A government-funded gym in Huzhou's Nanxun district. [Photo/WeChataccount:huzhoufabu]

Huzhou in East China's Zhejiang province recently unveiled a five-year plan to increase the fitness of local residents.

According to the plan, the city aims to increase the proportion of people who regularly take part in physical exercises to above 43.5 percent by 2025.

It also aims to have 94.6 percent of its population meet the national physical fitness standards.

Meanwhile, efforts will also be made to make exercise facilities and venues more available to local residents, with the ultimate goal of ensuring there is a gym located within a 10-minute walk from every person residing in both its urban and rural areas.  

Specifically, the city's per capita sports field is targeted to exceed 3.2 square meters by 2025, and there shall be more than 0.9 football fields for every 10,000 people.

By 2025, it plans to build 25 sports parks, 36 football fields, 80 multifunctional sports fields, 80 village-level fitness squares, 200 government-funded gyms as well as 30 fitness tracks.

In addition, the local government aims to lift the number of sports instructors for every 1,000 people to above 3.5.

All public sports venues and school sports facilities in Huzhou are open to the public for free. The city's per capita sports area currently stands at 2.65 square meters, one of the highest in Zhejiang.