The Beijing fitness scene offers a wide variety of activities for all expats.
Traditional fitness activities such as going to the gym, tennis, swimming, and yoga are widely available.
You also might like to join one of the many expat sports clubs in Beijing. Joining a club is a good way to meet new friends from all over the world while getting in shape at the same time.
There is a wide choice of winter sport activities nearby to Beijing including indoor ice skating, ice hockey and skiing.
Or you might like to try out something more exotic such as Asian martial arts or Cuban dance.
For the more adventurous, there are several organizations that arrange weekend outdoor fitness activities including hiking, biking and mountain climbing.
Expat kids won’t be left out! There are several organizations offering extracurricular activities for kids in Beijing.
Here we introduce a selection of the best Beijing fitness activities for expats. We include their location, contact details, prices and WeChat official accounts.
Beijing Fitness Centers
One of the easiest ways to stay in shape in Beijing is joining a fitness center. From big-box to boutique to 24-hour gyms, there is a wide choice for expats on different budgets and schedules.
Apart from weight training, many Beijing fitness centers offer group classes for yoga, aerobics, HIIT ( High-intensity interval training), pilates, boxing and more. A smaller number offer Crossfit, Les Mills, spinning, TRX and circuit training. We introduce fitness centers and the activities they offer in our Beijing gym article.
Expat Sports Clubs
Expats in Beijing have clubs for various sports including amateur ice hockey, soccer football, rugby and more. Some clubs have folded in recent years as the number of expats in Beijing has decreased. But new expat sports clubs are also launching. Here we have a selection of the top Beijing sports clubs for expats.
Amateur Ice Hockey League in Beijing
Beijing International Ice Hockey League (BIIH)
Websites:
http://www.beijinghockey.com
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rMpfD5y1OOm5iJV_8xHkkg
WeChat ID: gh_74ea13d0d343
Soccer Football Clubs in Beijing
There are a couple of long established amateur football leagues and tournaments for expats in Beijing.
1. The Beijing International Friendship Football Club (IFFC)
Website: http://www.iffc-1994.com
Some of the teams that take part in this league include:
Beijing Celtic Football Club (part of IFFC)
Websites:
https://www.beijingcelticfootballclub.com
https://beijingceltic.teamapp.com/events
Meet at Paddy O’Sheas, No. 28 Dongzhimen Outer Street, Chaoyang
Forbidden City Football Club
Website: http://forbiddencityfc.com
2. The China International Football League (CIFL)
A 5-a-side tournament.
Website:
http://chinaifl.com
WeChat ID: gh_8f4599dc3131
Rugby in Beijing
Beijing Devils Rugby Club (Men’s and Women’s teams):
Website: http://beijingdevils.com
Beijing Aardvarks Rugby Club (Men’s and Women’s teams):
Website: http://www.beijingaardvarks.org
Gaelic Football in Beijing
Beijing Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
Website: http://beijinggaa.org
International Badminton Club
If you don’t have a playing partner join the Beijing International Badminton Club to meet new friends.
Meetup link: https://www.meetup.com/Beijing-International-Badminton-Club/
Running Clubs in Beijing
Beijing Hash House Harriers (HHH)
A drinking club with a running problem.
Regular weekday and weekend runs around Beijing and in the suburbs.
Websites:
http://www.hash.cn
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kbnihoD56C7ZKzw12LJYuQ
WeChat ID: gh_752f39dff93c
Darts in Beijing
Beijing Darts League
Website:
https://beijingdarts.com
Tennis, Badminton and Football in Beijing
Many Beijing public parks have tennis and badminton courts. Some of these are indoors so you can continue to play during the winter months. Football pitches are also available for rent.
Most locations require you to book the courts in advance. Peak hours (weekdays 4pm-10pm and weekends) are quite difficult to book and more expensive.
Here is a selection of tennis courts, badminton courts and mini football pitches near to expat dense residential neighborhoods:
The Beijing Tennis and Badminton Club
Location: Inside Chaoyang Park, No. 1 Chaoyang Park
Indoor Badminton Courts:
Booking Tel: 6591 9393
Fees: RMB 40 – 90 outside peak hours, RMB 200 during peak hours
Outdoor Tennis Courts:
Booking Tel: 6591 8383
Website:
http://www.sun-park.com/#/booking/site#btns
http://www.sun-park.com/#/en/service/tel
Fees: RMB 90/hour outside peak hours and RMB 120/hour during peak hours.
