Juliette in love, with China
French actress explores creativity and connection in Beijing, sharing insights on film, movement and mindfulness, Xu Fan reports.
Having once visited mountains and temples on an earlier trip, Binoche shares that her understanding of Chinese culture — particularly Taoist values concerning life and death — came partly from Sandrine Chenivesse, the French anthropologist and first wife of director Jiang Wen.
However, even before her first trip to Beijing in 2009, Binoche had already discovered a connection to Chinese traditions through acupuncture. "I do acupuncture every month because it's the greatest form of prevention. It helps you understand how the inner and outer are related — the emotions and the organs," she says.
For the 61-year-old actress, her most recent trip to the country to attend the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum has turned into both a moment of cultural exchange and a celebration for her many loyal movie fans.
