The World Conference on Wudang Tai Chi has commenced on Saturday at Wudang Mountains in central China's Hubei Province, facilitating cultural exchange and martial arts training internationally.
As a comprehensive festival, the event integrates sports competitions, cultural tourism, theoretical research, and economic and trade activities.
The three-day conference has lured a diverse group of participants, including more than 1,400 athletes from 45 countries and regions, along with over 500 experts, scholars, and representatives from martial arts associations worldwide.
Activities including international Tai Chi competitions and Tai Chi cultural forums are especially organized to keep fueling the enthusiasm of both in-person and online audiences.
Wudang Mountain, a world-renowned Taoist sacred site and the birthplace of Tai Chi culture, has been attracting Taoist culture enthusiasts from around the globe for centuries. With the prosperity of the Internet, the influence of Wudang martial arts and culture has been further amplified in recent years.
According to statistics, there are currently over 100 million people practicing Tai Chi in more than 150 countries and regions, with Tai Chi organizations established in over 80 countries and regions.
Int'l Tai Chi conference in China's Wudang Mountains brings together global enthusiasts
China will increase national scholarships and financial assistance for college students, the Ministry of Finance said on Saturday.
The Ministry of Finance will double quotas for national scholarships, increase the amount of scholarships for outstanding college students, raise the level of financial assistance granted to college students in need, and step up support for national student loan borrowers this year, Vice Minister of Finance Guo Tingting told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.
"The annual national scholarship quota for undergraduate and junior college students will be raised from 60,000 to 120,000, while the quotas for master's students and doctoral students will be raised from 35,000 to 70,000 and from 10,000 to 20,000, respectively," Guo said.
"The amount of national scholarship for each undergraduate and junior college student will be increased from 8,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan per year, and the amount of national encouragement scholarship for each undergraduate and junior college student will be raised from 5,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan per year," she said.
"The average amount of national grants will be hiked from 3,300 yuan per year to 3,700 yuan per year for each undergraduate and junior college student starting from autumn semester 2024," according to Guo.
"The maximum loan amount for undergraduate and junior college students will rise from 16,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan per year, and that for graduate students will rise from 20,000 yuan to 25,000 yuan per year. The interest rate will be reduced to 70 basis points lower than the loan prime rate of the same grade in the same period," Guo said.
China will also raise the amount of academic scholarships for graduate students in 2025, increase national grants for ordinary high school students, and expand the range and amount of national grants for secondary vocational school students, Guo added.
China to increase financial support for college students
