Young Chinese on holiday opt for fitness over feasting

BEIJING - Instead of indulging in food binges while on holiday, a growing number of young Chinese are setting aside time for fat-burning activities amid a rising craze for sports.

The phenomenon can be seen in the choices of many holidaymakers during this year’s eight-day National Day holiday, which started last Friday.

After wrapping up a 5km bike ride, Ms Zhao Lele from south China’s Guangdong province was thrilled to cycle through the forests of Changbai Mountain, in north-east China’s Jilin province, sharing the journey with a group of friends.

“Appreciating the pleasant view while doing sports is popular with young people nowadays. This healthy ‘slow-paced travel’ is exactly what we need to step back from the fast-paced chaos and stress in urban life,” said Ms Zhao.

As the younger generation pays more attention to health, many scenic spots have been promoting a “sports plus tourism” concept to lure young consumers.

A lake resort in the city of Jilin organised more than 20 sporting activities for tourists, such as frisbee, hiking, tennis competitions and swimming.

Mr Huang Zhongrui, head of the resort’s marketing department, said: “In addition to these activities, we have also built a 1.9km jump trail for mountain biking. The wide range of activities we offer has helped us gain popularity.”

Keeping fit is also a preferred choice for those who do not have any travel plans during this year’s National Day holiday.

Early on the first day of the holiday, a pilates studio in Jilin’s provincial capital Changchun was packed with people.

“I’m usually too busy, and the holiday is the right time for me to do some exercise,” said Ms Chen Yun, an automotive engineer.

Mr Liu Shuang, who is in charge of the studio, has seen a change in people’s attitudes towards exercise.

“In the past, holidays were very much our off-season. However, since more and more Chinese are paying attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we’ve been getting busier during holiday periods in the past two years,” said Mr Liu.

He added that all the training sessions provided by 15 coaches during the holiday were fully booked in advance.

Such developments reflect the increased priority placed on fitness and sports in modern China.

Believing that people’s health is one of the most important indicators of modernisation, the Chinese authorities have elevated nationwide fitness to a national strategy and designated Aug 8 as National Fitness Day since 2008, when the country hosted the Beijing Olympic Games.

A series of sports events, including the Chengdu University Games and the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Games, have further ignited interest in sports activities.

In Shuangyang township, in east China’s Shandong province, a national grassroots basketball tournament known as the Village Basketball Association attracted thousands of participants and basketball fans.

“More people are coming to watch the games during the holiday,” said villager Kong Jian.

He hopes such activities can be organised more often, enriching villagers’ lives while also helping to mobilise people to participate in the national fitness campaign and promote rural revitalisation.

To support the national fitness campaign, China has accelerated the construction of sports venues and public fitness facilities.

The country has also proposed the promotion of “15-minute fitness circles” in urban communities – physical exercise facilities that residents can reach within 15 minutes.

Mr Liu Xinyuan, a college student in Zhifu district in the city of Yantai, Shandong, often plays basketball with friends at a nearby court during the holiday.

“It’s convenient and the court is quite good,” said Mr Liu.

Starting in 2023, the district has put into use nearly 100 pieces of fitness equipment in 14 communities, with a total of 8,000 public sports facilities now available across the district.

Ms Liu Meiyu, deputy director of the sports centre in the district, said: “We will build a smart fitness plaza in the future to bring more convenience to the masses.”

Taking part in sports has also become a way in which families can come together.

Early last Friday, Mr Fan Chunming kick-started his holiday by participating in a running activity with his relatives, friends and colleagues. It took Mr Fan nearly 40 minutes to finish the 6.3km run.

“It’s very satisfying. I can enjoy the beautiful scenery while exercising,” he said. “We are on a tight work schedule, and running together provides a rare opportunity for us to get together. It’s quite meaningful.”

A survey on national sports venues showed that by the end of 2022, more than 500 million people in China were exercising regularly.

Also, there were more than 4.2 million sports venues across China, covering a combined area of 3.7 billion sq m.

XINHUA