bodybuilding was first practiced in china in the 1930s; zhao zhuguang (), described as the "original chinese charles atlas", is credited with the introduction of bodybuilding to the country. zhao studied at a missionary school in shanghai and later went to the united states, where he attended seminars and workshops on bodybuilding to help boost his health and physique. he shared the newfound knowledge with his fellow schoolmates, and together they started promoting the sport at the huijiang university in guangzhou. in 1934, zhao zhuguang authored a book on bodybuilding, titled "muscle growth methods" ().