The Jiaozuo Tai Chi Cultural Tour: Edinburgh, Oxford and London

In August 2019 an official delegation from Jiaozuo city in Henan Province, home of Chenjiagou and the birthplace of Chen Taijiquan, brought the 2019 China Jiaozuo Tai Chi Cultural Tour – The Thousand Miles on “The Belt & Road” to Britain. It visited Edinburgh and Oxford and finished in London, where Tai Ji Circle hosted the closing event on Saturday 24 August. Shifu Liu Quanjun travelled with the tour throughout, standing in at short notice for Master Chen Bing.

The tour was originally to feature Master Chen Bing. On 9 August Tai Ji Circle had to announce that he could not come: he was unable to enter the UK at that time, and he sent his sincere apologies. So that the tour could go ahead, Master Chen and the Jiaozuo government invited Shifu Liu, who was also Vice-President of the Chenjiagou Taijiquan Association – London, to take his place. Shifu Liu joined the delegation for free workshops and demonstrations in Edinburgh and Oxford, and the London event went ahead as planned.

It was disappointing to miss the chance of meeting Master Chen Bing, and the school sent him its very best wishes in the hope that he would be able to visit the UK in the future. For Shifu Liu it was an honour to represent Chenjiagou and Chen Taijiquan.

The Edinburgh event took place on 21 August in the university gym, in the middle of the Edinburgh Festival. The delegation also visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Speakers at the event included Mr Gong Songqi, Deputy Mayor of Jiaozuo, Chris Jones of Tai Ji Circle, Charles Gorrie of Glasgow Tai Chi and Shifu Liu. Shifu Liu gave a demonstration that included the jumps of Xinjia Erlu. A local group performed with Wen Li, Yue Liming performed the double fan form, and the audience joined in a group practice.

The Oxford event took place on 23 August at Oxford Town Hall, in the presence of the Lord Mayor, Craig Simmons. It was organised by Emma and Phil of Oxford Tai Chi and Qi Gong, who also run the Chen Bing Academy in Oxford. There was a presentation of a Jiaozuo cultural exchange plaque, a group demonstration with Eva and Emma, Eva Koskuba's double fans, Emma's double sabres, Phil's Chen halberd, and Shifu Liu's Xinjia.

It was a privilege to meet and spend time with the officials from Jiaozuo city, Wenxian and Chenjiagou before they came on to London.

The tour finished in London on Saturday 24 August with a free event hosted by Tai Ji Circle in the Performance Hall of Haverstock School, NW3. Tai Ji Circle welcomed Councillor Sabrina Francis, Deputy Mayor of Camden, and Mr Gong Songqi with the rest of the Chinese delegation. It was an occasion to celebrate China's cultural gift of Taijiquan, loved and shared worldwide, and to help promote exchange between the British and Chinese peoples.

There were speeches from Councillor Francis, Mr Gong Songqi, Shifu Liu and Chris Jones, the school's founder. A Cultural Centre agreement was signed, Shifu Liu was presented with a Jiaozuo plaque, and the delegation and Camden's Deputy Mayor exchanged gifts.

Then came the demonstrations. Shifu Liu performed Xinjia, the Chen New Frame, and broke a concrete slab with his hand. The Tai Ji Circle demonstration team, who had trained with Shifu Liu for their performances, showed the long form, Chen Taiji Ball and the Chen sword form. To finish, Shifu Liu led a Taiji practice for the whole audience, teaching forward and backward stepping, and afterwards students and friends relaxed over a meal in Chinatown.

The Chinese delegation were:

• Mr Gong Songqi, Deputy Mayor of Jiaozuo Municipal People's Government
• Mr Li Jianyang, Deputy Secretary for Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism of Jiaozuo City
• Ms Li Meiling, Vice Governor of Wenxian People's Government of Jiaozuo City
• Mr Li Xuhua, Deputy Director, Information Office, Jiaozuo City Government
• Mr Wang Haichang, Director of Wenxian Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and Tourism of Jiaozuo City
• Ms Zheng Xiaomin, Deputy Director, Chenjiagou Scenic Area Administration Bureau, Wenxian City, Jiaozuo City
• Mr Feng Zhijian, President of Jiaozuo Tourism Association and Chairman of Yuntai International Travel Agency of Henan Province

Tai Ji Circle was immensely grateful to Councillor Francis for giving up her time on a bank holiday Saturday, and to all the students and friends who came along to support the event during their holidays. Special thanks went to the demonstration team; to Matt, Raul and Lai for the photographs; to Michael for helping with introductions in Chinese; to Ms Zheng Xiaomin, who provided the English translations and ran the audio-visual presentation unseen from the sound booth; and to Gary for looking after the microphones and video connections.