On the afternoon of September 20th,
the Tai Chi Experience event，
hosted by Shenzhen Foundation for
International Exchange and Cooperation (SFIEC)，
kicked off in Qianhai.
Dozens of young people,
hailing from China and countries including
Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia,
Belarus, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, and Bangladesh,
used movement as a language
and breath to bridge diverse cultures,
opening a unique dialogue
between body and mind.
International Friends Get a First Taste of
Tai Chi:
From Curiosity to Connection
At the start of the event,
young participants with
diverse backgrounds
listened closely to Master Zhao Tianyi,
the 12th-generation inheritor of
Chen-style Tai Chi and
a representative inheritor
of Chen-style Tai Chi
(a Nanshan intangible cultural heritage).
They learned about
Tai Chi’s benefits for the body,
then followed the master’s guidance
to practice, feeling how their bodies
responded to each movement.
For many international friends trying
Tai Chi for the first time,
some rushed through their opening moves,
while others struggled to stay balanced.
But as their breathing rhythms synchronized,
they gradually found their own flow.
Slowly, Chinese and international participants
built tacit understanding through
every shared posture.
Tai Chi movements became a common
“body memory” that bonded them together.
Deeper Cultural Dialogue:
The Chinese Spirit in Tai Chi & Shenzhen’s Inclusivity
When the movements paused,
conversations began to flow.
Lion Bremeyer, a young man from Germany,
shared his feelings:
“It’s my first time doing Tai Chi.
Even though the movements are slow,
I have to engage every muscle
in my body to control that slowness.”
Sammy
from Bangladesh agreed:
“At first, even a simple horse stance
made my thigh muscles
tremble uncontrollably.
That’s when I realized
how much control
these movements actually require.”
Master Zhao shared his insight:
“Every movement must align with your breath.
That’s why I noticed
once everyone adjusted their breathing,
they naturally figured out
what kind of breath
each movement needed,
and the right posture followed instinctively”
Daniel Szabo,
a young participant from Hungary,
added his reflection:
“When we moved together,
I felt a sense of harmonious unity.
It was like national or
language barriers didn’t exist at all.
In our shared breath
and smooth movements,
the whole space became one.”
This wordless rapport and
inclusiveness isn’t just limited
to the Tai Chi practice
it’s deeply engraved in
Shenzhen’s urban DNA.
Just like Tai Chi,
Shenzhen embraces diverse cultures
with a natural sense of balance.
Its openness and diversity
speak for themselves,
and all kinds of beauty unfold here quietly.
Tai Chi
allows youth from different countries
to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture
through hands-on practice.
Through exchanges,
they forge friendships with local youth
and better integrate into Shenzhen—
a city of inclusivity.
The Traditional Culture Experience Season
is still ongoing.
For our next event,
we will continue to use cultural experience
as the bridge,
co-writing a more expansive
chapter of China’s story and
Shenzhen’s journey.
- END -
About Us
Founded in December 2014, SFIEC is the first non-public foundation in China committed to promoting international exchange and cooperation and facilitating the city’s internationalization. The mission of SFIEC is to establish platforms for international exchange and cooperation, facilitate the innovation and internationalization of Shenzhen, and engage different social entities in global governance.
Since its establishment, the foundation has focused on civil international exchange and cooperation, creating a number of creative and influential independent brand sections such as the "Shenzhen x Lancang-Mekong +", the "CityPlus" platform, the “Value Plus” Platform, the "Shentlemen" Series, Empower Global Enterprises, and Engagement in Partners Public Projects. It has facilitated more than 1000 international exchange and cooperation activities, covering 8 major fields including Economy, Technology, Education, Culture, Arts, Environmental Protection, Sister Cities, Health and Wellness. Its external exchange footprint covers 6 continents, 38 countries, and more than 100 cities.
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