From keep fit craze to online dating boom: how coronavirus could change Chinese people’s lifestyles
- The Covid-19 pandemic could result in a fitness boom as people emerge from lockdown determined to live a fitter and healthier live
- Online dating sites have also reported a surge in new users
“Be quick!” Wang Yun urged his colleague as they raced to a park near their office in downtown Beijing to grab a spot for a lunchtime badminton game.
Wang, a 32-year-old logistics manager, said he had given up the game several years ago, but a few weeks ago had decided to start playing again.
“Now I play for 30 minutes every day,” he said. “It makes me feel energetic.”
Even at the height of the coronavirus outbreak, people were still visiting the park for exercises such as jogging, tai chi or fan dancing – all wearing masks.
Now, even though there are warnings everywhere telling people to maintain social distancing, it is becoming increasingly crowded – which means Wang’s dash to grab one of the spaces suitable for badminton has become as much a part of his daily routine as the game itself.
“Whenever I enter the park, it’s crowded. And day by day, there are more and more people exercising, whether they are grey-haired grannies or chubby school boys,” Wang said.
“I think the coronavirus made all of us realise health is vitally important.”