How long is a wushu taolu routine?
I · Intermediate · The events · 1 of 4An adult optional routine in changquan, nanquan or their weapon events lasts between 1 minute 20 seconds and 1 minute 35 seconds. Taijiquan, taijijian and taijishan optional routines last between 2 minutes 45 seconds and 3 minutes 15 seconds. Running short or long costs 0.1 point for each band of seconds outside the limits.
How it works
- Changquan, nanquan and their weapons, adult optional: 1 minute 20 seconds to 1 minute 35 seconds.
- The same events, junior and children: 1 minute 10 seconds to 1 minute 25 seconds.
- The same events, compulsory: at least 1 minute 20 seconds for adults and 1 minute 10 seconds for juniors.
- Taiji events, optional: 2 minutes 45 seconds to 3 minutes 15 seconds.
- Taiji compulsory routines: three to six minutes, depending on the routine.
- Duilian: 50 seconds to one minute.
- Jiti: three to four minutes.
- When the clock starts: at the athlete's first movement from a static position.
- When it stops: when the athlete stands upright with the feet together at the end.
- The deduction: made by the head judge.
The glossary has the head judge deductions, the routine, the optional routine, the compulsory routine, taijiquan and duilian.
Tricky cases
A changquan routine runs to 1 minute 37 seconds. What is the deduction?
0.1 point. Up to and including two seconds outside the limit costs 0.1.
The same routine runs to 1 minute 39 seconds. What then?
0.2 points. More than two and up to four seconds costs 0.2, and so on in steps of two seconds.
A taijiquan routine is six seconds short. What is the deduction?
0.2 points. For the taiji events and jiti the steps are five seconds: up to five costs 0.1, more than five and up to ten costs 0.2.
Does the salute before the routine count in the time?
No. Timing begins with the first movement after the athlete has taken up a static position.
Why the rule exists
A fixed window makes routines comparable: every athlete has the same time to show the same required content. The upper limit stops a routine from being padded, and the lower one stops an athlete from rushing through to hide weak stamina.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Changquan and nanquan types, and duilian | 0.1 for every two seconds under or over | Taolu Rules Art. 26 |
| Taiji events and jiti | 0.1 for every five seconds under or over | Taolu Rules Art. 26 |
| Children's compulsory routines | No duration requirement | Taolu Rules Art. 11 |
| Compulsory taijiquan routines | From three to six minutes by routine | Taolu Rules Art. 11 |
From the rule book
International Wushu Federation, Wushu Taolu Competition Rules and Judging Methods (2024), Articles 9, 11 and 26. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Wushu Taolu Competition Rules and Judging Methods (2024) (PDF, Chinese and English).