The 1st Asian Wushu Taolu Cup and the 2nd Asian Wushu Sanda Cup opened on July 4 in Songyuan, Northeast China's Jilin province, bringing together 271 athletes and referees from 20 countries and regions across Asia.

Musicians perform at the opening ceremony of the Asian Wushu Cup. [Photo/chinadaily.com]

China's delegation features 23 athletes, including promising newcomers in taolu, a set of choreographed techniques that embody the principles and philosophy of attack and defense, and rising stars in sanda, a modern unarmed combat sport based on traditional wushu, featuring punches, kicks, throws, and defensive techniques. Although some delegations have fewer participants, many have sent their top competitors, highlighting the strong passion for wushu, a competitive Chinese martial art, throughout Asia.

Asian Wushu Cup athletes pose for a group photo. [Photo/chinadaily.com]

Organized by the Wushu Federation of Asia, the event is one of the highest-level wushu competitions in the region. Over the next two days, athletes went head-to-head in various categories, vying for the highest honors in Asian wushu.

Beyond the competition, the event serves as a platform to showcase the richness of traditional Chinese martial arts and explore opportunities for integrating wushu with cultural tourism. Jilin is utilizing the event to promote its "Strong Wushu Province" initiative, aiming to enhance public fitness and the development of competitive sports.