A footpath in Zhangjiagang. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

Zhangjiagang, a county-level city in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, has been improving its public fitness service system to encourage residents to take part in physical activities and strengthen their body.

The city presently has 11 gymnasiums, 20 sports parks, nine sports centers in sub-district offices, and 421 footpaths stretching 648.21 kilometers. The per capita sports area in Zhangjiagang currently stands at 5.45 square meters, and the number of fitness equipment per 10,000 people has reached 92.29, the highest among all county-level cities in Jiangsu.

Zhangjiagang also holds more than 500 large-scale fitness competitions, including running races and dragon boat races, every year.

Kindergartens and primary schools in the city offer a variety of physical education classes, including basketball and table tennis classes, to spark students' interest in sports and help them keep fit.

Students do table tennis exercises. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]