The gym to think inside the box and to get a date

Speakers: Li Ningjing, Sam Duckett and Lu Sirui

[Photo: from VCG]

A mini 24-hour-operating shared gym called Park Box, and run by a company of the same name, might be the answer for those seeking a cheaper and more accessible way to boost their fitness.

In the orange-cube gyms, bodybuilders are able to use basic fitness equipment such as running and weightlifting machines and dumb-bells for 10 yuan ($1.50) per hour after buying a 99-yuan annual card.

The tiny gym squeezes in a dressing room, fitness equipment, and has a screen that people can connect their phones to, allowing them to play music or fitness videos.

The gym's app offers a friend service called "He Yue" (box dating) that allows users to choose the same exercise time as someone they want to make friends with.

The map on the app shows that so far there are 10 such mini gyms in Shanghai's residential communities. The gym boxes come in three sizes — 8, 18 and 28 square meters — and accommodate up to five people.

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI. ]