Fifty thousand citizens perform square dance to make a Guinness World Record with dancers in other 13 cities on Nov. 7, 2016, in Zhengzhou, China. (Photo : VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Social networking app QQ's latest survey in 2016 revealed that fast walking leads among popular exercises in China. Aside from being easy to do, this is the most affordable exercise.
Approximately 37 percent out of the 30,000 respondents all over China chose fast walking as their preferred exercise routine.
Running exercise follows with a 23 percent rate, while 14 percent preferred cycling.
It appears that walking is a routine activity done on a daily basis, and putting an emphasis on walking fast made it an engaging exercise.
Tencent QQ senior PR manager Lin Citong said in an interview with China Daily: "As a relatively new concept, the city exercising index might not be authoritative enough to reflect the comprehensive status of exercise participation in a city."
She added: "But it's a valuable reference for exercise availability in a city and locals' activeness in doing exercise because of the metadata collected firsthand from our vast user base."
Guiyang, Guizhou Province, has the most number of sports facilities in 2016 despite their similar abundance in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.
The survey also indicates outdoor sports and other outdoor exercises as the most practiced activities in China. It shows how Chinese citizens are focused on health and wellness by promoting similar exercises like these.
Fast walking gives specific benefits that help the mind and body. While easy walking requires light force, fast walking increases heart rate that further regulates blood circulation. Also, it does not only help weight loss but maintain fitness and stamina. Lastly, it tones the muscles and promote smooth muscle-and-joint motion.
On a published note by VerWell, old injuries can get augmented once fast walking is intensified to a high level. It is wise to observe proper execution, and consulting a professional is sometimes necessary.
This exercise also improves the development of strong bones and slows the onset of osteoporosis.
The Chinese Athletic Association reported that they were able to attract more than 2.8 million people with the conducted 328 marathons across the country in 2016. Their action plan is to conduct long-distance exercises in 2017 where an estimated 5 million people are expected to participate.
