International Tai Chi Day

In November 2025, the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference passed a resolution designating March 21 (the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere) as International Tai Chi Day. This is the first international day named after a martial art within the United Nations system, highlighting Tai Chi's global significance. To date, Tai Chi has been featured in major international sports events and cultural activities such as the FISU World University Games and the Asian Games. It will be included as a competition event in the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games.

March 21 of 2026 marked the first International Tai Chi Day. Beijing Sport University actively organized faculty and students to participate in a series of themed performances and promotional activities. Through Tai Chi, the university aimed to promote its culture value and enhance physical fitness, vigorously promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture. The university has deeply been practicing the educational philosophy of "health first" and working hard to integrate Tai Chi culture into the public sphere and showcase it globally.

Healthy living, Tai Chi together

On March 21, the "Healthy living, Tai Chi together" themed performance event was held at Qinghe Zhizhou Park in Beijing.The event was hosted by Beijing Sport University and jointly co-organized by the China Wushu School of Beijing Sport University, Beijing's Haidian District Bureau of Sports, Shangdi Subdistrict Office, Beijing Municipal Group Haiheng Operation Company, and Haidian District Tai Chi Association. Attending the event were Hong Ping, vice-president of Beijing Sport University; Bai Xuegang, director of Beijing's Haidian District Bureau of Sports; Zhang Dongchuan, secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Shangdi Subdistrict in Haidian district; and Wang Xu, a level-4 researcher of Beijing's Haidian District Bureau of Sports. Representatives of teachers and students from Beijing Sport University's China Wushu School, members of the Haidian District Tai Chi Association, and Tai Chi enthusiasts gathered to connect and share through Tai Chi.

In his speech, Hong Ping stated that the establishment of International Tai Chi Day is an important milestone for Tai Chi as a distinguished traditional Chinese culture making its way to the world. As China's premier sports university, Beijing Sport University consistently bears the mission of preserving traditional Chinese culture and serving the national strategies of building a strong sports nation and a Healthy China. The university will use International Tai Chi Day as an important opportunity to actively promote traditional Chinese culture and scientific fitness concepts worldwide, contributing the wisdom and strength of Beijing Sport University.

During the performance segment, students from the university and members of the Haidian District Tai Chi Association presented Tai Chi demonstrations, Tai Chi push-hands, group Tai Chi Kung Fu Fan, individual martial arts routines, and group Tai Chi performances. In the interactive teaching and health science segment, faculty and students from Beijing Sport University's China Wushu School explained the fitness principles of Tai Chi and provided on-site guidance to residents on Tai Chi techniques.

Tai Chi as a medium to make friends

In March, Professor Wu Dong from Beijing Sport University's China Wushu School was invited to lead a delegation to several countries including Sweden, France, and Thailand. The delegation conducted a series of exchange activities, including martial arts performances, on-site teaching, and special lectures. Through vivid demonstrations of the unique charm of Chinese martial arts, in-depth explanations of its cultural connotations, and comparative analyses of Eastern and Western sports aesthetics in explaining the philosophy of Tai Chi, they actively promoted cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and other countries.

↑On March 17, Professor Wu Dong's team participates in the Chinese Martial Arts Showcase in Sweden, jointly organized by the China Cultural Center in Stockholm, the Swedish Kung fu & Wushu Federation and the China Center of International Culture Exchange and Tourism Promotion.

↑From March 20 to 22, Professor Wu Dong's team travels to France to participate in the "Martial Passion Cultural Soul" Chinese Martial Arts Showcase. This event was jointly organized by the Centre Culturel de Chine à Paris (China Cultural Center in Paris) and China Center of International Culture Exchange and Tourism Promotion.

↑On March 27 and 28, Professor Wu Dong's team visits Thailand to participate in the Chinese Martial Arts Showcase Series. This event was a collaboration between the China Cultural Center in Bangkok and the China Center of International Culture Exchange and Tourism Promotion.