Eight sports that thrived in 2023's spotlight

Baduanjin

Baduanjin, also known as the Eight Brocade Exercises, is an ancient health exercise that originated in China. It has become increasingly popular this year, with many social influencers sharing their exercise experiences online, believing that after practicing baduanjin, their bodies have become stronger and their immunity has been improved.

Baduanjin is a simple and easy-to-master health exercise that is suitable for various sub-healthy populations, including those who sit for long hours, have poor emotions, have spinal issues, and the elderly. It consists of eight gentle exercises, each with a specific name and associated health benefits.

"The popularity of Baduanjinamong young people is increasing, especially since people spent so much time at home during COVID-19," says 28-year-old Li Jianlin, who works as a fitness content creator for Keep, one of the most popular apps for sports lovers in China, and which offers online fitness programs.

"I knew nothing about baduanjin until I saw videos of people practicing on social media platforms. The movements are very slow, like tai chi, so I naturally associated it with the kind of exercise favored by the elderly," says Huang Qian, a 28-year-old model.

She has issues with her cervical vertebrae, spleen and stomach. "I read reviews, saying that it can be helpful to these kinds of problems," she says.

"It only takes me 12 minutes to finish the eight sequences. I feel refreshed and full of energy before starting my day," says Huang, who now practices baduanjin every day.