Jaunted

Mind you, it's not like the Chinese have ever been secretive about their fitness. Mass exercises in the early morning open air have been all the rage in China since Emperor Qin was a small boy. Even the olds aren't fussed about baring their wrinkly skin in a pair of shorts and a vest: The government's pouring money into a program called "Millions of Seniors' Fitness Exercise Activities," and estimates are that 58 million elderly people are joining in regular outdoor fitness sessions. (Not of the pole- or belly-dancing variety, we hope.)

The Chinese government and the national Sports Lottery are also pumping money into "Fitness Paths," with 7,000 of them so far and more on the way. You've probably seen 'em before: It's a running circuit with bars and beams and push-up planks along the way, with handy descriptions of how to train your calves or perform the perfect push-up.

As our photo shows, in Beijing they come with obligatory routes to follow, so that the paths don't get as jam-packed as the freeway. How very... Chinese.

But perhaps the best sports currently being championed are the oldest ones: traditional dragon-boat racing, lion-dancing, kicking shuttlecocks (eh?) and yangko dancing, a kind of brightly-colored leg-kicking extravaganza performed on stilts. And by the way, don't laugh about shuttlecock dancing--we predict it'll be the next big thing. (There's even a Shuttlecock Association in the United States.)

Definitely beats a half-hour on the cross trainer at the local gym.

Related Stories:
· Monica Guy's Beijing Field Trip [Jaunted]
· Beijing coverage [Jaunted]