Tai Chi Practitioners Seek Balance and Well-Being in Fast-Paced Beijing

Every weekday at 7:40 a.m., a group of about 30 retirees and other residents assembles in the historic Temple of Heaven park to practice Yang-style tai chi for roughly ninety minutes. Led by 64-year-old Ye Guirong, the sessions rotate through 24-, 42- and 48-movement sets, occasionally adding swords or fans. The open-air practice draws newcomers such as 59-year-old Zu Hong, who mastered a 24-movement routine in a month.

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Tai chi, known in Chinese as Taijiquan, originated over three centuries ago and blends martial techniques with Daoist philosophy. Its central concept of qi—vital energy flowing through bodily meridians—mirrors traditional Chinese medicine’s view of health. Professor James Miller of Duke Kunshan University explains that tai chi and qigong aim to “activate, regulate or improve the flow of qi in the body.” The Temple of Heaven itself, a 15th-century imperial complex, symbolizes the ancient link between heaven, earth, and human well-being, making it a fitting venue for the practice.

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• Ye Guirong – Retired leader of the Cypress Grove tai chi group, who began practicing in 2010.

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• Chen Haitao – Tai chi master who contextualizes the art’s origins in the 17th-century Chen Wangting’s Daoist self-cultivation.

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• James Miller – Humanities professor providing scholarly insight into qi and Daoist tradition.

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• Zu Hong – Recent participant who quickly progressed through the routine.

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Ye reports that regular practice has noticeably improved participants’ physical health and “spirits.” Chen Haitao emphasizes that tai chi’s movements supply a method while Daoist philosophy supplies meaning, noting Chen Wangting’s awakening when his meridians “opened” and his mind “became enlightened.” Miller adds that the practice reflects a broader Chinese conception of the body as integrated with nature, explaining why temples are traditionally sited on mountains.

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• “The environment is great and the air is good too,” — Ye Guirong, 64

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• “I thought tai chi looked very beautiful,” — Zu Hong, 59

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• “Practices like tai chi and qigong are all about activating, regulating or improving the flow of qi in the body,” — James Miller, Professor, Duke Kunshan University

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• “Through exercising, everyone’s health has improved,” — Ye Guirong

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• “One of the great benefits of Taijiquan is that it is suitable for everyone,” — Chen Haitao

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