On 27 February, the “Tai Chi and Guandan Dual Intangible Cultural Heritage Innovation Forum” was successfully held at Tianzhen Garden in Wuqing District, Tianjin. Under the theme “Integration and Innovation of Dual Intangible Cultural Heritage: Dynamic and Static in Harmony, Health in Coexistence,” the forum explored new pathways for cultural integration, industrial development, and holistic wellbeing.
The event was co-hosted by World Sports University, the Tianjin Competitive Guandan Sports Association, the Nanjing Guandan Sports Association, the Huai’an Guandan Federation, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area Guandan Federation, and the Zhuhai Poker Association. It was organized by Tianzhen Garden, with supporting partners including Meita Poker, Hainan Yiqu Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (eLequ), and Zhongguan Net.
Forum Highlights
The program opened with welcoming remarks and an introduction to the forum’s objectives.
During the keynote session, distinguished speakers shared insights on heritage preservation and innovative development:
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Professor Qiu Ji of Renmin University of China discussed the integration of cultural “soul lineage” and “root lineage” in advancing dual intangible cultural heritage innovation.
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Professor Zhou Gao, Vice President of World Sports University, delivered a keynote on the integrated development pathway and industry strategy of Tai Chi and Guandan, outlining strategic directions for combining traditional culture with modern sports industry models.
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Mr. Wang Qing, Honorary President of the Nanjing Guandan Sports Association, presented an overview of the association’s development and growth experience.
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Mr. Xing Qilin, fourth-generation inheritor of Li-style Tai Chi and founder of Tianzhen Garden, spoke on Tai Chi and Guandan in relation to physical and mental health, including an experiential session for participants.
An interactive dialogue session followed, enabling guests and audience members to exchange views on intangible heritage transmission, integrated development models, and health cultivation.
The forum concluded with the launch ceremony of the “Tai Chi With Me, Light for the World” Handprint Map Initiative, symbolizing collective commitment to cultural continuity and shared wellbeing.
Dual Heritage Intellectual Carnival
On 28 February, the Tai Chi–Guandan Dual Intangible Cultural Heritage Intellectual Carnival was held, featuring a Swiss-system doubles Guandan tournament. Between competition rounds, participants engaged in guided Tai Chi experience sessions, embodying the forum’s philosophy of balancing movement and stillness.
The full-day program included five rounds of competition, followed by results announcement and an award ceremony. The event demonstrated how traditional culture, intellectual sport, and wellness practice can be meaningfully integrated.
As a co-host, World Sports University reaffirms its commitment to promoting the fusion of traditional heritage and modern sports development, contributing academic insight and strategic leadership to cultural innovation and global health advancement.
The successful conclusion of the General Assembly and Congress represents a meaningful step forward for international Sport for All development and reinforces the role of education, leadership, and collaboration—values strongly shared by World Sports University—within the global sporting ecosystem.
