Beijing's New Fitness Trends

Keeping fit is a long tradition in Beijing, dating from at least revolutionary times.

Even with the first trip of US President Richard M. Nixon to Beijing in 1972, politics shared space with stories about Beijingers taking their early morning exercises and practicing taiji or playing ping pong in the city's parks.

So the only thing new about keeping fit in China's capital city is--everything!

While tens of thousands of people still grace the city's uniquely equipped parks of a morning, bicycling or walking to and fro, modern trend-setters who have traded bicycles for private cars are finding new ways to loosen up, keep fit, lose weight and enrich their lives. The elderly chat while exercising on fitness equipment now installed in nearly every neighbourhood park in the municipality, while the young and hip sweat the pounds away in dance programmes, swimming pools, fitness centres of every kind and description and while mountain biking, hiking or engaging in extreme sports.

According to a Xinhua News Agency report, residents of China's five largest cities spent about 643 yuan (US$80.37) each on sport in 2005, with Beijing topping the survey at about 880 yuan (US$110) per person. (The five cities were Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu).

Chinese are more willing to part with hard-earned cash in pursuit of fitness than they were ten years ago. In addition to participating in a variety of fitness classes, many are now even seeking private training. Almost every novel fitness or entertainment product or idea finds a willing audience among the public, whether salsa dancing, riding folding bicycles or engaging in "hot" yoga, which are described below.

A young organizer of a Beijing folding-bicycle club said, "We take exercise not only for our own fitness, but considering our social responsibilities. For example, every day we ride folding bicycles to and from our work places. This is our way of helping reduce pollution in Beijing."

The city's elderly actively participate in many of the city's sports teams. In the early mornings in the parks, it is easy to meet groups of the elderly using the national fitness facilities or practising taiji and kendo.

One participant said, "We do not want to bring any burden to our children; so we care more about our health than ever before."