Extending his body of work

Once a singer, lyricist, host and actor, when you get to know Liu Genghong, it is easy to see that he is a man of many talents.

Yet, it is often his association with his good friend, the megastar Jay Chou, that tends to steal the spotlight.

"When I was younger, I dreamed of opening a sold-out concert at a big stadium just like Jay," he says.

Recently, the 50-year-old got to turn his aspirations into reality, but in a way that's truly his own.

On Aug 8, Liu commanded a massive crowd at the National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest, where he led thousands of people through invigorating workout routines at a huge fitness party.

Adorned in snug-fitting attire, he displayed the body he has sculpted over 30 years of unwavering dedication to exercise.

Each movement, in sync with the background music, guided the attendees on an undulating odyssey of physical effort and a collective passion for fitness.

Titled the "Liu Genghong Fitness Carnival", the event will tour the country.

"I am now acutely aware of where my mission lies," he says.

Liu has now become a household name with online Chinese, particularly among fitness enthusiasts.

Last year, during the period of social distancing induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Liu took to online platforms to livestream indoor workout sessions for viewers.

During these sessions, he demonstrated fitness routines that were both easy to follow and scientifically structured. Most of them were choreographed to Chou's fast-paced songs such as Compendium of Materia Medica.

And the interactions between him and his wife, Wang Wanfei, who enthusiastically followed his movements and occasionally, jokingly exhibited signs of exhaustion, brought an element of fun to the proceedings.

Consequently, his following on the short-video platform Douyin surged from fewer than 6 million to 69 million, and with a contagiously positive energy, he ignited a spark that now propels his live sessions, which have become a sensation since they started last April.

Riding the wave of the Chinese fitness craze, Liu has made clear that his life's mission lies in promoting healthy lifestyles among a larger group of people.

To achieve the goal, he recently released a book, Freedom Comes With Fitness, to encourage more people to embrace a healthier and happier life.

In the book, he divulges wisdom accumulated from three decades of personal fitness experience, along with the guiding principles he upholds.

He believes that the true enjoyment of self-discipline can only emerge once people have tapped into their own intrinsic motivation.

"As we dive into our fitness journey, we grab the reins of our lives and weave that unwavering determination and persistence into every detail. It's this natural drive that fuels our readiness to tough it out, giving us the chance to savor the freedom that comes with embracing self-discipline," he writes in the book.

He doesn't advocate exercising solely for the purpose of losing weight. Instead, he wants everyone to relish the joy of moving itself.

He also hopes that people will become more supportive and willing to encourage those around them to start exercising on a daily basis.

Reflecting on his childhood, he fondly remembers his father taking him out to play basketball.

Now, as a father of three children, he believes that sports make for joyful family activities.

Meanwhile, Wang has also released a book to share her personal stories of weight loss and the family's diet recipes.

Following childbirth, the former beauty pageant champion's weight increased from 49 to 74 kilograms. With her husband's encouragement, she started to exercise and delved into the study of nutritious eating, ultimately regaining her beauty queen figure.

The couple maintain that they are both the beneficiaries of their fitness regime, and they aspire to extend that positive influence to a broader audience.

"Each time a fan comes and tells us that when they confronted uncertainties about the future, or major life changes, our influence prompted them to engage in aerobics and develop a fondness for indoor exercise, leading to positive transformations and self-confidence, we feel a strong sense of achievement," says Wang.

Bu Guangren, a resident of Shanghai, became a fan of the couple's workout sessions last year.

"During the lockdown, when I lived alone in my apartment, their fitness livestreams became the only thing I had to look forward to amid the monotony," she recalls.

Liu's professional demeanor and Wang's affability together drove her to follow their workouts for an hour-and-a-half each day. Bu's mother, although living elsewhere, would also join in with the session.

Upon finishing the day's exercise, Bu and her mother would exchange workout selfies, as a form of motivation.

With the return to normality in recent months, Bu continues to enjoy the happiness of exercising, not only tuning into Liu's online sessions, but also as a frequent gym-goer.