The IWUF 4th Taolu World Cup successfully wrapped up in Haikou, Hainan, China, on July 8, 2026, bringing together 206 athletes, team leaders, and coaches from 29 countries and regions. The competition featured 11 men's and 11 women's events across four major categories—fist routines, long weapons, short weapons, and duilian—with a total of 22 gold medals contested over two days. Athletes from 18 countries and regions secured medals, highlighting the global reach of the sport.
The Taolu World Cup is one of the six flagship official events of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) and stands as the highest-level elite professional competition in global taolu. This event carries added significance as wushu prepares for its historic debut as an official medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games this November, marking the first time this traditional Chinese martial art has been incorporated into the Olympic sports program.
This was the first high-level international wushu single-discipline competition hosted by Hainan since the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The region leveraged its unique geographical and policy advantages, including visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries and the 240-hour transit visa-exemption policy, to facilitate fast-track customs clearance for overseas participants, technical officials, and media personnel. Specialized competition equipment also benefited from zero-tariff treatment and simplified cross-border customs clearance procedures, underscoring Hainan's commitment to becoming a global hub for wushu.
Hainan boasts a rich wushu culture, having integrated various martial arts schools with local island folklore to form a unique "Qiong-style" wushu system. Two counties and one city—Tunchang, Qiongzhong, and Wanning—have been designated as "National Wushu Hometowns." 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, representing treasured gems of Hainan's folk culture.
During the event, Hainan concurrently hosted the inaugural Hainan International Wushu Culture Month, featuring multiple "wushu + tourism" travel routes that allowed domestic and international guests to enjoy the island's scenery and duty-free shopping benefits while attending high-level competitions. Looking ahead, Hainan plans to integrate wushu elements into its sports-tourism product system, developing wushu-themed tourist destinations, study and research bases, and signature events. This strategy aims to make "spectator travel" a new model for Hainan's cultural tourism.
Hainan will continue to promote international wushu competitions, training camps, professional development programs, and cultural exchange activities, attracting enthusiasts and professional teams from around the world. The goal is to establish the island as a global hub for wushu development and cultural exchange. Separately, the 43rd Executive Committee Meeting of the IWUF decided that Haikou City will host the 12th Sanda World Cup, further cementing Hainan's role in the sport's international growth.
