TAIYUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) — “Relax your body, stretch your arms and feel your heart beat,” an instructor’s voice boomed as tourists from 12 countries went through some tai chi warm-up exercises at a resort in north China’s Shanxi Province.
The tourists arrived in Jincheng, renowned as a “model city of health and wellness” with an established wellness industry and stunning natural environment, in mid-May for a month-long wellness holiday. According to team leader Lu, this is not the first time that foreign tourists have been attracted to China with a wellness-focused tour.
“I believe that traditional Chinese health practices are very beneficial and should be spread to more people outside China,” said Lu, who has traveled to different countries in Europe and America for many years to promote traditional Chinese health practices.
Since 2012, Lu has been organizing wellness tours for foreign tourists in Chinese cities such as Guilin, Chengdu and Jincheng. More than 60,000 people from 21 countries have taken part in the tours so far.
“This is my first time in China and everything here has exceeded my imagination. People I meet on the street smile at me kindly and this environment makes me feel refreshed,” said Hicks William Arthur from Canada.
Speaking of his exposure to China’s health culture during his trip, Arthur said that the concept of “harmony” in traditional Chinese culture left the deepest impression on him.
“In Chinese culture, we believe that everything is interconnected and people support each other, so we never feel alone in this world. This concept can be helpful for people facing psychological problems,” Arthur added.
Another participant in the tourist group, Charlotte Contreras, is a psychotherapist from the United States who was inspired by China’s wellness culture.
“Chinese health culture contains a lot of ancient philosophical wisdom, which is somewhat different from modern psychological knowledge. By integrating this wisdom with the theories I’m familiar with, I can better help more patients,” she said.
According to Lu, tourists will take part in sessions based on traditional Chinese health culture, incorporating theories of traditional Chinese medicine and engaging in exercises such as tai chi.
In recent years, China’s wellness industry has developed rapidly, with the country’s diverse climates and geographical environments providing tourists with a wide range of choices.
“The well-established system of traditional Chinese health culture, mainly centered around traditional Chinese medicine and dietary therapy, has evolved over thousands of years and continues to attract foreign tourists who come to experience health in China,” said Chen Bin, secretary-general of the China Tourism Products and Facilities Association.
“This won’t be my last trip to China. I will continue to learn traditional Chinese health practices while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery,” Arthur said. ■
