More than 20,000 people gathered on Sunday at the former Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport for a record-breaking exercise in Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art.

Following an inauguration ceremony hosted by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Donald Tsang, 20,236 Tai Chi performers braved the sun for a 20-minute demonstration of Tai Chi's slow meditative movements. They hold a new local record with the number of participants nearly doubling the previous record set in 2001.

Attendees spanned all age groups and were from all walks of life, including Tai Chi masters from the Chinese mainland.

The mega show, jointly backed by the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department and several martial arts associations, was held to bridge Tai Chi fans from Hong Kong and the mainland.

It was also a major cultural event to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

(CRI October 1, 2007)