Qixian Cao – the rising force of “She Power” in the cubing world
Qixian Cao's Name and the aura that surrounds her are well known among cubers: a full ZB expert, China's first female 3x3 record holder, and currently the fastest female in both average and single 3x3 solves.
How was this record-breaking female cuber made? Let's dive into the story of this cool cube girl.
The Fastest Girl in Speedcubing
When it comes to Qixian Cao, one sentence sums her up well: "The sweetest braids, the fastest cube."
In September 2023, at the Singapore Open Competition, 6-year-old Qixian Cao made her debut and instantly rose to fame, setting a new female world record for 3x3 average with a 5.97s result - stunning the cubing world.
The wave she stirred swept across the cube community, but behind her fame was relentless dedication.
She started cubing before the age of 3. Too young to attend formal classes, she learned form her cousin instead. By age 4, she began formal training, practicing 2-3 hours a day, with her parents accompanying her every step. It was this all-out effort from every direction that built Qixian's shinning success.
The Road to Breaking Records
After setting her first Female World Record (FWR) for 3x3 average in September 2023, excitement swept across both inside and outside the cube community. However, Qixian felt it didn't significantly affect her training or life - she remained grounded and continued practicing as usual.
If anything changed, it's that she became even more active in official WCA competitions - either breaking records or chasing them.
After breaking the 3x3 average FWR, she set her sights on a new goal: the 3x3 single female world record. One year later, at the Xi'an Open, she achieved that goal with an incredible 4.11-second single, holding both FWRs and proving once again the immense power of this "little cube witch."
On the 3x3 average track, Qixian Cao continued her streak of record-breaking performances, having already broken the record three times. In July 2025, at the World Cube Championship, she broke it once again, lowering the time to an astonishing 5.07 seconds.
Beyond competitive records, Qixian Cao also secured a Guinness World Record. In November 2024, together with GAN GURUS teammate Geng Xuanyi, she broke the Guinness record for two-person 3x3 cube solving with a time of 10.724 seconds. They had three official attempts—and succeeded on the very first try.
Before the official attempt, the two young cubers only practiced together for one weekend. Their best unofficial result was just over 7 seconds but wasn’t recorded. Recalling how she felt after breaking the Guinness record, Cao Qixian calmly said, “I was happy—but it was within expectations.”
The Power of Belief
When asked whether she’s satisfied with her achievements, Cao Qixian firmly replied, “Yes, I am.”
But beyond satisfaction, Cao Qixian has an ambition for excellence.
In a public interview in 2024, after securing both 3x3 FWRs, Cao Qixian said, “My next goal is to reach the global top 10. Ultimately, I aim for the top 5 in the world.”
In a public interview in 2024, after securing both 3x3 FWRs, Cao Qixian said, “My next goal is to reach the global top 10. Ultimately, I aim for the top 5 in the world.” This bold goal shows her confidence and ambition.
Regarding these goals, Cao said, “I know it won’t be easy. I’ll need to improve steadily, step by step. Right now, my goal is to keep working hard and surpass my current records.”
She is awesome!