Rowers quit the water to power ahead with machines

A stretch of water on which to row a boat is not always necessary. Those who do not want to get wet can still enjoy the activity with the help of a machine.

Water resistance rowing machines are relative newcomers to China, although they have been popular globally for many years.

Cao Chen, the co-founder of Glow Rowing, which launched in June in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, said: "These machines are safer and kinder to users' joints and cause less damage to the knees (than running or cycling). Users can exercise 84 percent of the muscles in the body, especially in the buttocks, waist, abdomen and back, and they are ideal for cardiac stimulation."