Indoor Tennis Courts:
Booking Tel: 6595 8885
Fees: RMB 300/hour outside peak hours and RMB 500/hour during peak hours.
Discounts available for pre-paid cards.
This location also hosts the Beijing International Tennis Academy (B.I.T.A), which offers tennis lessons for children.
Si’De (Side) Park (near Lido area)
Add: No. 9 Jiangtai Xilu
Outdoor Tennis courts:
Fees: RMB 70/hour outside peak hours and RMB90/hour during peak hours
Football Pitch:
If you want to gather your own friends to kick the ball around, Si’De park has mini soccer pitches to rent for RMB 600 for 2 hours.
Kerry Sports Beijing
This fitness center located in the Kerry Hotel has tennis and badminton courts.
Tel: 8565 2466
Website links:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/robLvPOMjiCv93K1OB5bCw
http://www.beijingkerrycentre.com/kerry_sports.html
WeChat ID: kerrysportsbeijing
Fees: Tennis Courts: RMB 275/hour outside peak hours, RMB 420/hour during peak hours.
Discounts available for fitness center members.
Tennis lessons also available for RMB 380/hour.
Ying He Ying Sports Booking Application
There is an app where you can book tennis and badminton courts as well as soccer football pitches in Beijing. However, it is only available in Chinese (鹰和鹰). You can download the app at:
Website: http://www.yingheying.com
WeChat ID: gh_9f8e8f680796
Swimming in Beijing
Many of the big box fitness centers in Beijing have swimming pools. These include Kerry Fitness, Park Avenue fitness, Central Park Fitness, PaiLiSi Fitness and Will’s.
You can also swim in the Olympic swimming center, also known as the Water Cube. You are only allowed to use the training pool, but it is full size. You are required to take a quick swimming assessment as the pool is quite deep.
The Beijing National Aquatics Center:
Website: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sk3G2zKduYXI374UthF5sQ
WeChat ID: myswimmingclub
Yoga and Pilates in Beijing
There is quite a good choice of yoga studios in Beijing. They offer different styles of yoga including Bikram (hot yoga), Hatha, and Ashtanga. Some yoga studios have expat instructors from India and other countries.
Many of the Beijing fitness centers also have group Yoga and pilates classes led by local instructors.
Beijing Winter Sports
With the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 fast approaching the variety of winter fitness activities in Beijing and nearby is increasing.
Skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and ice skating are all available. Here are a few venues for winter sports activities in Beijing:
Indoor Ice Rinks
- Allstar Club
Add: Chaoyang Park Street, No. 6 Solana mall (building with McDonalds)
WeChat ID: allstar-club
Fees:
RMB 50-90/hour for skating depending on time
Apart from being open to the public, they also offer figure skating and beginner ice hockey lessons for kids. - Le Cool Ice Skating Rink
Add: Guomao (China World Trade Center), B2/F, China World Shopping Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie.
Ski Resorts Near Beijing
Most ski resorts open in late November or early December. They offer both skiing and snowboarding.
- Nanshan ski resort:
Add: Add: Shengshuitou Village, Hennanzai Town, Miyun, Beijing
Located in Miyun district of Beijing, about 60 Km North of the 4th ring road North. Possible to go and return to Beijing the same day.
Bus services available from Sanyuanqiao and Wudaokou for about RMB 60 return.
Booking hotline: 89091909
Website: http://www.nanshanski.com/
WeChat ID: nanshan-ski - Badaling Ski Resort:
Add: 66 Economic Development Zone, Badaling Town, Yanqing County, Beijing
Business hours: Day Ski: 08:30-17:00; Night Ski: 18:00-21:00 (on weekends)
Booking hotline: 69129922, 69129966
WeChat ID: badalinghuaxuechang - Wanlong Ski Resort:
Located in Chongli; the host of some events for the Beijing winter Olympics
Website: http://www.chinaskitours.com/wanlong.html - Genting Resort Secret Garden:
Located in Chongli, this resort will also host some of the events for the winter Beijing olympics 2022.
