People practise taijiquan in Handan city, Hebei province, Dec 20, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

2. Taijiquan and Wangchuan ceremony granted UNESCO status

Taijiquan and the Wangchuan ceremony were added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list during the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was held virtually in December.

Taijiquan, also known as tai chi, is a traditional physical practice characterized by relaxed, circular movements that works in harmony with breath regulation and the cultivation of a righteous and neutral mind.

The Wangchuan ceremony, or Ong Chun, was jointly put forward for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status by China and Malaysia. The ceremony and related practices are rooted in folk customs of worshipping Ong Yah, a deity believed to protect people and their lands from disasters.