ZHENGZHOU, China, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Central Chinese city Zhengzhou will open the 2nd World Traditional Wushu Championships Monday afternoon.

The four-day event will attract 2,008 athletes and coaches from66 countries and regions.

Chen Guorong, vice chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association, said, "Traditional martial arts has been developed in China for thousands of years and evolved into 129 types of boxing, from which 11 types have been selected as athletic martial arts events. During the championships, spectators can see the matches of all types of traditional martial arts, including Shaolin and Taichi boxing."

A series of cultural events will also be held during the kungfu festival, including a grand welcome ceremony at Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese martial arts.

Zhengzhou vice mayor Gong Liqun told Xinhua that about 15,000 local kungfu practitioners will be practicing traditional boxing around Shaolin Temple during the welcome ceremony. Enditem