An Authentic Tai Chi & QiGong Retreat In Southwestern China
Experience Tai Chi & Qigong in DALI, China with our exclusive retreat for beginners and experienced practitioners.
14 DAYS
Application-based
Each year, we select a small group of just 10 participants
from a wide pool of applicants and accompany them on an extraordinary Tai Chi and cultural journey to Dali, China.
This is not a resort experience. No secluded retreat. No performance.
Instead, we immerse ourselves in a living local community, where Tai Chi is practiced daily by locals as a natural part of everyday life.
Through personal connections, our guests gain access to an otherwise private community.
Hours of training total
cultural experiences/ workshops
days of training
Organic Vegetarian Meals per day
This retreat is for you if:
Your body feels stiff, tired, or disconnected
You are looking for cultural experiences
You want a Tai Chi Retreat that is not superficial
You value small groups and personal guidance
You want authentic teaching, not mass spirituality
How Our Tai Chi & Qi Gong Retreat Benefits You
In the contemporary, rapidly evolving environment, it is common to experience feelings of being overwhelmed, tense, and fatigued. The ancient Chinese also faced similar challenges and created methods to address them—methods that remain effective today and can assist you in:
Boost Energy
No more sluggishness—Tai Chi and QiGong help you cultivate vital life force (Qi), leaving you feeling energised and refreshed.
Reduce Stress
No more racing thoughts—gentle, flowing movements calm the nervous system and bring a deep sense of relaxation.
Increase Flexibility
No more stiffness—Tai Chi and QiGong improve joint mobility and circulation, keeping your body supple and pain-free.
Feel Connected
No more feeling disconnected—harmonize mind, body, and breath to deepen your connection with yourself and the world around you.
Not sure if this retreat is right for you?
Download our Complete Retreat FAQ Guide (PDF) and get full transparency on logistics, daily life, and practice — before making your decision.
Flow softly yet strong like water.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial art that integrates slow, mindful and powerful movements, making it an ideal practice for individuals seeking mind body renewal with resilient energy. Our Tai Chi retreat harmonizes five transformative practices:
Qi Gong
Qi Gong is a traditional Chinese discipline that integrates gentle movements, deep breathing techniques, and concentrated intention to nurture and harmonize the body’s vital energy, known as “Qi.”
Awaken your energy and embrace inner harmony.
Let go of stress and embrace graceful power.
Meditation
Taoist Meditation is an age-old practice that guides you to discover tranquility in the here and now, regardless of life’s chaos.
Taoism
Taoism is a time-honored Chinese philosophy that encourages individuals to live in sync with the Tao, which represents the natural order of the universe.
Discover a way of life.
Embrace the depth of tradition and wisdom.
Culture
New perspectives on well-being, mindfulness, and living a balanced life.
Sacred Incense Crafting
Discover the ancient art of Chinese incense-making, where you’ll blend natural herbs to create your own fragrant masterpiece. This meditative practice brings calmness and focus, leaving you with a unique souvenir (can be taken with you) imbued with centuries of tradition.
Chinese Medicine Secrets
Unlock the wisdom of traditional Chinese healing through the Taoist perspective of Yin and Yang. Learn practical self-care techniques that balance your body’s energy for lasting vitality.
Wǔxíng Wisdom (Elemental Harmony)
Explore how wood, fire, earth, metal and water interact in nature and within you. This interactive session reveals how aligning with these elements can bring harmony to your daily life and environment.
Are you ready to reclaim your calm, your energy, and your inner ground—starting now?
OUR MAIN TEACHERS
Our main teachers have studied under renowned masters and are now passing this wisdom on to the next generation.
Master Zhang Zheng
- 6th Generation Inheritor of Wu-style Tai Chi
- Chinese Tai Chi 6th Duan (Advanced Level)
Martial Arts Journey
• Commenced Baji Quan training at age 12
• Cultivated internal arts at Wudang Mountains (2008-2011)
• Embarked on Taoist pilgrimage, receiving guidance from enlightened masters (2012)
• Formally apprenticed in Wu-style Tai Chi, specializing in Zhan Zhuang (standing meditation)
20-Year Tai Chi Mastery
Developed profound insights with exceptional expertise in:
✓ Zhan Zhuang (Tai Chi Standing meditation)
✓ Tui Shou (Push Hands)
✓ Wu Style Tai Chi Forms
✓ Baduanjin (Daoist Eight Brocades)
✓ Songshengong (Body Loosening Exercises)
✓ Spinal Health Qigong
Decade of Teaching Taichi
His teaching focuses on:
– Internal strength without strain
– Safe body mechanics
– Internal strength without strain
Guides students to harmonize body and nature through Tai Chi’s core principles, notably helping suboptimal health states regain vitality.
Fan Yang
As a Native Chinese practitioner and teacher, Fan Yang brings a rare fusion of authentic Taoist training and contemporary mindfulness practices. Having studied Yuan-Qigong under the guidance of a Taoist master at a monastery, she embodys the tradition’s precise energy cultivation techniques while offering accessible interpretations of classical texts through self-directed study.
Her background as a yoga instructor and meditation guide enriches this foundation, allowing her to draw insightful parallels between Taoist, Buddhist, and yogic philosophies.
In teaching, Fan Yang emphasizes the harmony of movement and stillness—whether through the dynamic flow of Yuan-Qigong forms, the introspective depth of seated meditation, or the philosophical bridges connecting Eastern wisdom traditions.
Students appreciate her ability to make ancient practices relevant to modern life, balancing rigorous discipline with compassionate guidance
Where is the retreat?
In Dali town, the heart of Yunnan, where the Cangshan Mountains rise with quiet strength and the still waters of Erhai Lake reflect the passing clouds, lies a place of rest and renewal. Here, in this timeless land where ancient towns softly echo the wisdom of the past, your inner journey gently begins.
Free pickup service
To make your arrival as smooth and relaxed as possible, there will be a free pickup service from Dali Fengyi Airport (IATA: DLU, ICAO: ZPDL), one day before the retreat officially begins. You will be welcomed with care and guided comfortably to your accommodation.
What awaits you on the Tai Chi Retreat in China?
Enjoy nourishing, delicious healthy local vegetarian & organic meals made with local ingredients
Immerse yourself in authentic Tai Chi training & gentle daily practices
Find stillness with guided meditations designed to calm the mind
Stay in a carefully selected, soulful guesthouse that feels like home
Explore the region with local trips & cultural experiences that connect you with the spirit of Yunnan
Price & Daily Structure
What’s included in the price?
The retreat cost is €1,920In this price included:
Not included:
Daily Structure — What Your Days Look Like
Each day is intentionally simple and rhythmic:
Not sure if this retreat is right for you?
Download our Complete Retreat FAQ Guide (PDF) and get full transparency on logistics, daily life, and practice — before making your decision.
Apply for the QiGong & Tai Chi Retreat in China
Please fill out the selection form for those interested in participating and choose your dates.
This is not a decision made by impulse. It is a choice for your long-term well-being.
If you have questions, write to us personally:
📧 hello@encamino.life