Cover story: Beijing offers many sports, fitness venues

It's easy to say that the weather in Beijing dictates against keeping fit, what with it being so hot and humid in summer and so cold in winter, and it's certainly true for many people.

However, just over a year since the 2008 Olympics, it's hard to avoid sports being thrust in one's face all over the city.

There is the huge Olympic Park still attracting thousands of visitors. Logos from the games remain plastered over everything from yogurt drinks to posters on buses. The Workers' Stadium remains an iconic landmark, and there are many parks where people practice Tai Chi.

Many well-paid Westerners happily sign up at the many gymnasiums that have sprouted up around the city.

Stefan Ellerbeck, 32, an engineer from the United Kingdom working with a one-year contract in Beijing, spends several hundred yuan a month attending Huixin International Fitness Club on Beichen Dong Road, Chaoyang District.

The center boasts world-class fitness equipment and group exercise classes including yoga, aerobics, Pilates and table tennis. But he mainly uses it for its swimming pool, spending 70 yuan a session.

"It's a lot more than I would have paid at home but given the nature of my job and the weather, I find it really refreshing," Ellerbeck said.

"It relaxes me after work and keeps me fit. I would go running but I'm a bit wary of sucking in the Beijing air too vigorously, what with the pollution you can visibly see on some days. The sauna and steam room here are good, as well. After a hard day at the office or on site, it's the perfect tonic," he said.

The pollution doesn't deter Brad Murray, 46, a US citizen who works as an English language teacher. He was caught resting after puffing his way through the Olympic Forest Park.

"I run early in the morning when I think the air is cleaner. It's also cooler in summer," he said.

"It's incredibly beautiful here, and there is hardly anyone about. I'm looking forward to winter when the leaves drop just to see how the scenery changes. I guess I may have to reconsider if it gets icy. Running is a very good cardiovascular exercise. After a run I feel good about myself. I've respected my body," Murray said.

For some, the humble bicycle is the perfect medium for a healthier lifestyle. Beijing's flatness makes it less arduous than cycling around San Francisco, say, and it opens up more of the city to the wide-eyed explorer.

"Beijing is a huge city, laid out on a vast scale," said cyclist Veronique Maban, 28, a public relations worker originally from Paris but who has lived in Beijing for two years.

"It's impossible to walk everywhere. You can get from A to B easily by subway, but you miss out on so many sights. I used to use the bus, but seeing all these bicyclists in Beijing eventually opened my eyes," she said.

Now she travels to most places by bike.

"If I see anything interesting, and I have the time, I stop off. I have discovered some great restaurants on my bicycle that I would never have known about without it. And, of course, it keeps me fit. I bought the bicycle new from Wumart and it only cost 350 yuan," Maban said.

"The only downside is you have to keep your eyes wide open. I had extra mirrors attached to my bicycle because you need to know what's coming up behind you. I must be one of the few bicycle owners who have put lights on their bicycle. I think it's crazy that so many people ride around in the dark here without lights. Fingers crossed, I have never had an accident," she said.

There is certainly a variety of ways to get and stay fit in Beijing. Some Westerners play soccer against Chinese opponents. Others go hiking regularly along the Great Wall or at Fragrant Hills. Still more simply walk to and from work. There are squash clubs, badminton clubs and tennis clubs aplenty. All that is required is the will to sign up.

(China Daily 11/16/2009 page3)