Keep-fit fever seen among China’s white-collar workers

The fitness industry in China is booming on the back of a keep-fit fever that is sweeping the urban white-collar population.

健身热席卷了都市的白领一族，在此支持下，中国的健身行业蓬勃发展。

A report by the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute, based in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, showed that sales at China's fitness industry have increased to 127.2 billion yuan in 2014 from 69.1 billion yuan in 2009－that is, a whopping 84 percent rise over a five-year period or an average annual growth rate of almost 17 percent.

广东深圳前瞻产业研究院的一份报告显示，中国健身行业的销售额自2009年的691亿元增加到2014年的1272亿元，也就是说，在这五年间的上涨率高达84%，或者说，年平均增长率将近17%。

The number of gyms or fitness clubs, too, has risen to a record 3,650 in 2014 from 2,930 in 2009, at an average annual growth rate of 5 percent. Figures for 2015 are yet to be released, but are presumed to reflect the uptrend. On average, there is a gym for every 1 million people in China, far behind the United States, where there is one for every 10,000 people. There is just one fitness instructor for every 83,333 Chinese.

健身房或健身俱乐部的数量，已经从2009年的2930家，上升到2014年的3650家，这个数字刷新了纪录，年均增长率为5%。2015的数字还没有公布，但预计会持续上升。平均来说，目前我国每100万人才拥有一家健身房，远远低于美国的每1万人就拥有一家健身房。中国每83333人才拥有一个健身教练。

According to a survey by Nielsen Holdings Plc and the General Administration of Sport of China, there are 3.5 million gym members in China compared with 50 million members in the US. This means, the potential for growth in China is huge. This is confirmed by the fact that the number of people who often take exercise has risen to 382 million in 2014 from 373 million in 2009.

据尼尔森控股有限公司和中国国家体育总局的一项调查显示，我国有350万的健身会员，美国则有5000万名。这表明，中国的健身市场潜力巨大。经常健身的人，从2009年的3.73亿人上升到2014年的3.82亿人，更加证实了这一观点。

That rise is attributable in part to the wide range of fitness equipment and professional services (like those of fitness instructors and dieticians) that gyms offer these days and in part to general health awareness.

这个上升，部分是由于健身器材的广泛覆盖，以及健身房（如那些健身教练和营养师）提供的专业服务，部分是公众健康意识的觉醒。

The variety in fitness regimens is also an attraction. These days, gym customers could do aerobics, practise yoga, dance, use fitness equipment and swim.

健身方式的多样性也颇具吸引力。如今，到健身房去，可以做有氧运动、练习瑜伽、跳舞、使用健身器材、游泳。

The Nielsen-GASC survey said fitness-minded people take exercise 7.5 times per month, and spend 10,000 yuan per year on average to stay fit and healthy. That explains the rapid rise of fitness applications, which 75 percent of gym members use while exercising.

尼尔森控股和国家体育总局的调查称，有健身观念的人，月均运动7.5次，年均花1万元以保持好身材，保持健康。75%的人都办理了健身会员卡，这就解释了健身应用为何会快速发展。

Competition among gyms in first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen is fierce. At some places, price wars are under way. Well-known gym chains are expanding into the third- and fourth-tier cities.

在北京、上海、深圳这样的一线城市，健身行业的竞争非常激烈。在某些地方，价格战正在上演。一些知名的健身连锁机构正在往三四线城市开拓市场。

Industry experts said going forward, gym operators, in order to survive the coming price wars and thrive, should change their current business model to include not only exercise classes but personal trainers, health lessons, diet guidance, outdoor activities and other high value-added services.

业内专家表示，如此下去，为了能在价格战中求得生存和发展，健身商家应改变他们当前的经营模式，不仅提供健身教学，更要考虑私人教练、健康培训、饮食指导、户外活动和其他高端增值服务等。

Jung Da-yeon, a South Korean diet writer and fitness guru, is considered a good example of how to innovate in the fitness industry. She launched early this month her fitness brand Zetness in China, aiming to build up an exercise community and a diversified fitness system.

韩国的饮食作家和健身女王郑多燕，被认为是在健身行业创新的一个很好的例子。3月初，她携健身品牌ZETNESS进驻中国，旨在建立一个运动社区和一套多样化的健身体系。

The brand covers a fitness app called SLine, a trainer institute and a Zetness fitness club. The app could connect fitness clubs and customers, who could communicate on the online platform, make reservations, learn about instructors, track their fitness results, make online payments and obtain diet guidance.

这个品牌包括一个健身应用SLine，一个教练学院和一个ZETNESS健身会所。健身会所和用户可以通过SLine链接起来，他们可以在网上平台沟通，预约课程、了解教练、追踪自身健身成果、便捷支付、获得饮食指导等。

Zetness aims to integrate online and offline resources, and optimize users' fitness and social experiences and explore different derivatives such as Jung's clothes, nutritious meal, and teaching materials.

ZETNESS旨在整合线上和线下资源，优化用户的健身及社交体验，并探索一些其他的衍生产品，如郑多燕服饰、营养餐和教学素材。