You can now work out in a pod on Beijing's streets

You can already hire a micro-karaoke studio or even an umbrella in China’s capital, but thanks to several new start-ups you can now rent gym pods, making exercise the latest entrant to the so-called sharing economy.

For as little as US$0.03 per minute and a US$15 deposit, one of the start-ups, Misspao, will provide access to one of its “shared fitness rooms”.

Don’t expect too much -- in terms of space that is. The pods are little bigger than a toilet cubicle, and each contains a treadmill, television and an air conditioner. Users pay for the service through Alipay or WeChat and scan a QR code, which then unlocks the door.