Beijing Scene

Get into shape for summer! Many of the health clubs listed below can arrange personalized training programs. All of them have enough fitness equipment of one kind or another to keep you sweating well into the next millennium, if you can afford the fees.

China World Hotel Health and Fitness
Center 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Da Bei Yao, Chaoyang District 6505-2266 ext. 33
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fees: monthly Ą920, biannual Ą5,200, annual Ą10,200 (joining fee Ą5,000), temporary membership (maximum two consecutive months Ą1,250/month, no joining fee)

The granddaddy of hotel gyms, facilities include a fully equipped gym, squash courts, 3 indoor tennis courts, heated indoor swimming pool, an aerobics studio, 2 golf simulators and a 12-lane bowling alley.

CVIK Club Health Center
22 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
6512-2288 Hours: 9 am-11 pm
Fees: daily Ą60; annual Ą6000

Facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool and sauna, tennis court, four-lane bowling alley, superb billiards room and a small but well-equipped gym. The drawback is that a workout followed by a steam bath or a dip in the pool requires an elevator ride because the facilities are spread out over four floors.

Culture Club
East Gate Plaza, 29 Dongzhong Street, Dongcheng District
(Behind Poly Plaza)
6418-1099
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fees: annual Ą8,000 with Ą2,000 rebate as credit at restaurant and other club facilities (joining fee Ą10,000 applicable after August 30)

Beijing's newest health club is more than just a gym. The Culture Club has a members' restaurant cafŽ with a very well stocked English language library, pottery studio with wheel and kiln, computer room for internet access and networked gaming. The gym itself has a 20-meter pool, a rock-climbing treadmill machine and a full range of fitness equipment including free weights, three running treadmills, rowing and cycling machines.

Gloria Plaza Health Center
2 Jianguomenwai Nandajie, Chaoyang District
6515-8855 ext. 3236
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fees: daily Ą120, biannual Ą3,500, annual Ą6,000

Indoor pool, small weight room with step machines, treadmills and exercise bikes.

Great Wall Sheraton Fitness Center
10 East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District
6500-5566 ext. 2251
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fees: daily Ą150, monthly Ą1,000, annual Ą8,000

Excellent indoor pool and fully equipped fitness center. Aerobics classes, sauna room and tennis courts complete the range of facilities.

Hilton Hotel Fitness Center
1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
6466-2288 ext. 7478
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fee: biannual Ą3,900, annual Ą6,000

Facilities include squash and tennis courts, small lap pool and aerobics room with classes held three times a week. The gym has running, rowing, and stair machines as well as a large selection of free weights and machines. Men's and women's locker rooms each feature a sauna, whirlpool, and steam bath.

Kempinski Health Center
50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
6465-3388 ext. 5721, 5722
Hours: 6 am-10 pm
Fees: daily Ą60 aerobics, Ą120 pool/gym, monthly Ą850,
annual Ą6250

The gym is in two locations, both accessible to members. The 18th floor Kempinski Hotel facility has a superb view of northeastern Beijing to keep you entertained while you run on the treadmill. The exercise room has basic machines and dumb-bells, as well as a small lap pool. There are male and female dressing rooms, but only two saunas and one steam bath which are segregated by male/female scheduling. The facility in the Lufthansa Building (next door) offers a larger exercise area with a comprehensive range of equipment. There are three squash courts (rented by both members and non-members, Ą45 per session). Step aerobics, circuit training, and body conditioning classes are offered at Ą60 per class.

Kunlun Hotel Fitness Center
2 Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
6500-3388 ext. 5364
Hours: 6:30 am-10 pm
Fees: daily, Ą150, no long-term memberships.

Well-equipped exercise room, non-lap swimming pool, and sauna.

Landmark Tower
8 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
6590-6688 x 5233
Hours: 6:30am-9:30pm
Fee: daily Ą80, monthly Ą500

Basic exercise room, pool, sauna and tennis court.

Lido Club (Holiday Inn Lido)
Jichang Lu, Chaoyang District
6437-6688 ext. 1623, 6437-6688 ext. 1871
Hours: 6:30 am-11 pm
Fees: Club closed for renovation, fees to be restructured on re-opening (previously Ą9,000 annually)

The Lido Hotel Health Club requires a separate membership, which was previously less expensive than that of the Lido Club. Facilities include a non-lap pool, well-equipped gym, tennis and squash courts, jacuzzi, steam baths and saunas in the locker rooms.

Lisheng Health Town Club
A1 Yuetan Nanjie, Xicheng District (Inside Yuetan Stadium)
6801-1114 ext. 3070
Hours: 9 am-9 pm
Fees: daily Ą40, monthly Ą248

Cheap facility with a wide variety of basic fitness equipment and aerobics. No pool, squash or tennis.

Movenpick Hotel Splash Club
Xiao Tianhu Village, Shunyi County
6456-5588 ext. 1217
Hours: 6 am-11 pm
Fees: annual Ą 9,000/person, Ą 15,000/couple, Ą 19,000/ family

Located far from central Beijing but extremely well-equipped, Movenpick Hotel offers tennis, squash, billiards, table tennis, golf driving range, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and a well equipped gym. More unusual gym facilities include horseback riding.

New Otani/Changfugong Health Club
26 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
6512-5555 ext. 85
Hours: 7 am-11 pm
Fees: daily Ą120, monthly, Ą880, annual Ą8,400

25-meter indoor lap pool, well-equipped gym with machines and free weights, high-tech stationary bikes and step machines. For relaxing after a workout, the changing area features a traditional Japanese bath, carpeted lounge with mini-bar.

Palace Hotel Health Club
8 Jinyu Hutong, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
6512-8899 ext. 7322
Hours: 6 am-10 pm.
Fees: Entrance fee Ą1,950, daily, Ą225, quarterly, Ą1,800; annual Ą5,400. Free: Swimming pool and sauna.

Exercise room with good equipment, including free weights and machines, pleasant non-lap pool and sauna.

Scitech Club
4 Floor, 22 Jianwaidajie, Scitech Club
6512-2288 ext. 32733
Hours: 7 am-10 pm
Fees: quarterly Ą3,000, annual Ą7,000

Gym, swimming pool, sauna, table-tennis, tennis courts and bowling facilities. Regular aerobics classes offered.

Shangri-La Health Club
29 Zizhuyuan Lu, Haidian District
6841-2211 ext. 2833
Hours: 6 am-10:30 pm
Fees: daily Ą150, yearly Ą9,000; off-peak hours monthly Ą750,
annual Ą6,600

Reasonably equipped exercise room, convenient for people living and working in the western part of Beijing. Facilities include sauna, indoor pool and tennis and squash courts.

Swissotel
Hong Kong-Macao Center, Dongsishitiao, Chaoyang District
6501-2288 ext. 2305
Hours: 6:30 am-10:30 pm
Fees: monthly Ą850, annual Ą6,400 (joining fee Ą1,500)

Pool, excellent weight training facilities, aerobics and hip-hop dance exercise classes. Members enjoy fitness testing and counseling as well as limited personal training. Tennis court also available (Ą50).

Xinhongzhuang Beauty & Health Club
56 Xiaoguan, Xiejie, Dongzhimenwai, Dongcheng District
64617038
Hours: 10 am-10 pm
Fees: daily, Ą150 (non-members) monthly Ą900, bi-annual, Ą4,500, annual Ą9,000

A Mainland-Hong Kong joint venture gym targeted at women. In addition to a pool and well-equipped gym, the club offers aerobics and stretching classes, massage, sauna and a huge range of beauty salon services.