In the morning, parks belong to the elderly.

Following a man with bulging muscles, we arrived at the area where seniors show off their stunts in a park in Beijing. Here, we saw people doing dips, tucks and planches on parallel bars. Most of them are in their 60s.

"I could've shown you how to swing around a horizontal bar, but the bar was moved for safety concerns last year," said 67-year-old Wang Jixi. He founded a fitness team in 2018, gathering sporty seniors who frequent the park.

The oldest member of Wang's team, Li Jianlan, 73, is a fan of park workouts. She's especially fond of the headstand, which she believes helps prevent her neck wrinkles from developing.

Walking across these city parks in Beijing, you'll find elders everywhere doing popular activities, such as dancing, tapping exercises and Qigong, a traditional Chinese mind-body practice. These exercises have one thing in common: They don't cost much. 

"We have been learning from our teacher for free," said Qin Haiqin, who leads a dance squad. Like many frugal Chinese elders, she thinks taking courses in a dainty dance studio is "throwing money away."

Parks are the primary choice for an outdoor workout for most elderly people because the facilities are well-maintained, and no entrance fee is required for people over 60. However, for bodybuilders who pursue professional training, parks no longer meet their needs.

Located in a decades-old bicycle shed in southwest Beijing, the Erqi Gym, named after a railway carriage factory of the same name, is dark, damp and poorly ventilated in summer. This makeshift place is the fifth spot of a senior sports club that was founded in 1984 by Zhang Wei, a former physical education teacher of the Erqi factory school and winner of Beijing's first long-distance race in 1956. Shabby as it looks, the gym has a full line of equipment ranging from weight benches and dumbbell sets to stationary bikes.

Most of the 40 club members are retired factory workers living nearby. Each member is charged 300 yuan ($46) per year to cover rent, electricity and water bills.

"Some members left for expensive gyms in downtown areas but later came back because they missed old friends here," said gym manager Xu Wei. His biggest wish is to find a proper place to house all their equipment so that they can keep this club alive and pass on its spirit.

Active aging transforms the fitness industry

China is home to the world's fastest-growing aging population. China's seventh national population census shows that people aged 60 or above account for 18.7 percent of the total population, up 5.7 percent from 2010. Meanwhile, those aged 65 or above increased from 8.9 percent in 2010 to 13.5 percent in 2020. The Global Health and Aging report by the World Health Organization projects that China's over 65 population will likely reach 330 million by 2050. They want to keep fit, and the fitness industry has undergone a transformation to cater to the spawning demand.

Juzishu, a Beijing-based art training institution, begun designing courses for seniors in 2011. Some other dance studios indicate that they have a few elderly students and can provide customized services for them if necessary.

In 2016, a seniors-only gym opened in Shanghai, offering professional coaching, health guidance and physical fitness testing for its elderly members.

"Apart from doing exercise, the elderly also have social needs," said Yu Chenjie, the marketing director of Shangti Fitness Equipment which cooperates with residential communities to set up such senior gyms. "We organize festival activities to provide them opportunities to communicate with each other."

Currently, there are 20 seniors-only gyms in Shanghai. This year, the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau has distributed sports coupons for seniors, with which they can receive professional fitness services at a gym for 69 yuan per month. Other provinces like Zhejiang, Hunan and Guizhou also have set up gyms for the elderly.

However, most Chinese seniors still prefer going to public places for exercise because of their consumption habits. 

"The Chinese elderly are more willing to spend money on medicine or health products," Yu said. "Most traditional gym equipment is not suitable for the elderly, so there is a risk of getting injured. That's another reason why they rarely go to the gym."

"It's a process of consumption upgrade as more Chinese seniors pursue a higher quality of living," said Duan Mingjie, CEO of AgeClub, a consulting firm that advises companies on targeting elderly customers. "Professional fitness equipment and guidance can help seniors exercise safely and improve their health conditions."

In China, the massive fitness industry is tapping into the seniors market. 

Sports, however, is never just about health. Some seniors are following the digital trend. Through various mobile apps, they find their interest group online and get together offline by organizing group activities.

"A healthy body is basic for pursuing dreams," said Yang Hongzeng, who frequents Erqi. "It bothers me that I am required to be accompanied if I want to travel by train or plane because I'm over 80, but I enjoy traveling by myself."

Editor: Wang Xiaonan