Tai Chi takes world stage as China marks first International Taijiquan Day

Hasina Olivia (R) practices Taijiquan, a kind of Chinese traditional martial arts, at a Tai Chi school in Chenjiagou Village of Wenxian County, central China's Henan Province, March 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Ren Zhuoru)

As a core concept in Chinese philosophy that first appeared in documents of the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), Tai Chi pursues harmony between humanity and nature and between body and mind.

Taijiquan refers to a martial art that puts the Tai Chi philosophical ideas into physical practice, which is generally believed to have been formed in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

According to the UNESCO website, Taijiquan is a traditional physical practice characterized by relaxed, circular movements that work in concert with breath regulation and the cultivation of a righteous and neutral mind. Safeguarding it would increase its visibility and dialogue about the diverse ways Taijiquan is practised by different communities.

"Today, Taijiquan serves as a new bridge for cultural exchange and mutual learning," said Lin Qiu, deputy mayor of Nanping City, which administers the Wuyi Mountain area.