Small, high-end fitness studios witness big boom

BEIJING - Yu Jing, an office worker in Beijing, takes an expensive approach to fitness.

She gave up a 1,000-square-meter gym with an annual fee of 2,000 yuan ($291), and paid 9,000 yuan for 36 one-hour courses in a fitness studio located in a three-bedroom apartment outside the city's Third Ring Road.

"It is not a bargain, but I think the exercise will be more effective under the guidance of a private coach," said the 35-year-old.