HAIKOU, CHINA -
Media OutReach Newswire
– 9 July 2026 - The IWUF 4th Taolu World Cup successfully wrapped up in
Haikou, Hainan, China, on July 8, 2026. The competition featured 11
men's and 11 women's events, covering four major categories, including
fist routines, long weapons, short weapons, and duilian. Over two days, a
total of 22 gold medals were contested.
The Taolu World Cup is one of the six flagship official events of the
IWUF (International Wushu Federation) and stands as the highest-level
and most influential elite professional competition in the global taolu
discipline. This November, wushu will make its historic debut as an
official medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, marking the
first time this traditional Chinese martial art has been incorporated
into the Olympic sports program.
This event marked the first high-level international wushu
single-discipline competition hosted by Hainan since the inception of
the Hainan Free Trade Port. It attracted 206 athletes, team leaders, and
coaches from 29 countries and regions worldwide, including 117 elite
competitors. Ultimately, athletes from 18 countries and regions secured
medals with their outstanding competitive performances.
Leveraging the unique geographical and policy advantages of the Hainan
Free Trade Port, combined with visa-free access for citizens of 86
countries and the 240-hour transit visa-exemption policy, overseas
participants, technical officials, and media personnel have enjoyed
fast-track customs clearance. Meanwhile, specialized competition
equipment has benefited from zero-tariff treatment and simplified
cross-border customs clearance procedures.
Hainan boasts a rich and distinctive wushu culture. Through centuries of
inheritance and development, it has integrated the essence of various
martial arts schools and blended them with local island folklore and
regional characteristics to form a unique "Qiong-style" wushu system.
Two counties and one city in Hainan, namely Tunchang, Qiongzhong, and
Wanning, have been designated as "National Wushu Hometowns," reflecting a
deep-rooted local tradition of martial arts appreciation. Indigenous
fighting styles such as the Li ethnic group's Li Family Fist, Tunchang
Pochen Five-Form Stakes, and Wanning Mazai Kung Fu have been passed down
through generations, standing as treasured gems of Hainan's folk
culture.
During the event, Hainan concurrently hosted the inaugural Hainan
International Wushu Culture Month event, featuring multiple "wushu +
tourism" travel routes. These activities allowed domestic and
international guests to enjoy Hainan's island scenery and duty-free
shopping benefits while taking in high-level wushu competitions.
Looking ahead, Hainan will continue to deeply integrate wushu elements
into its sports-tourism product system, developing a range of
wushu-themed tourist destinations, study and research bases, and
signature events. This will make "spectator travel" a new model for
Hainan's cultural tourism. At the same time, Hainan will continue to
promote the hosting of various international wushu competitions,
training camps, professional development programs, and cultural exchange
activities, attracting wushu enthusiasts and professional teams from
around the world to compete, train, and study in Hainan, with the goal
of establishing the island as a global hub for wushu development and
cultural exchange.
Separately, the 43rd Executive Committee Meeting of the IWUF has decided
that Haikou City in Hainan Province will host the 12th Sanda World Cup.