A team of martial arts experts traveled west on a tour of India from Sept 30 to Oct 3, to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and promote friendship between the two countries.

Zhanjiang's renowned "King of Southern Fist", He Qiang, led the team in performances at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, as well as at selected schools across India.

Southern Fist, also known as Southern Boxing or Nanquan, is a form of Chinese boxing widely practiced in South China, especially in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. The over 400-year-old distinctive style relies heavily on techniques to stabilize arms, body and feet.

India's Sports Ministry presented a memorial plaque to the martial arts troupe in honor of its tour and the team's skilled performances.

"I found a great many wushu (martial arts)lovers in India during this tour, so I hope Chinese martial arts can act as a bridge between two countries, furthering communications in future," He said.

He Qiang learned his skills in Zhanjiang of Guangdong which is lauded as a hometown of martial arts. He is a former Southern Fist champion, taking gold at the Second World Wushu Championship (WWC) in 1993 and other national and world-level competitions.