One thing that you’ll notice about people in China is that they love to take their physical activities outdoors, especially to the parks. Just walk around Beijing or any other city in China and you will see that outdoor fitness is practically everywhere.
Chinese people enjoy meeting in the mornings for fitness, Tai Chi, dance, and other sports in public. China has also recently experienced an at-home fitness boom, following the demand to stay fit and safe without leaving the house.
As an expat in Beijing, you might be wondering what your options for exercise are like in the city; the good news is this Pacific Prime article has the answer to your question.
Where to Work out in Beijing
The fitness scene in Beijing has plenty of activities to offer. Activities such as gym workouts, swimming, and tennis are easily accessible through sports clubs for expats looking to get in shape while making new connections. There are also indoor ice skating and ice hockey for winter sports fans.
Do you enjoy staying active through adventure activities? There are organizations in Beijing that arrange outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain climbing, and biking over the weekends. You can also try something different from Asian martial arts and Latin American and Cuban dance classes.
Here are some of the top fitness activities for expats in Beijing and where you can find them.
Fitness Centers
A quick and easy way to start exercising in Beijing is to sign up for a gym membership. Whether you’re looking for a 24/7 fitness center, something more boutique, or a big box setup, Beijing has it all.
Weight training is a given in most gyms here, and many also offer group classes like aerobics, yoga, pilates, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and boxing. Circuit training, spinning, TRX, Les Mills, and CrossFit can also be found in a smaller number of gyms.
Membership fees for a Beijing gym can range from free membership to USD $3,650 per year. Remember to bargain when shopping for a gym membership at one of Beijing’s gyms.
Big Box Gyms
Some of the top big box gyms in Beijing include:
- Will’s Fitness
- Bao Li Hao Powerhouse Gym
- Tera Wellness Fitness
- PaiLiSi Fitness (Palace Fitness)
- Alexander Health Club
- Park Avenue Fitness
- Central Park Fitness Club
- HiTie Fitness Club
- My Fitness
- Gym Essence
Boutique Gyms
Boutique gyms in Beijing come in all shapes and sizes, with many that offer group classes and personal training:
- B Active Fitness Beijing
- LeFit Fitness
- SunPig Fitness
- Muscle Dog Gym
- SuperMonkey Fitness
- Century Star Club
- Le Cool (China World Shopping Mall)
- Joy City
Martial Arts
If learning martial arts in China sounds like a dream come true, you’ll be happy to know that some gyms offer a wide variety of martial arts and boxing. Styles include Chinese martial arts, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu. Many gyms are located in the Chaowai SOHO complex with English-speaking instructors.
- Colberg Fitness
- Prime Fitness
- Shape Fitness Beijing
CrossFit
While there aren’t that many CrossFit gyms left in Beijing, fortunately, the ones in operation are good and have English-speaking trainers.
- CrossFit Slash
- F45 Fitness
Expat Sports Clubs
Sports clubs for expats in Beijing offer a variety of sports, including amateur rugby, football, ice hockey, and more. Some of the best expat sports clubs are:
Hockey
- Beijing International Ice Hockey League (BIIH)
Football
- The Beijing International Friendship Football Club (IFFC)
- The China International Football League (CIFL)
Rugby
- Beijing Devils Rugby Club
Badminton
- International Badminton Club
Running
- Beijing Hash House Harriers (HHH)
Darts
- Beijing Darts League
Winter Sports
Since the Beijing Winter Olympics held its closing ceremony in 2022, we’ve been seeing a continuous increase in winter fitness activities. Ski resorts typically open in late November or early December, offering snowboarding and skiing. Ice hockey and ice skating are available in venues such as:
Indoor Ice Rinks
- All Star Club (Solana Mall)
- Capital Training Center
- Big King Gym
- Trainyard Gym
- Krav Maga Martial Arts
- 24 Kick Gym
Outdoor Ice Rinks
- Zhongshan Park (Forbidden City)
- Dulwich College
- Shichahai (a.k.a Houhai)
- Summer Palace
- Weiming Hu (Peking University)
Outdoor Activities
For those who prefer to head outside of Beijing for some adventure on the weekends, there are some clubs offering hiking, mountain climbing, and rock climbing, including:
- Beijing Hikers
- China Hiking
- Via Ferrata
Badminton, Football, and Tennis
Several public parks in Beijing have badminton and tennis courts. Luckily, some of them are indoors, so you can keep playing even in the winter. Football pitches are available for rent as well.
Most places require an advanced booking with weekends and weekday afternoons (4 pm to 10 pm) being the peak hours. There’s also an application where you can book courts or pitches though it’s only available in Mandarin.
Swimming
Beijing’s big-box fitness centers often have swimming pools, including Park Avenue Fitness, Kerry Fitness, PaiLiSi Fitness, Central Park Fitness, and Will’s.
Another option is the Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube. Visitors are allowed to use the full-size training pool after a quick swimming assessment.
Dance Classes
Offering a fun way to get your workout in, dance classes for Cuban and Latin American dance are available in a few studios in Beijing:
- Casa Flamenco
- Sazon Cuban dance school
Whether you’re an expat or a local, Beijing has something to offer every fitness enthusiast. We hope you find an activity that keeps you healthy and happy at the same time.
Stay Healthy with Pacific Prime China
Along with exercise, another way to stay healthy during your time in China is to secure health insurance. Whether you’re looking for Beijing health insurance, China health insurance, or other types of insurance, Pacific Prime is here to help.
We compare a wide range of insurance plans to help you choose a suitable plan based on your needs and budget. Contact us for impartial advice or a free quote today.
Disclaimer: Pacific Prime solely represents, operates and manages locally regulated insurance products and services in the territory of PR China. Any references to Pacific Prime Global Company or Group, the international services, insurance products or otherwise stated written or verbally, is for introduction purposes about our overseas network only as each entity is fully independent.