Why Women In China Are Obsessed With This Workout Trend

When the working day is done, the twentysomethings of Shanghai tend to celebrate with a meal out with friends, a stroll along the famed Bund waterfront park — or even a late night karaoke session.

Rachel Sun, however, has other plans in mind.

Twice a week, the 25-year-old shipping service executive says she skips out on social outings so she can hunker down at a fitness center near her office. For almost two hours, she sweats it out via a range of aerobic exercises — documenting her work in a gym selfie posted on social media.

An example of the type of images Sun uploads on social media. She sees these "check ins" as an incentive — a way to mark her transformation for the world to see. "I love seeing pictures of my friends' 'check ins' on my feed," Sun said. "It's like getting a reminder for me to hit the gym."Photo: Courtesy of Rachel Sun.

"Feeling energized and loving my natural glow from exercising," Sun wrote in the emoji-laden caption seen below a series of photos posted on WeChat. "Here's to my long journey ahead to get rid of fat!"

Proclamations of this sort are increasingly commonplace in China, where the fitness industry was expected to generate $5.1 billion last year, according to a research report by IBISWorld. The industry has grown steadily — by about 13% a year since 2010. And, as the Wall Street Journal and South China Morning Post have reported, Chinese women are seen as a prime target demographic for gyms and athletic-apparel businesses looking to bulk up their own bottom lines.

Such dedication to a more toned and muscular form seems at odds with traditional beauty standards in China. In one 2003 survey published by the Journal of Hebei Institute of Physical Education, "an almost-emaciated, willowy physique" was cited as the prevalent ideal body among the 1,000 working female participants. Today, many women are focusing instead on being healthy and strong. And they recognize that not one body shape or type is best: "A skinny midriff isn't the only type of beautiful abdomen out there" is one popular fitness motto that's gone viral on social media.

Women in China used to correlate 'skinny' with 'beautiful' and go for extreme dieting. But the harm it inflicted upon the body and the unhappiness it would cause have become too obvious to ignore.

So, what exactly prompted the drastic shift in attitudes in the span of a decade? A perfect storm of social media, growing consciousness about the importance of physical health, and celebrity influence seems to be the answer.

Sun said she was first motivated to get fit after encountering other women who hadn't made working out a priority then struggled to regain strength after giving birth. Her will further escalated after she watched actress Jingchu Zhang demonstrate her fitness routine on Day Day Up, a widely watched talk show in China.

"She looked so delicate but was in fact so strong — that really stuck with me," Sun told Refinery29.

These fitness-related revelations have proven to have a beneficial impact on the careers of female celebrities: Shanshan Yuan, a TV actress initially panned for her lackluster performing skills, managed a successful comeback after documenting her fitness progress on social media. The trending topic "Shanshan Yuan's firm abs " has over 88 million hits on Sina Weibo, China's main social media platform. Her strong (and obviously defined) midsection has become something of a sensation.

One of Yuan's many aspirational selfies that helped her garner a new fan base. She has been dubbed "queen of the abs" by some Chinese netizens.Photo: Via Weibo.

While many Chinese women draw motivation from public figures like Yuan and Zhu, others turn to everyday stories of fitness success. And as some gym-obsessed Chinese women have learned, sharing your own fitness routines on social media can transform you into a successful personal brand overnight.

Ting Hsuan Chang, 45, started uploading photos of her fitness routine on her Facebook page back in 2012, after a heart-related health scare. The mother of two's youthful appearance and toned abs — which she says she achieved in three months — soon caught mainstream attention and widespread media coverage. A book deal and a fitness tutorial DVD soon followed.

"Women in China used to correlate 'skinny' with 'beautiful' and go for extreme dieting," the blogger said. "But the harm it inflicted upon the body and the unhappiness it would cause have become too obvious to ignore."

For now, Chinese women such as Emma Wang, 26, seem to be listening.

The television producer sensed the need for a lifestyle change as her job often demanded long hours in front of a computer screen. She hired a personal trainer in June 2015, not to lose weight, but to build muscle and strength.

"I don't have a goal weight," Wang said, clarifying a different physical benchmark she's after. "Nothing can bring me more satisfaction than seeing that muscle line that separates my abs gradually appear."