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.