Fitness sector picks up the pace

Out is in

Outdoor sports in general have been on the rise in China this year. From urban streets to countryside trails, people enjoyed the likes of hiking, running and cycling.

In Southwest China's Yunnan province alone, the number of people engaging in outdoor activities at least once a week surpassed 22 million, according to Yunnan Provincial Sports Bureau.

"This is a positive social phenomenon, indicating people are placing increasing importance on their physical and mental health, and connecting with nature," said Huang Jin, an official at the General Administration of Sport of China.

"It also underscores the improvement of relevant infrastructure in China."

The China Outdoor Sports Industry Development Report (2022-23) revealed a 79 percent increase in outdoor sports-related orders in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, and a surge of 221 percent compared to 2019.

The Action Plan to Promote the Construction of Outdoor Sports Facilities and Service Enhancement (2023-2025), released in October by the National Development and Reform Commission together with GASC and other departments, set a target of 3 trillion yuan for the outdoors industry by 2025.

"Policy support will focus on cultivating outdoor sports brand projects, actively introducing more high-profile events, and advancing multiple initiatives to propel the vigorous growth of outdoor sports," said Yang Xuedong, director of the economic department of GASC.

Xinhua