Sports are an important indicator of both social development and human progress, and they are a significant manifestation of both the overall national strength and the cultural advancement of a society. 

As a firm promoter of national fitness and sports development, Chinese President Xi Jinping has long advocated sports as an important means for improving people's health, meeting people's aspirations for a better life, and facilitating all-around human development. 

"We will launch extensive public-fitness initiatives, improve physical education for our young people, promote all-around development of recreational and competitive sports, and move faster to build China into a country strong in sports," said Xi, also General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He made the remarks when he delivered a report to the 20th CPC National Congress in October 2022. 

In recent years, the marathon and fitness fever in China, and the successful efforts to involve more than 300 million Chinese in snow and ice activities, have proved more and more people in the country are pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Whether in fields in rural China or on streets in urban communities, Chinese can be seen doing physical exercise virtually everywhere across the country. 

Statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) indicate more than 400 million people in China, or 37.1 percent of its population, exercise frequently. With a wide range of sports venues and activities available, people work up a sweat, enjoy the passion of sports, and stride toward a better life.

Photos from VCG 

(Women of China English Monthly August 2023)