Chinese Martial Masters to Gather in Lijiang for Kung Fu Festival

The Third China Lijiang Martial Arts Festival will be held in Lijiang city, Yunnan province, from Sept 25 to Oct 8. The event is expected to attract more than 2,000 martial artists, all eager to show off their kung fu skills.

Speaking at a news conference for the festival on Aug 25, Hu Jianying, vice head of the Lijiang sports bureau said that the 14-day event will be comprised mainly of two parts. From Sept 25 to 30, martial arts masters will compete for medals and showcase their martial arts skills at the exhibition games. Exhibitions of cultural artifacts will also be held from Sept 25 to Oct 8, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy calligraphy, paintings, musical instruments, embroideries and carvings.

A professional wrestling match will also be held on Oct 3. Competitors from China, France, Thailand, Brazil, Japan and Russia will be present at the match.

In the last two years, approximately 4,000 martial artists from more than 10 countries have taken part in the festival, making it the most influential martial arts event in Yunnan.