Hometown of Martial Arts

Contact: Cangzhou Best Time to Visit: Located on the coast of Bohai Bay in southeastern Hebei Province, Cangzhou features a typical warm temperate semi-humid continental monsoon climate. It has cold winters, hot summers and four distinct seasons, with an average annual temperature of about 12°C. Autumn is the ideal time for a visit.

Complaint Hotline: 0317-2080122

Transportation Guide: Cangzhou enjoys convenient transportation. The Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Kowloon railways run through the city, while National Highways 104, 106, 205 and 307 form a dense crisscross road network.

As an old saying goes: "Tai Chi calms the world with virtue; Baji Kungfu secures the universe with prowess." It is a compliment to the widely popular Tai Chi and Baji Quan. The founder of Baji Quan hailed from Mengcun in Cangzhou. Long known as the Hometown of Martial Arts, Cangzhou’s martial arts originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

For thousands of years, countless martial artists and chivalrous figures have gathered here, fostering a deep-rooted tradition of practicing and respecting martial arts. There are 52 styles of boxing and weaponry originating from or prevailing in Cangzhou, accounting for 40% of China’s total 129 martial arts categories. It ranks among the birthplaces of Chinese martial arts. In 1992, Cangzhou became China’s first prefecture-level city officially named the "Hometown of Martial Arts" by the former State Physical Culture and Sports Commission.

Cangzhou gets its name from the vast sea. Lying beside Bohai Bay, it was once a barren land and a place for exiling convicts in history. Frequent wars plagued the region, forcing local people to learn martial arts to survive. It also became a refuge for disgraced generals fleeing imperial arrest. These warriors concealed their real identities and made a living by teaching martial arts, blending into the local community which valued bravery and combat skills.

Many anonymous masters made remarkable contributions to the development of Cangzhou martial arts, such as the masters nicknamed Lai and Pi from the Baji School, Master Qiu of the Gongli School, Monk Shunyuan of the Taizu School, a Taoist priest surnamed Han of the Tongbi School, and the Qin couple who excelled at King Chuang’s Broadsword Techniques. All of them were upright in character and superb in martial skills.

As a key land and water transportation hub linking the north and the south, Cangzhou was an important route for escorted cargo convoys operated by officials and wealthy merchants. Consequently, escort agencies, inns and freight businesses thrived here. In the late Qing Dynasty, a universal rule took shape among escort teams across the country: "No shouts for escorts when passing through Cangzhou", a sign of deep respect for local martial artists.

Cangzhou’s grand masters repeatedly defeated foreign boxers in public challenges, bringing glory to the Chinese nation. In 1903, Wang Ziping, known as the "Hercules with strength of a thousand jin", defeated boxing champions from the United States, Britain and France in Shanghai. Qi Baishi, the great master of traditional Chinese painting, presented him a congratulatory couplet: "Fight fierce tigers on southern mountains; expel giant flood dragons from deep pools."

Cangzhou martial artists also played an active role in promoting Chinese martial arts. In 1928, Zhang Zhijiang, a native of Cangzhou and Army General of the National Revolutionary Army, took office as curator of the Central Martial Arts Academy. He advocated building up physical fitness to resist foreign aggression and revitalize the nation. Nearly a hundred people from Cangzhou came to the academy to teach and train.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, traditional martial arts, as a precious national cultural heritage, experienced a revival. Martial arts styles and weapon techniques in Cangzhou have become increasingly diverse. Many routines have been refined, revised and innovated to form distinctive local features. Among them, Cangzhou Baji Quan and Pigua Quan are listed as China’s top ten representative traditional martial arts. They have been designated as standard competition routines and promoted both domestically and overseas.

Plenty of talents are trained at Cangzhou Sports School, Martial Arts Research Institute, Mengcun International Baji Quan Training Center, as well as numerous local martial arts clubs across the region.

It is recommended to stay for a while to watch and learn martial arts routines and moves. You can also visit local scenic spots during breaks.

The Cangzhou Martial Arts Festival is held every four years, offering a great platform for observation, learning and exchanges. Do not miss this grand event if you are a martial arts enthusiast.