Zhejiang shaping up for fitter future

Rural areas targeted as province's heavy investment in sports facilities transforms villagers' standard of living

Zhejiang province has been the cradle of many Chinese sports stars through the years, including sprinter Xie Zhenye and swimmer Fu Yuanhui. Apart from nurturing the nation's elite athletes, Zhejiang is also firmly focused on promoting fitness among the general public - especially those who live in rural areas.

Zhejiang is one of China's most densely inhabited provinces with a total area of 105,500 square kilometers and a population of about 58.5 million, among which 17.84 million live in rural areas.