Wei Jie

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OVER 30 expats gathered at the Dexiu Martial Arts Center in Shekou on Wednesday morning for a Baduanjin exercise class, marking the launch of the Shekou Expats’ Morning School. The new non-profit program is designed to help expats with morning availability integrate into local life in Shekou.

Led by Ma Tianfang, head instructor at the center's Shekou branch, participants learned the traditional Chinese exercise of qigong. “Slowly raise your hands above your heads while inhaling,” Ma said while demonstrating the movements for participants, who closely watched.

From time to time, one participant would approach Ma to film his movements before attempting them himself. During a break, this Russian expat, who identified himself as Vlad, explained that he wanted to be precise when he practices Baduanjin on his own after the class, and the recordings would help.

Vlad said it’s good to start the day with gentle stretches to awaken the muscles. Normally, he does some general exercises like push-ups for 15 minutes each day. He also goes hiking in the mountains twice a week. Vlad usually works from 3 p.m. to midnight, so the morning class is perfect for him.

Also known as Eight Pieces of Brocade, Baduanjin is a traditional Chinese form of qigong, a system of exercises for cultivating energy and promoting health. It consists of eight separate movements, each designed to benefit different parts of the body and energy pathways. The “brocade” in the name refers to the smooth, flowing, and interconnected nature of the movements, which are often described as being as graceful and fluid as silk.

“The exercise is relatively easy to learn and practice, making it suitable for beginners,” said Ma.

Marie Gielens, a Belgian expat who has lived in Shekou since 2020, said she was surprised to find the exercise fairly intense even through it’s slow. “I’m a personal trainer, but the exercise is nothing like the workouts I am used to,” she explained.

Gielens said she’s fascinated by wellness practices rooted in Chinese culture and will definitely attend the class whenever she’s in town.

Offered every Thursday morning until the end of May, the Expats' Morning School is organized into three main modules. The “Light Exercise” module includes activities like Baduanjin and yoga.

A cultural module will expose participants to traditional Chinese medicine and other enriching activities, while a “Practical Skills” module will offer courses on commonly used apps in Shenzhen, smartphone photography, video production techniques, and practical makeup skills.

Organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (MSCE), the spring term of the Shekou Expats’ Night School, which was first launched in September of last year, commenced Wednesday night. The first event involved a few dozen expats learning Chinese at the Shekou MSCE activity center.

The night school became an instant hit among expats after its launch, with many of its classes quickly filling up after registration opened.

The night school will continue to offer popular Chinese and Cantonese classes and introduce new content like sports and cultural experiences, including traditional Chinese seal carving and bamboo weaving.