As China marks August 8 as National Fitness Day, a date chosen to commemorate the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, AI and digital technologies are reshaping how people exercise – from smart fitness facilities to personalized workout guidance.

The recently released National Fitness Plan (2026-2030) calls for wider use of AI in fitness facilities, sports events, exercise guidance and public fitness services. It also encourages public sports venues to adopt digital upgrades based on local needs.

The move reflects a broader shift in China's fitness services: technology is helping people move beyond simply finding places to exercise and toward receiving more scientific, individualized support.

AI turns fitness data into personalized guidance

Understanding one's own physical condition is an important first step toward scientific exercise.

China has made national physical fitness monitoring and surveys on mass fitness activities a regular annual practice since 2026. The data collected through these efforts is helping provide more targeted fitness services, allowing exercise guidance to better match people's individual conditions and needs.

In Hangzhou's Gongshu District, smart community physical-testing stations allow residents to complete fitness checks and receive reports within minutes.

Similar facilities are being introduced in more communities. By combining physical assessments with digital platforms, these systems can analyze indicators such as heart and lung function, muscle strength and flexibility, then provide suggestions on suitable exercises, training intensity and nearby fitness resources.

The use of AI and data analysis is helping move fitness services away from a one-size-fits-all approach toward more individualized guidance.

Smart facilities create new ways to exercise

Digital technology is also changing how people interact with fitness spaces, bringing more intelligent services into community gyms, parks and sports venues.

In Xingtai, Hebei Province, smart community gyms integrate venue reservations, physical testing, AI fitness guidance and workout records into one platform. After completing a basic assessment, users can receive recommendations on suitable exercises, training duration and intensity.

Some facilities are equipped with AI motion-monitoring systems that can identify incorrect movements and provide real-time feedback, helping users improve their form and reduce the risk of injury.

Across China, more technology-enabled fitness scenarios are emerging. AI-powered fitness mirrors can track body movements during home workouts and provide guidance, while smart sports venues are using digital tools to help users analyze their performance.

At Beijing's "Chaocao Sports" tennis venue, for example, an intelligent tennis analysis system can record data including serving speed, ball rotation and landing points, allowing players to better understand their performance even without a professional coach.

Data helps improve public fitness services

The value of digital fitness goes beyond individual workouts. Data generated through smart facilities, fitness tests and mobile platforms is also helping improve how public fitness services are designed and delivered.

In east China's Shandong Province, some sports-and-health integration sites connect physical fitness testing with nearby community fitness centers and sports parks. After receiving exercise recommendations, residents can use mobile services to find suitable locations for training.

The information collected from these systems can also help authorities better understand local fitness needs, improve facility planning and make public resources more efficient.

An official from the General Administration of Sport of China said efforts will focus on improving technical systems, strengthening standards and quality control, and promoting deeper integration between fitness monitoring and scientific exercise guidance.

AI is not replacing the role of coaches or changing the fundamentals of exercise. Instead, it is helping make scientific fitness guidance more accessible, allowing more people to understand their bodies, choose suitable workouts and build healthier exercise habits.