A DAY OF HEALING AND RELAXATION

Outside the ancient city walls of Guangfu town in Yongnian district of Handan, Hebei province, gray bricks and dark-tiled roofs set the stage for a quiet spectacle.

Dressed in white training uniforms, thousands of taijiquan practitioners move in unison.

Their motions are slow and controlled, balancing strength and softness, stillness and flow. It is a scene rooted in tradition, yet unmistakably contemporary.

More than 3,400 taijiquan enthusiasts and practitioners gathered to celebrate a historic moment: UNESCO's establishment of International Taijiquan Day.

Adopted at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, last month, the resolution designates March 21 each year — the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere — as an international day dedicated to taijiquan. It marks the first time a martial art has been recognized with an international day within the United Nations system.

Delegates described the decision as one of far-reaching significance, recognizing taijiquan's contributions to human health and well-being, its role in promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, and its value in advancing world peace and development.

For Chen Zhenglei, a national-level representative inheritor of Chen-style taijiquan, the moment carries both pride and responsibility. "With Taijiquan's journey from its birthplace to the world, UNESCO's formal establishment of International Taijiquan Day marks the moment when this ancient martial art is no longer only a cultural treasure of the Chinese nation, but a shared health asset for all humanity," he said.

"I feel both proud and deeply responsible, and I will continue to devote myself to its inheritance and promotion."

Across China, celebrations unfolded in multiple locations, including Jiangyin in Jiangsu province, Dalian in Liaoning province, Wudang Mountain in Hubei province, Wen county in Henan province and Handan in Hebei province.

At the main venue in Jiangyin, organizers released the national survey on taijiquan practitioners, which estimates that by the end of 2025, domestic practitioners will number approximately 78.582 million, accounting for 5.58 percent of the population. Among them, more than 35 million people practice regularly.

Globally, taijiquan's reach is even broader.

According to Li Shenming, author of the Blue Book of World Taichi: Report on World Taichi Development 2023–2024, the number of taijiquan practitioners worldwide has reached 400 million, making it one of the most widely practiced forms of physical activity in the world.

"Taijiquan, the fruit of tai chi culture, is an important carrier of China's fine traditional heritage," Li said. "Emerging from the long course of history, taijiquan is becoming one of the most globally influential expressions of Chinese culture in the 21st century. To present taijiquan and tai chi culture in a comprehensive and systematic way is not only the call of the times, but also an inescapable historical responsibility."

Originating in China, taijiquan integrates philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, and martial arts, and is grounded in the principle of balance between yin and yang. Over centuries, it has evolved into multiple styles — including Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu (Hao), and Sun.

Zhou Qingjie, professor and director of the Sports Foreign Exchange Research Center at China Foreign Affairs University, witnessed the entire process that led to the recognition of International Taijiquan Day.

He explained that March 21 was chosen because the equinox represents the balance of day and night, mirroring the martial art's philosophical emphasis on harmony between humanity and nature.

"The Spring Equinox, as one of China's 24 solar terms, has itself been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,"Zhou said. "This choice of date brings together the Spring Equinox and the yin–yang philosophy embodied in taijiquan."

Now 53, Zhou has practiced taijiquan for decades. He recalled that when he first encountered the art, he, like many others, believed it to be mainly for older people. Only through deeper engagement did his understanding change. "Taijiquan represents a choice — a form of wisdom," he said.

Zhou emphasized that taijiquan reflects a Chinese worldview shaped by learning from, and respecting, nature. "Movements such as 'Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg' and 'White Crane Spreads Its Wings' are inspired by animals," he explained.

"Taijiquan practice does not necessarily involve sweating or heavy breathing. It is gentle, can be practiced almost anywhere, and at any time. It has strong adaptability,"Zhou added.

In his view, taijiquan has evolved into many forms over time, offering both diversity and choice. "It accommodates different personal preferences. Through shifts in balance and changes between fullness and emptiness, taijiquan expresses the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang through bodily movement."

Taijiquan was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. Zhou sees the establishment of International Taijiquan Day as a milestone and a new starting point that elevates the practice to a higher global platform. He hopes the designation will help more people learn about taijiquan and support its wider international promotion.

Zhou also noted that promoting taijiquan aligns with the United Nations' sustainable development goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for people of all ages.

"Taijiquan has been practiced by Chinese people for hundreds of years, and its benefits have already been proven," he said. "Now we need to share it with people of different cultures around the world."

In recent years, Zhou has demonstrated the martial art at major international events and venues, including at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, where the performances were met with positive feedback.

Earlier this month, he showcased taijiquan culture and led group practice at the 3rd China–ASEAN International Conference on Physical Fitness and Health Promotion, leaving a strong impression on participants.

Wudang Mountain, long regarded as a spiritual and martial arts center, has become a key hub in taijiquan's global exchange. The Wudang Mountain tourism economic special zone has established 57 martial arts promotion centers in 22 countries and regions, training more than 100,000 overseas students. Each year, practitioners from around the world travel to Wudang Mountain to study taijiquan at its source.

Yongnian, widely recognized as one of the most important places for Chinese taijiquan, continues to anchor this global journey. Since 1991, the city has hosted a taijiquan sports festival 15 times, providing an international platform for competition, performance, and exchange.

For local students such as Qiu Manman from Yongnian No 2 Middle School, taijiquan is not an abstract tradition, but a lived one."Taijiquan is a cultural imprint etched into our bones," Qiu said.

With the establishment of International Taijiquan Day, that imprint now extends far beyond its origins — carried through slow, deliberate movements into a shared global future.