Practice Tai Chi

Dancers in Chengdu

Going to a park or large public space early in the morning to practice Tai Chi is all the rage in China.

Tai Chi is a style of Chinese Martial Arts, however, Tai Chi has completely modernized in China and has become more like Tai Chi aerobics!

The best way to explain it to you is to actually SHOW you.....


During an early morning in Xi'an, just before heading off to see the Terracotta Warriors, a few of us bundled up in some of our warmest clothes to practice Tai Chi with the locals. Our guide told us that the locals love to share their love of Tai Chi with foreigners, and would likely welcome us with open arms. She was right. The lady in the purple jacket in the video was so welcoming and cheered us on as we tried to learn the steps.

I felt like I was doing the Chinese version of the Cupid Shuffle and Electric Slide. For me, that's not such a bad thing since I am the first one up on the dance floor when these songs play at weddings.  As you can clearly see from the smile on my face, I had a fantastic time!

As you can imagine, a group of foreigners dancing Tai Chi creates a big wave of attention, and in a matter of minutes our once small group transformed into a flash mob worthy dance crew.

We did encounter one man practicing more traditional Tai Chi and decided to join him for a few minutes just so we could experience both popular forms.

I also just realized it has been almost a year since I left for my trip to China, and I have barely scratched the surface of all the amazing things I did while I was there!  When you write a life list blog, you know you are doing life right when you have so much to write about!

Date Accomplished:  March 11th, 2012