Job Discussion Forums

KiwiKeltic · Joined: 23 May 2014 Posts: 2 Location: New Zealand

Just wondering if it's normal for Universities in China to have a gym which teachers/students can use, as that's normally the case where I live. If not, how much does gym membership tend to cost a month, and how good are they?

Thanks

Guerciotti · Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 3:30 am Post subject:

If by 'gym' you mean a room with a bench press or, maybe a squat rack, leg press and an overhead lat pull machine, then the answer is no. A rack of various dumbbells? No.

They might tell you they have a gym. My first uni said they had a gym. When I arrived and asked about the gym, they pointed to the quarter mile track. I wish I was joking.

You might want to ask specific questions and send them pictures. There might be a gym nearby, but likely as not they may be unaware of it. Not many people lift here.

Bigger cities: easier to find, but you probably figured that. Costs anywhere from 30 RMB per month for a hole in the wall to around 250 RMB or more per month for a well-equipped gym.

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

I guess every school's a bit different. Our school has a pretty decent weight room, used it a couple of times but the opening hours aren't good for me so I stopped going. 20 visits for about 115 yuan.

JamesD · Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 4:13 am Post subject:

Check the 4 and 5 star hotels. Most of them have gym/pool facilities and monthly rates can be competitive. A few of them around here have annual memberships that are not much more than the local gyms. Normally much cleaner and better maintained than the local places.
If you know any 'corporate' type expats who live in serviced apartment complexes they may be able to add you to their health club guest list for a minimal fee.

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

My uni's gym is terrible. It shuts at lunchtime, and when it's open it's often full of students taking gym class. When your looking for a commercial gym, try to find one that's been in business for a while. A few people I know in my city joined gyms and paid six months to a years membership up front, which seems to be the norm here in Zhuhai, only to find the gym closed after a couple of months due to lack of business. Of course, they got no refund.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

I agree with the above, if they do have a 'gym' it's usually an indoor basketball court. I suppose technically it's not wrong, but not a gym in the way most people think.

Gyms in China can be hit or miss in general. Be prepared to be watched like a hawk and have instructors try and correct your form (not always a bad thing but if you know what you're doing it's infuriating).

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

Toast · Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 428

My current school has one. Relatively decent too. FTs continuously asked if we could use it...."No only for students during school hours"....some of the others pushed it if we could use it in the evenings then. The reply was "No the school is worried someone will steal things." The university I'm changing to has one specifically designated for foreign teachers, which based on the contingent on tubsters I see coming and going from the teaching building doesn't get a whole lot of use.

I'd inquired about the prices at the local public gyms and was quoted between 400rmb per year and 400USD per year depending on the quality of the gym. Sometimes doesn't pay to scrimp *too* much when you're going to have a 150kg barbell balanced over your head.

I asked a Chinese friend if they knew decent gyms and they'd stated the same as Doogsville. "Never ever pay for too much in advance in China". Gyms, those "bulk pay 10 get two free" massage coupons etc. You've got exactly zero rights for recompense should the place financially shit the bed a month later.