Local residents practice Taichi in a training class at Tibet Gymnasium in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 21, 2012. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

After long-term promotion, Taichi, a centuries-old sports and fitness item in China, has been well popularized in Tibet, according to the regional sports bureau on April 21, 2012.

During the opening ceremony for a 24-posture Taichi training class, Qiu Huifang, former world champion of Taichi in 1999, gave a lecture on Taichi movements at Tibet Gymnasium in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet.

A total of 300 trainees attended the class, encouraging more people to participate in the exercise.

"Taichi is known for slow movements, and is particularly suitable to be popularized in Tibet", said Qiu Huifang, who is engaged in teaching and promoting Taichi in Beijing Institute of Technology.

"The trainees take part in the training course enthusiastically, who will be promoters to further spread Taichi as I hope", Qiu Huifang added.

Since 1978, Taichi has been introduced into Tibet and has become a well-received sport among the local Tibetans, according to the staff of Tibet Sports Bureau.

By far, Tibet has cultivated over a thousand of sports instructors on Taichi.

At present, Tibetan residents can do Taichi exercises daily at the six practicing spots located in major parks in Lhasa, such as Dzongyab Lukhang Park, and other spots set in Lhoka, Nyingchi and Ngari prefectures.