Traditional Sports Program from Newcastle University Confucius Institute Reaches Cambridge Chinese Community in the UK
5 February 2026
Traditional Sports Program from Newcastle University Confucius Institute Reaches Cambridge Chinese Community in the UK
To further promote the popularity and enhancement of Health Qigong in the UK and to foster cultural and sports exchanges between China and the UK, the UK Health Qigong Federation invited the Newcastle University Confucius Institute to successfully host the "2026 New Year Health Qigong Lecture" at the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre in the UK on Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2026, marking the beginning of a year of healthy living for the community.
The lecture featured two distinguished experts in the field of international Health Qigong: Rensong Li(Member of the Expert Committee of the International Health Qigong Federation, Associate Professor at the Physical Education Department of Xiamen University, and Traditional Sports Specialized Teacher at Newcastle University Confucius Institute) and Herman Wang (Chairman of the UK Health Qigong Federation and Executive Committee Member of the International Health Qigong Federation) as co-speakers. Aimed at Health Qigong practitioners and enthusiasts across the UK, the event delivered a professional teaching session deeply integrating theoretical explanation with practical experience.
The lecture commenced with Chairman Herman Wang leading all participants through a systematic practice of Health Qigong • Ba Duan Jin. Through gentle and flowing movements, he guided everyone in adjusting their posture, breath, and mind, quickly entering a focused state. Subsequently, Associate Professor Rensong Li provided an in-depth analysis of the technical essentials, breath coordination, and common issues of Ba Duan Jin. With the assistance of Chairman Herman Wang and Robert Banks, a member of the UK Health Qigong Federation, he individually standardized and corrected participants' movements. The atmosphere was relaxed yet focused, with active interaction, and participants showed noticeable improvement in a short time.
In the second phase of the lecture, Associate Professor Rensong Li guided participants into an introductory teaching session for Health Qigong • Wu Qin Xi (Five Animal Frolics). He systematically introduced the origins, movement characteristics, and key practice points of the exercise, and led everyone through a complete practice of the entire Wu Qin Xi routine. This allowed participants to further experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese Daoyin health-preservation techniques, which skillfully combine motion and stillness, integrate form and spirit, and cultivate both internal and external aspects.
This activity not only attracted Health Qigong practitioners from Cambridge and surrounding areas but also gathered representative members of the UK Health Qigong Federation, Health Qigong enthusiasts, and friends from various sectors of society interested in traditional Chinese health culture from across the UK. Distinguished guests including Dr. Sun Wei (Chairman of the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre) and Shi Yang (Principal of the Cambridge Chinese Community School) attended the event and spoke highly of it.
During the event, Associate Professor Rensong Li and Chairman Herman Wang, on behalf of the International Health Qigong Federation and the UK Health Qigong Federation respectively, donated English-language books and accompanying DVD teaching materials for Health Qigong • Ba Duan Jin and Health Qigong • Wu Qin Xi to the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre. They also extended New Year greetings to all participants, wishing everyone a joyful Spring Festival, good fortune in the Year of the Horse, and physical and mental well-being.
Dr. Sun Wei, Chairman of the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre, expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the Centre and all participants to Associate Professor Rensong Li and Chairman Herman Wang for their special trip to Cambridge to conduct the public welfare teaching session. He stated that this event allowed community members to personally experience the significant health benefits of Ba Duan Jin and Wu Qin Xi, and they would continue to practice Health Qigong and promote its sustained development within the community.
After the teaching session, participants unanimously expressed great gains. They all agreed that this event moved them from "learning about Health Qigong through media" to truly "practicing Health Qigong scientifically under professional guidance." Principal Shi Yang remarked that it was a rare opportunity for the Cambridge community to receive face-to-face guidance from an expert from Xiamen University's Physical Education Department and a specialized teacher from Newcastle University Confucius Institute. Consequently, several participants sent letters expressing their profound gratitude. This event has further promoted Health Qigong as one of the important symbols of Chinese traditional culture in the Cambridge region, deepening the integration of Health Qigong culture into the local populace and the Chinese community, with continuously growing participation and expanding influence.
