The trend of tree hugging has suddenly gained popularity among young people in China as a new form of psychological massage amidst the pressures of modern life.
Tree Hugging – A Strange Trend
A novel trend is sweeping across cities in China: hugging trees to relieve stress and anxiety. (Photo: SCMP).
A peculiar trend for stress relief has been observed among young people in China recently, gradually spreading to major cities. According to SCMP, the origin of this trend appears to have emerged from the coastal city of Shanghai.
From university students to office workers, and even actresses and doctors, many are immersing themselves in this unusual passion. “When my entire body and face touch the tree trunk, a sense of peace flows into my brain,” shared one tree hugger.
“Gradually, I have more energy and feel healed. Moreover, the more you hug the tree, the more connected you become to it. It’s magical.”
On the baidu.com portal, a chat room has attracted over 10,000 members who are enthusiasts of tree hugging therapy, sharing more than 50,000 posts about their experiences with trees.
A Chinese woman hugging a tree trunk. (Photo: Baidu).
On the short video app Douyin, a video titled “Tree Therapy” has received 330,000 likes and 40,000 comments. In this context, hugging trees is likened to a form of psychological massage in the face of modern life’s pressures.
Meanwhile, on another social media platform, Xiaohongshu, hundreds have shared their tree hugging experiences, even organizing meet-ups to indulge in their passion.
Supporters of this trend state that they simply choose a tree they like in a park or on the street and hug it. The duration of hugging can range from a few minutes to several hours.
Does It Really Offer Benefits?
Traditional Chinese medicine experts believe that hugging trees can offer benefits for both physical and mental health. (Photo: Getty).
“I am clearly hugging the tree, but I feel like the tree is hugging me back,” said Qishishiqi, a young woman from China, about her passion for tree hugging.
Sharing her first experience, Qishishiqi mentioned that she began to feel relaxed and healed after hugging a tree that is over 1,000 years old in a park in Shanghai.
While she doesn’t know the source of this feeling, she believes that continuing this practice will generate healing energy.
A woman who resigned due to overwhelming work pressure reported that hugging trees helps her stabilize her mental state.
“I am immersed in hugging trees. It’s like freeing my mind,” wrote the woman, known by the nickname Lvzi. “I feel truly free and see the world as vast. It also gives me more willpower.”
According to Li Xiaolin, a traditional medicine doctor in Beijing, hugging trees or plants can provide benefits for physical and mental health. In an interview with Life Times, Dr. Li stated that people can harness “qi” (a concept representing the vital energy of the body) if they regularly engage in such practices.
Participants can hug trees for a few minutes to several hours as long as they feel comfortable. (Photo: Douyin).
Dr. Stone Kraushaar, a clinical psychologist, stated that no scientific studies have proven the effectiveness of tree hugging. However, Dr. Kraushaar likened this act to two people hugging each other.
“Two people hugging for at least 21 seconds will benefit from the release of oxytocin, also known as the love hormone,” Kraushaar explained. “However, I’m not sure if that applies to hugging trees.”
“While it’s unclear if hugging trees is genuinely beneficial, if it makes you feel comfortable and causes no harm, why not give it a try?” the expert shared.
A user with the alias Sky, who identifies as a mental health expert, suggested that people should choose trees that are at least 10 years old and avoid hugging them on sunny days.
Additionally, tree huggers should steer clear of overly dense tree trunks to minimize the risk of encountering pests or snakes living in the trees. On stormy days, it’s also advisable to avoid hugging trees due to the risk of lightning strikes.
