The Lanke Mountain scenic area in Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The legend of Lanke Mountain, dating back more than 1,600 years, has shaped Quzhou's identity as a city associated with the traditional board game Go. Today, the city is preserving and promoting its Go heritage through institutional support, talent development, international exchanges, and cultural integration.

Go, also known as weiqi in Chinese, is a strategy board game for two players.

Lanke Mountain is famous for the ancient legend of "Wang Zhi meeting immortals and watching weiqi until his axe handle decayed", which is widely known as the symbolic birthplace of weiqi in Quzhou.

To strengthen its foundation, Quzhou introduced China's first local regulation dedicated to Go in 2022, covering cultural promotion, public education, competitive development, and industry integration. The city has built a multi-level tournament system, expanded Go education in schools, and established training programs for young players. Nearly 80,000 young people in the city regularly learn the board game.

Quzhou has also promoted Go through international events and exchange platforms. The "Quzhou Lanke Cup" World Weiqi Open Tournament brought together 381 professional players representing 79 countries in 2026.

The city has established overseas Go cultural exchange centers in Germany and Austria, launched the "Quzhou Lanke Cup" Latin American Weiqi Championship Circuit, and promoted exchanges with Central Asian countries.

The Lanke Mountain World Weiqi Park, opened in 2025, further combines exhibitions, cultural experiences, and tourism.

Through competitions, education, and dialogue, Quzhou is promoting Go as a shared medium for cultural exchange.