A unique Chinese martial art was exhibited in its birthplace in north China on Monday.
The two-day exhibition of Baijiaquan, or "eight extremes fist", opened in Mengcun Hui Autonomous County in Hebei Province, drawing over 1,000 practitioners from China and other countries such as France, Denmark and Russia.
Baijiquan is known for explosive, short-range power and elbow and shoulder strikes. With a history of nearly 300 years, the martial art was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
Mengcun, the birthplace of Bajiquan, built an international training center in 2006. Over 2,000 practitioners from over 30 countries and regions have come to the village to watch and learn.
"Bajiquan is an important part of Chinese martial arts," said Wu Lianzhi, deputy chairman of Hebei Wushu Association, also the seventh lineage holder of Mengcun Bajiquan.
"The training center helps foreign visitors better understand Bajiquan and it serves as a platform to spread Chinese culture to the rest of the world."
