Baji Association organized a combined training and holiday trip to China in June 2025 under the leadership of Master Lü Baochun. Master Lü considered the trip a success because participants were satisfied—and they truly were! The trip had a great atmosphere: the travelers enjoyed seeing new places and spending time with their training companions. According to the master, the goal of the trip—to show the Chinese that people elsewhere also know how to train—was realized superbly.
The journey began in Guangzhou. The party included Master Lü’s martial brother Tian Zhang Shan, his student Liu Yuan Min, master Lü’s wife Qin Lanju, as well as members of Baji Ry from Finland, and friends of the association from Sweden and Macao. On the very first day, local practitioners of taiji and other kung fu styles were training in a park next to our accommodation, and association members trained alongside them. In Guangzhou, we explored both the traditional and modern sides of the city, dining on everything from street food delights to upscale Michelin-starred restaurants. However, most agreed that the best meals were at a street kitchen on the corner of our lodging, where we enjoyed skewers every evening, chatting by the roadside and sipping beer.
The next stage of the trip was Guilin, where the group spent a week. They held training sessions every morning and evening, exploring the city and its surroundings in between. The master’s student Liu also led some of the sessions. A particularly memorable experience was a river cruise through Guilin’s exceptionally dramatic karst landscape.
It was also, in Master Lü’s opinion, the most unforgettable tourist experience of the trip. As a funny memory, he recalls how when a sudden downpour struck the cruise guests dashed between the ship’s interior and the deck, trying on one hand to stay dry and on the other to take in the views. In the end, the mist rising around the mountains won out, and getting soaked on deck was worth it for the breathtaking scenery. The trip culminated in Master Lü’s birthday celebration, where he particularly cherished the birthday song sung in five languages.
After Guangzhou, the group dispersed. Master Lü returned to Beijing. Part of the group moved back to Hong Kong, where they trained kung fu under Jeran (YouTube/Instagram: @kungfuronin). Many found this opportunity especially interesting, as they learned new exercises from the skilled young kung fu teacher. Some students brought exercises learned from Jeran back to Finland as souvenirs, which they have since incorporated into their own training regimens.
