Students use their summer to practice tai chi

Practicing tai chi — a Chinese martial arts form — has become a popular way to spend the ongoing summer holiday for teenagers in the Yongnian district of Handan, Hebei province. 

The district, located about 450 kilometers southwest of Beijing, is well-known for its long history of tai chi development. More than 70 teenagers practiced the art at the Yude tai chi martial arts courtyard on Tuesday, led by master Li Lizhou. 

"Learning tai chi has become a popular way for many students to spend their summer holiday," Li said.

According to historical records, two residents of what was Guangfu town, Yongnian county — Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang — became tai chi masters during the reign of Emperor Daoguang (1821-50) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Since then, Yang-style and Wu-style tai chi have been inherited and spread nationwide, especially the former which is known as a kind of martial art for fitness that is easy to learn.

Nowadays, residents in Yongnian district regularly go to squares and parks for tai chi practice in their leisure time, often just for physical fitness.

According to the local government, about 420,000 residents in Yongnian out of its 990,000 population practice tai chi, and more that 100,000 outsiders came annually to learn. 

Local tai chi masters have also spread the art overseas. Han Qingmin, the fifth-generation heir of Yang-style tai chi, is one of the prominent masters. Since 2003, when he founded the Guangfu Yang Luchan Tai Chi School, Han has received increasing numbers of students from home and abroad. Last year, he taught more than 120 foreign students. Branch schools have also been established in other countries, including Russia and Germany.

In addition, more than 1,000 local tai chi masters established professional schools for teaching the sport, with more than 30 doing so overseas.

In 2020, taijiquan, its Chinese name, was placed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list by UNESCO, which described it as 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. 

Originating in the mid-17th century in Henan's Wenxian county, it is now practiced nationwide by people of all ages.