Beijing state workers resume radio physical exercises

Starting from Aug. 9, all workers of state-owned enterprises and at least 70 percent of employees of government offices and public institutions are now required to do physical exercises at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with exercise music from Beijing Radio Station on 102.5 FM.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Beijing Municipality requires at least 60 percent of city workers, all workers of state-owned enterprises and some 70 percent of employee of government offices and institutions to do the work-break exercises.

Morning radio exercises have been a major form of exercise for capital workers. Since the first version of the radio exercises was implemented in 1951, it has become the main form of work-break exercises for all organizations and institutions.

China has attached great importance to promoting the development of radio exercises over the past decades, with the exercises being updated every five to 10 years. However, the exercises were suspended in 2007.

The good news came in 2009 when the Beijing municipal government launched the "Healthy Beijinger – National 10-Year Plan," which mandated the promotion of radio physical exercises and required every capital worker and employee to do 20-minute exercises at least once a day.

By Zhang Xinyi, People's Daily Online