundamental movements of tai chi in a synchronized and awe-inspiring display.

The highlight of the event was a special push-hands performance led by professor Huang Kanghui, a Chinese martial arts master and eight-time national tai chi push-hands champion from Beijing Sport University.

Accompanied by 100 tai chi practitioners from the university and the tai chi association of Haidian district, the demonstration highlighted the martial arts' philosophy of "using softness to overcome hardness". Following this, over 300 enthusiasts, including more than 30 international participants, performed the elegant tai chi fan dance.

The event was co-organized by the Wushu Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Wushu Association, and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports to mark the first Asian Taijiquan Day. The initiative aims to promote national fitness and the cultural heritage of tai chi.

The Asian Taijiquan Day was officially established on Oct 10, 2024, during the 54th executive committee meeting of the Asian Sport for All Association (ASFAA). The date, March 21, was chosen to celebrate the widespread influence and cultural significance of tai chi across Asia and beyond.

In addition to the main event in Beijing, branch performances were held in cities including Jiaozuo of Henan province, Handan of Hebei province, Sanya of Hainan province and Chongqing. About 50,000 participants joined the celebrations, creating a nationwide spectacle.

To further engage tai chi enthusiasts, the organizers also launched an online competition. Participants can register and submit their performance videos between March 21 and April 20.