Every morning in my neighborhood park there's this group of old dudes doing... everything.
• One plays diabolo (that spinning thing on a string) with INSANE skill
• Another group does tai chi with swords?? Actual swords?
• There's a choir practicing revolutionary songs
• Someone is always writing calligraphy on the pavement with a water brush
• And yesterday I saw a grandpa flying a kite that was literally 50 meters long
They show up at 6 AM. They're there when I leave for work. They're still there when I come back. What is their stamina??
The best part is they're always welcoming. I've been invited to try diabolo three times. Failed spectacularly each time. They laugh, show me again, offer me tea from a thermos.
Meanwhile I'm 30 years younger and I can barely drag myself out of bed for a 9 AM meeting.
Chinese grandpas don't just exercise. They LIVE. They have hobbies, communities, daily routines that would put most millennials to shame.
I want to be them when I grow up.
What's the coolest thing you've seen an elderly person do in China?
Posted on 2026-5-23 00:09:43