Liu Hongyin, 64, has swum in Qianhai lake every day since 1987.
‘I’m a member of the Beijing Winter Swimming Club. The club has 4,000 members, but the number that sticks around through the entire winter is less than 2,000. The ducks are loyal companions, as always.
‘We swim all over Beijing and each area has its own team. I’m a member of the Shichahai team [the area that consists of Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai lakes]. There are about 70 of us; the eldest is 86 years old. Now that the lake has frozen, we carve a 10m by 7m hole in the ice so that we can keep going. It’s always a bit warmer in the water than out, but when it’s cold we don’t advocate over-swimming. If the outdoor temperature is less than 1°C, we swim for one minute, and before we jump in we let our bodies adapt to the cold by splashing some water on our necks, back and arms.
‘The extreme temperature is exciting. When you dive in, your heart and lungs are immediately stimulated. Winter swimming beats a stifling, crowded, indoor pool hands down. Those who swim with us never want to go back to that again.’
Join in
The Shichahai team normally swims at 6am. If you speak Mandarin, you can call club member Cui Yipin on 139 1169 5254 to check times beforehand, or visit the
club forum. Membership costs 30RMB for the first year and 5RMB annually thereafter.
Also try
If you’re not brave enough to take a dip, why not monkey around on top of the ice? Entrance to the Qianhai skating rink costs 10RMB (15RMB on weekends) and you can rent skates for 20RMB a pair (100RMB deposit; no time limit), an ice bicycle for 30RMB per hour (150RMB deposit) or an ice bumper car for 20RMB for 20 minutes (no deposit). Qianhai, Xihai Beiyan, Xicheng district (6612 5717). Open 9am-5pm daily. 西城区西海北沿前海
Millicent Thapa acts as a guide for Beijing Hikers.
‘Winter is my favourite season. There are more blue skies and the bare trees reveal surprising new views that were hidden before. Then, of course, there’s the snow, which makes things so much more beautiful. We don’t get much in the city, but out in the surrounding hills the snow usually settles at around 6cm deep, and you often find freshly dusted branches.
‘Some of the hikes that people most enjoy are the ones that take you by frozen waterfalls and streams. People are amazed by the different freeze patterns in the ice: sometimes there are crystalline designs, in other places it is opaque and there are lots of different colours. Sometimes it is perfectly clear, so that when you walk on top you can see little fish and plants moving in the current below.
‘It’s much colder in the countryside. It’s not uncommon for it to get down to -15°C at night. But if you wear the right clothes, the weather shouldn’t be a problem. There’s no reason for you to be a prisoner inside and miss out on the beauty of nature.’
Join in
Beijing Hikers continues to lead half-day walks in the hills and countryside around Beijing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday through February and beyond. Hikes cost from 300RMB per person, including transport. For schedules and more information, see
www.beijinghikers.com.
Also try
90 Percent Travel also runs regular ice hiking trips along frozen rivers from 330RMB per person. For more information on upcoming ice hikes, call 151 1791 6648 or see
www.90percenttravel.com.
Emily D’Ath and Monica Tan are behind the ‘Winter B-icicle Challenge’, a group of people pledging to ride their bikes to work every day throughout winter.
‘It’s easy to sink into the habit of thinking it’s too cold to get on your bike. But you just need to recondition yourself. There is this great saying: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. We’ve found that to be the case. When you first start, it’s cold, but you’re warm by the time you get to the office – and more awake! Riding in the fresh air feels like your whole body is eating a mint.
‘It’s fun, good for your health, and better than waiting 20 minutes for a taxi or bus. Stress in this city seems to be centred around transport. Before, it felt like the city was fighting you. A bike takes that stress away and gives you a new relationship with your environment. You see more things when you’re not inside a vehicle. At this time of year, the bike lanes are clearer and the light is magical; maybe it’s because the sun is so low in the sky.
‘Of course, we also wanted to do this because it’s a more environmentally friendly option. Fifty per cent of the air pollution in Beijing is caused by cars. If we hate this pollution, we should really do something about it.
‘Doing this challenge has been great. We set up the website to share the idea with friends; now, over 400 people across the northern hemisphere – North America and Europe as well – have joined us. We might even have it easier in Beijing; sure, it’s cold, but you rarely have to deal with snow or ice on the roads.
Join in
Sign up on the website (
www.lanechange.me) and share tips and photos on their Facebook page (see website for link).
Also try
If the cycle into work isn’t enough, join the hardcore Beijing Peloton group. Every Sunday at 9am, it sets off from the Trek store by Chaoyang Park South gate for a 60-90 minute ride. Membership fees apply from March to November, but during the winter it’s free to join. See
www.beijing.mongoliaprocycling.com for more details.
Jim Otter plays in Mashup Asia’s weekly American flag football pick-up games.
‘Football is traditionally played regardless of the weather. Come snow, wind, cold or rain, you just have to man up and play. Fewer people turn up for the winter pick-up games than the league. Normally there’s around 10-20, whereas you’ll get 60-80 people turning up for the league.
‘We keep going through winter because we really enjoy the game and we encourage everyone to join us, whether you’re experienced or not, whether you’re a man or a woman. We make the teams up so that everyone plays. There’s no waiting around on the sidelines.
‘We play for two to three hours and you soon warm up. Some people wear special football gloves that are made so you can catch the ball in cold weather. You can pick these up on Taobao, but others just put up with it and tuck their hands into their shirts. Most people wear beanie hats and long johns. Long johns are useful as they also give an extra layer of padding. We don’t tackle in flag football but you’re still diving around to catch the ball and the ground is even harder in winter.
‘Other than that, it’s more pleasant to play in the cold. The air feels cleaner. In the summer, it gets humid and after five minutes you feel ready to pass out.’
Join in
Until the formal league starts up again in April, Mashup is putting on informal pick-up games most Saturdays. The cost of renting the field (usually in Chaoyang Park or near the olympic stadium) is split between the players and usually comes to around 60RMB per person, depending on how many people show up. To find out about upcoming games, sign up for the newsletter on the website (
www.mashupasia.com).
Also try
The team behind Heyrobics run pop-up outdoor aerobic and running sessions throughout the year. Details are released a week in advance at
www.heyrobics.com.
Millicent Thapa from Beijing Hikers shares her top tips on how to wrap up warm and beat the cold.
Cotton is a killer. If you sweat when you’re walking, cotton doesn’t dry quickly. It will hold moisture close to your body, which is not pleasant when you start to cool down.
Wear layers. For your feet, first put on a thin pair of liner socks made of a material such as Capilene or polypropylene, which stay warm even when damp. Then put on a layer that will be moisture resistant – a pair of plastic bags over your sock liners will do – and finally a pair of thick warm socks.
For the rest of your body, you should also start with a layer of Capilene or polypropylene underwear, then layers of fleeces, and a windbreaker jacket and trousers. Also wear a pair of liner mitts inside your gloves.
Don’t wear tight shoes. It limits your circulation, which is a bad idea in cold weather!
You lose a lot of heat from your head, so a hat and scarf are very important.
Your body uses a lot of calories just to stay warm, so take some snacks with you. Keep hydrated – you will be more susceptible to frostbite if you don’t. Avoid alcohol and have water, or a sports drink packed with electrolytes.