Objective To explore the research trends of traditional Chinese exercise in the rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods The Web of Science core collection database was searched to collect literature on traditional Chinese exercise for COPD rehabilitation published from 2004 to 2023. VOSviewer was used for bibliometric analysis of publication year, author, publication institution and country, citation and co-citation information. Results A total of 125 publications were included. No relevant publication was published from 2004 to 2008. Since 2009, the overall number of publications had shown a fluctuating upward trend, with no publications in 2012. From 2019 to 2023, the number of publications on related topics remained at a high level. Reached maximum publication volume in 2020. The annual citation frequency also showed a fluctuating increase, reaching its peak in 2022. Based on comprehensive analysis, Peter M. Wayne and Wu Weibing were the authors with high productivity, high citation, and frequent collaborations. The country with the highest number of publications was China, and the highest institution was Shanghai University of Sport. Initially, the keywords focused on rehabilitation, exercise testing, aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and respiratory muscle strength. As the times progressed, the focus shifted to lung function, exercise tolerance, and mental health. The current trends included self-management and telemedicine. Conclusions Traditional Chinese exercises have been widely applied in the clinical practice of COPD rehabilitation, showing an upward trend. Facilitating patient self-management and establishing the role and significance of traditional Chinese exercises in remote healthcare for COPD patients may be the focus of future research.