The IWUF 4th Taolu World Cup successfully concluded in Haikou, Hainan, China, on July 8, 2026, after two days of competition featuring 11 men's and 11 women's events across fist routines, long weapons, short weapons, and duilian. A total of 22 gold medals were contested, with athletes from 18 countries and regions securing medals. The event attracted 206 participants, including 117 elite competitors, from 29 countries and regions worldwide.
As one of the six flagship official events of the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), the Taolu World Cup represents the highest-level and most influential elite professional competition in global taolu. This year's edition carries additional significance as wushu prepares to make its historic debut as an official medal sport at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in November, marking the first time this traditional Chinese martial art has been incorporated into the Olympic sports program.
The event was the first high-level international wushu single-discipline competition hosted by Hainan since the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Leveraging the port's unique geographical and policy advantages, including visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries and a 240-hour transit visa-exemption policy, overseas participants, technical officials, and media personnel enjoyed fast-track customs clearance. Specialized competition equipment benefited from zero-tariff treatment and simplified cross-border customs clearance procedures.
Hainan's rich wushu culture was on display during the event. The island has developed a unique "Qiong-style" wushu system that integrates various martial arts schools with local folklore and regional characteristics. Two counties and one city in Hainan—Tunchang, Qiongzhong, and Wanning—have been designated as "National Wushu Hometowns," reflecting a deep-rooted local tradition. 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.
Concurrently with the World Cup, Hainan hosted the inaugural Hainan International Wushu Culture Month, featuring multiple "wushu + tourism" travel routes that allowed guests to enjoy the island's scenery and duty-free shopping benefits alongside high-level competitions. Looking ahead, Hainan plans to integrate wushu into its sports-tourism product system, developing wushu-themed tourist destinations, study bases, and signature events to make "spectator travel" a new model for cultural tourism. The island also aims to host more international wushu competitions, training camps, and cultural exchange activities, with the goal of becoming a global hub for wushu development.
Separately, the 43rd Executive Committee Meeting of the IWUF decided that Haikou City will host the 12th Sanda World Cup, further solidifying Hainan's role in the international wushu community.
