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."