The year 2012 was the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar. The dragon can walk, fly, and also play in water. Outdoor sports are much the same — whether on land, sea, or air, there are always agile figures of outdoor enthusiasts in action. From this perspective, the Year of the Dragon is also the year of the outdoors. Before the Spring Festival, the overseas edition of People’s Daily published an article stating that outdoor sports are “transitioning from a niche activity to a mainstream one” and called for “strong support for the development of local associations and outdoor clubs, as well as increasing the number of registered outdoor sports clubs.” This vivid writing reflects a judgment on the rising momentum of outdoor sports.
At the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, outdoor enthusiasts held various fitness activities to celebrate the New Year. Editors noticed on Weibo that netizens from different regions spontaneously organized outdoor fitness gatherings such as “Running New Year Celebrations” and “Winter Swimming New Year Celebrations.” In Beijing, runners including Xing Ruling, Yun Yanqiao, Wei Chao, Aobaba, and Wang Lei initiated a Running New Year Celebration, attracting many participants and responses. Even entrepreneur Pan Shiyi posted a Weibo photo of himself running in the rain on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. Whether or not he was influenced by the Running New Year Celebration, he was out running outdoors to welcome the new year, starting the Year of the Dragon with aerobic exercise.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the “Winter Swimming New Year Celebration” organized by the Beijing Winter Swimming Association was held at the Water Cube. Over 80 swimming enthusiasts gathered in the Water Cube stadium to experience the venue of the 2008 Olympic Games. An 81-year-old grandmother laughed in the Water Cube pool lane and said, “Although it feels like heaven here, I still can’t bear to leave the winter swimming spots.” It seems this elderly lady still prefers the openness of natural waters, enjoying a kind of fun you can’t get in a pool. The editor couldn’t help but think that without regular winter swimming and exercise, it would be hard for this octogenarian to confidently swim in an Olympic pool lane — the strict staff at the Water Cube might not feel assured. Organizer Zhang Hongmei said that the benefits of winter swimming are evident from this.
Currently, outdoor enthusiast activities aren't limited to Beijing — they can also be seen on Weibo, where the fitness routines of enthusiasts from various regions are documented. These include both spontaneous gatherings organized by citizens and group events hosted by institutions such as sports bureaus. For example, in Tianjin, a local “Fitness New Year Celebration” was held during the Lunar New Year, featuring traditional games suitable for all ages such as hoop rolling, spinning tops, kicking marbles, and shuttlecock kicking. These activities attracted not only middle-aged and elderly participants, but also some primary and secondary school students. At the Water Cube swimming venue, reporters also learned that to promote national fitness and provide a platform for swimmers, the Water Cube specially launched the “2012 Lunar New Year National Fitness Campaign” for a month (from January 24 to February 23), and pledged to open the competition hall to the public for 100 days after the event.
It’s currently the Spring Festival holiday. Beyond gatherings with family and friends, heading outdoors to fitness venues, taking deep breaths, breaking a sweat, and getting the blood flowing not only aids digestion and metabolism, but also promotes interaction and friendship among fellow enthusiasts, setting a great tone for the new year. All these fitness New Year celebrations are indeed a healthy practice that benefits both oneself and others, body and mind alike.