After the fall of the Gang of Four, Qigong represented an opportunity for China to find a cultural identity tested by the disastrous consequences of the Cultural Revolution that erased an entire cultural and relationships system.
Related articles: A Photographic History of Qigong and Alternative Medicine in China
Looking for its own way to modernization, China took a shortcut to scientific progress by mixing weird science and superstition, with grotesque and devastating consequences in the long run.
Between the late seventies and early nineties, Qigong was the hub of the Chinese way for the exploration of human limits through the development of special skills (Special Abilities, teyigongneng in Chinese). China believed and conceded a lot of resources to scammers and gurus of various kinds, which exploited popular belief and an inadequate scientific community, to promote a long series of fanciful beliefs, seminars, therapies, hospitals, clinics, and even weird military experiments. China was completely abandoned to Qigong frenzy, just to wake up in the worst possible way, suppressing the movement roughly. In any case, before the final tragedy of the Falun Gong – till 1999 the most popular qigong school in China, the history of these movements is punctuated by grotesque episodes. In October 1999 the government declared Falun Gong a “heretical organization” that threatened social stability.
Making money writing health books it’s easy in China, especially if you’re a celebrity …
The 80s
In the ’80s and early ’90s Qigong presentations took place in front of a delirious audience. Beijing. People collectively preaching 
Beijing Beidahe, January 2, 1981.
Zhan Zhuang posture
In 1981, China established the Chinese Qigong Science Research Council, qigong fever began to spread throughout the country. In the picture, a Qigong Troupe visited Britain. 
1986
October 7th, 1986. Chinese Antarctic expedition team members practicing Qigong 
During the winter of 1989, Ditan Park in Beijing was a favorite place to practice Qigong. At that time other mystical beliefs were combined with the practice of Qigong. Buddhist Lohan Gong 
Winter 1989. Qigong transformed itself from martial art to spiritual treatment of incurable diseases 
Acupuncture treatment for Bulgarian ambassador performed by Zhu Heting. He claimed to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, paralysis, cancer, and cataracts. 
1989, August 31st. A six years old kid practicing qigong to lose weight 
1989, January 5th. A Qigong master in a Beijing hotel treating an American English teacher
Weird Science
Qigong Science Research Association of Guangdong Province developed the “Electronic Qigong Master”. Allegedly treated cervical hypertrophy, muscle strain, arthritis, headaches, palpitations, myopia, insomnia, and other 20 kinds of diseases. 
1986, November 15th. In Sichuan, local scientists developed a system to mimic the process of qigong practice 
1987, April 7th. Qigong began to be uncontrollable. Magic and science started to go hand in hand. Shanghai Institute of Chinese Medicine practiced anesthesia to patients for surgery with qigong 
1987, January 10th. A qigong master treats patients using qigong hypnosis 
1987, November 30th. All the ordinary magic tricks began to be used by qigong masters in order to demonstrate their powers: swallowing glass, curving spoon, mind control, instant healing, etc. 
1992, December 28th. Chinese dragon magic. 
1992, Harbin. In this period the blockbuster books were Qigong manuals. 
1995, May 24th. Liaoning Province Qigong Medical Association. Qigong has begun to replace traditional medical treatment with qigong 
1995, May 24th. Li Zhenghong teaching qigong rehabilitation for diabetes.
Zhang Xiangyu
Miaofengshan Advanced Qigong training, Beijing. The pot on the head should converge the universe force to strengthen the telepathy
In 1990, a woman master of Qi Gong, Zhang Xiangyu, pushed its influence to a peak with her performance in Beijing. Millions of “pilgrims” gathered from several provinces to see her and caused great traffic jams. When Zhang waved her hand out of a window of the third floor of the hotel, the “pilgrims” in the street cheered. Zhang claimed that she could talk with extraterrestrial beings and was able to cure every disease. She treated her patients with methods similar to those of witchcraft and demanded large amounts of money from them. Many patients became ill under her treatment and some of them died. In August, Zhang was arrested and accused of cheating. The exposition of her swindle weakened the cult of Qi Gong. Zhang was convicted in 1993 (from Paranormal in China, Wu Xianghong, March 1995, Csicop.org)
Wang Lin
Wang Lin, is a phony Qigong master, became famous for Qigong in the 1990s and he has been exposed by Beijing News in July 2013. Then, he fled to Hong Kong and he claimed to be the Chinese Snowden. He has been charged with Illegal medicine practice, bigamy, fraud, tax evasion, bribery, gambling, and illegal possession of firearms.
Pang Ming
Pang Ming (aka Pang Minghe) developed a medical system called Wisdom Healing Qigong (Zhineng Qigong, 智能气功) during late 1970. It was a synthesis of many supposed ancient lineages of Chinese healing practices.
Zhineng Qigong Instant Healing
Sun Chulin
Sun Chulin claimed to be able to change shape to materials with the power of the mind. She was considered by many as a living proof of the existence of SA. According to many Chinese sites, she was capable of accelerating the biological development of organisms by thousands of times.
The second part of the video is interestingly enough: Sun engaged in a sort of mystical ecstasy to grow a seed.
Qigong Master: Demonstration Of Power
The supernatural powers of Zhang Baosheng (arrested for fraud in 1995)
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Jinyun Mountain Taoist Association had 30,000 followers, including business tycoon Jack Ma, the founder of Chinese e-commerce firm alibaba.com, and pop singer Faye Wong. The aim is to restore kidney functions through massage. Li Yi, the founder of the Jinyun Mountain Taoist Association had been the focus of a police probe over an allegation of raping a college student. Li is the latest “grandmaster” exposed as a fraud
Abbot Lee Shao-Long Li of Jinyun Mountain Taoist Association during a lecturing.
This year its supposed magical properties have been questioned and were accused of fraud
Zhang Wuben, a once-popular Chinese diet therapist, was found by officials in May to have faked his nutritionist qualifications
Making money writing health books it’s easy in China, especially if you’re a celebrity …
Sources
http://news.ifeng.com/society/2/detail_2013_07/22/27741794_1.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Lin_(Qigong_master)
http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/paranormal_in_china/
http://www.l99.com/EditText_view.action?textId=955859&cf=true
http://news.yzdsb.com.cn/system/2013/07/11/012989333.shtmlnews.163.com