Beijing residents, who have been cooped up at home because of Sars, have taken to playing badminton on footpaths or in public gardens for exercise and to increase their disease resistance levels.
For the past week, in front of many apartment buildings and around some office buildings, pairs of amateurs of all ages have been busy smashing shuttlecocks at each other.
Taking to parks and plazas as well, the players emerge most frequently when they leave work or during lunch breaks if their work units encourage exercise.
Since late April, when residents learned the true Sars caseload in Beijing, a majority of people have stayed near home to avoid becoming sick.
Public schools are closed until May 21, offices are working half shifts and people who do not need to work go no further than supermarkets. Indoor sports venues are closed.
'Everyone's playing badminton. Our yard is full of it after work. Beijing people used to eat out and have parties,' said Yao Hong, who lives in an apartment complex in west Beijing. 'Entertainment venues are closed, and it's hard to be inside.'
Without badminton, life is unbearably dull, said Feng Cheng, a journalist and culture club leader.