Website: http://www.secretgardenresorts.com/home
WeChat ID: gentingresorts
Martial Arts in Beijing
If you are looking to try something new, why not take the chance to learn martial arts while you are here. There are a few gyms offering various kinds of martial arts and boxing including Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and Chinese martial arts.
The Chaowai SOHO complex has a number of martial arts and boxing gyms. Many of them have expat instructors who speak English.
- Capital Training Center:
Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA, Boxing
Locations:
1. Chaowai Soho Bldg. B, No. 0220
2. Yinhe Soho, Bldg. A, 2nd floor 10222
3. Aegean Shopping Center, No. 12 Qisheng Zhong St., Chaoyang district
WeChat ID: CTC-Gym - BIG KING GYM
Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ)
Add: Chaoyang, 19 Guangshun South Street, Jiarun Garden, Building B, 3/F
WeChat ID: bigkingdawang - TrainYard Gym
This large fitness gym also offers mixed martial arts training.
See our Beijing gym article for details. - Krav Maga Martial Arts
Israeli Martial arts
Website: http://kravmagaglobal.com.cn
WeChat ID: KMG_BJ
WeChat ID: KMG_CHINA - 24 Kick Gym
MMA, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai
Locations: Chaowai SOHO, Wangjing SOHO, Xiaoyun Rd., Zhongguan Cun
WeChat ID: k24kick
Dance classes in Beijing
Dance classes are a fun way to stay fit. There are a few studios offering lessons in Cuban and Latin American dance.
- Sazon Cuban dance school
Cuban Salsa, Cuban Rhythm,Cuban Style
Add: Soho Shangdu West Tower, Basement 128
Tel: 18511071801 - Casa Flamenco
Add: Guanghua Rd. Soho, Phase 1, Basement 018
Tel: 13260261971
Outdoor Beijing Fitness Activities
If you like to adventure outside of Beijing on the weekends there are several clubs offering rock climbing, mountain climbing, and hiking.
- Via Ferrata
Rock-climbing,
Website: http://www.viaferratachina.com - Beijing Hikers
http://www.beijinghikers.com
WeChat Account: BeijingHikers - China Hiking
http://www.chinahiking.cn
Beijing Fitness Activities for Kids
The international schools in Beijing offer expat students a wide variety of fitness activities and school sports programs. If you would like to have your child join an extracurricular Beijing fitness activity there are also a few options.
The above listed indoor ice rinks offer ice hockey and figure skating lessons for kids. Below are a few more organizations to check out for activities for kids in Beijing:
- Beijing Kickers
Soccer/football for kids in Beijing.
Website: https://beijingkickers.com/about/
WeChat ID: BeijingKickers - China Club Football
Soccer/football for kids in Beijing.
Websites:
http://www.clubfootball.com.cn
http://www.clubfootball.com.cn/juniors/junior-league-teams/junior-league-teams-introduction
http://www.clubfootball.com.cn/en/juniors/junior-league-teams/beijing-international-junior-football-league
http://www.wanguoqunxing.com/en
WeChat ID: WGQXJuniors - Fragrance Flourishing International Sports
Offering soccer/football, basketball, badminton, and tennis lessons for 4-18 year-olds.
Website: http://www.huaxiangshengshi.cn/#/index
WeChat ID: hxssgjty - Dragon Fire
Swimming, gymnastics, dance lessons.
Websites:
http://www.dragonfire.com.cn
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/7ZNdA08rnPpqLL-wmQ0Zow
WeChat ID: dragonfireclub - Flips and Kicks Plus
Multi-sports winter and summer camps. Gymnastics and Martial Arts for expat kids in Beijing.
Website: http://www.flipsandkicksplus.com - Imagine
Outdoor adventures, ski instructing
Website: https://imagine-china.com
WeChat ID: gh_70fff313a18e - Dragon’s Brothers Taikwondo
Add: Soho Shangdu, North Tower, Basement B162 - Oriental Equestrian Club
French and English speaking trainers.
Website: http://bjqima.cn
WeChat ID: gh_8eb2dcce2d2c
WeChat ID: gh_fbc1b82e4e4c - Equuleus Club
Equestrian training.
Website: http://www.equriding.com
WeChat ID: EquuleusClub