At the Temple of Heaven, an iconic landmark in Beijing, 73-year-old Li Shuyun stands tall, her arms rising slowly above her head in a fluid motion, then stretching outward, palms open as though embracing the sky. The calming, meditative practice of baduanjin, an ancient Chinese form of qigong, fills the air with a sense of peace and focus.
With each carefully coordinated movement, her breath deepens in sync with her body's motions — breathing in as her arms lift, exhaling as she bends forward. The entire sequence takes just over 10 minutes, but its calming benefits linger long after.
Whether practiced in the serene solitude of a living room or the open expanse of a park, baduanjin offers a moment of quiet balance in an otherwise hectic world.
Today, for a growing number of people, the ancient practice of baduanjin, or "eight pieces of brocade", is offering a fresh approach to both physical and mental health.
A graceful series of eight movements, it is designed to stretch, strengthen and balance the body's energy, also known as qi in Chinese philosophy. Dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), this meditative practice is gaining new momentum, especially among younger generations of Chinese navigating the pressures of modern, urban life.
Li's 42-year-old son, Hu Kun, owner of a video game company, practices baduanjin every morning before work and, on weekends, he and his mother head to the Temple of Heaven for a joint practice session.
"I've always been busy and stayed up late working, but this practice helps me release stress," said Hu. "After each practice, I feel recharged, both physically and mentally."
Li, who started practicing baduanjin in her 60s, has noticed a shift in the practice's popularity.
"I began because it's simple and works on the whole body — strengthening muscles and improving circulation," she said. "But now, I see more younger people joining our sessions."
Ruan Yize, a 25-year-old PhD student specializing in exercise therapy at Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, started practicing baduanjin in 2014, initially for fitness. However, after a sports injury in 2017, the young man realized its true healing power. "It's not just about physical fitness — it helps with mental clarity and emotional balance," he said.
Unlike high-intensity workouts or complicated gym routines, baduanjin combines slow, deliberate movements with deep breathing and mental focus. And the best part is that no special equipment or a lot of space is required, making it the perfect practice for busy city dwellers. This is perhaps evidenced by the practice's rise among younger people, many of whom live sedentary, work-oriented lifestyles and are constantly burdened by office stress.
"You can practice anywhere, at home, in a park, or even in the office. It's a great way to connect physical movement with mental relaxation, and it really works," Ruan said.
Ruan teaches baduanjin in his spare time, especially to young professionals and international guests at his university, but courses are also available through social media platforms like WeChat and Douyin, or dedicated fitness apps.
Li Jianlin, who worked as a fitness content creator for Keep, one of the most popular sports apps in the country, designed baduanjin programs for users of different levels. He noted that people of all ages are practicing baduanjin, and that traditional sports are making a return to daily life.
"As life speeds up, baduanjin helps you slow down and center yourself," he said.
