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The Mecca of Taichi
Updated: 2018-01-25 14:03:39
( CGTN )

[Photo/CGTN]

Taichi enthusiasts, rejoice! A huge project is underway to create a Taichi Mecca in the place where the martial arts was born, almost 400 years ago.

Chenjiagou, or Chenjia village, is located in Wenxian county, Jiaozuo, northern Henan province.

There are several theories as to how Taichi came about, but only one can be proved with historical evidence.

In the mid-17th century, the retired general and village head Chen Wangting combined his kung fu training with military experience and elements of Chinese philosophy to create Taichi.

A Taichi master teaches his teenage students. [Photo/CGTN]

Nowadays, according to some sources, Taichi has spread to 150 countries and is practiced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, mostly for its health benefits.

Wenxian county was recognized in 2007 as the birthplace of Chinese taijiquan – the official name of Taichi, and so began what you could call a Taichi rebirth.

Since then, much of Chenjiagou has been restored, a towering Taichi museum established, and the Chen family compound in which Taichi originated touched up and transformed into an interactive gallery. Five-star resorts are being built, plus a lakeside utopia for peaceful outdoor Taichi practice amidst the greenery.

Foreign students at one of the Taichi schools in Chenjiagou. [Photo/CGTN]

For Taichi enthusiasts looking for expert Taichi coaching in an authentic setting, there are plenty of options. The streets in Chenjiagou are lined with guesthouses that offer private Taichi instruction with medium- to long-term stays.

There are also three Taichi schools in Chenjiagou run by Taichi masters. Indeed, they are primarily boarding schools for five to 18-year-olds with a Taichi focus added to the national curriculum, but they also cater to adults of all ages and backgrounds.

In Chenjiagou, there's no escape from Taichi, a way of life there for centuries, and now, it could be your way of life too, if you make a pilgrimage there.

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