68-year-old Chen Jifang in Shanghai hits the gym for at least two hours every day, and she recently made national headlines for her exceptional love for working out.

For many Chinese middle-aged women, square dancing at parks and public spaces is an exercise they get passionate about. But for Chen, she uses weight machines, free weights and other dynamic movements designed to burn fat and gain muscle for two hours every day, under the watchful eye of a personal trainer.

"No matter how hard you square-dance, you can't reach my current condition," said Chen.

"If your muscles are strong and powerful, they will protect your bones if you fall, because the elderly are most afraid of falling," said Chen.

After becoming a gym bunny in December 2018, Chen lost 14 kilograms in three months and now boasts flat stomach and toned muscles that people decades younger aspire to have.

She was given a clear bill of health by doctors, having previously had problems with a fatty liver, high blood pressure and eye cataracts.

She has also built a fan base on social media, clocking 410,000 followers on China's video-sharing APP Douyin, with her impressive exercise routines and encouraging others to follow her example.

A post on the platform showing the pensioner doing a rapid set of lung-busting squats and lunges has been viewed more than one million times.

(With input from AFP)