In a bid to promote healthier lifestyles among young people, schools across China are revamping their schedules to include more time for physical activity. Starting in the fall semester of 2024, primary and secondary schools in Beijing have extended their break periods by five minutes, allowing students a 15-minute recess to engage in exercises and recreational activities.
“After the exercises, I feel full of energy,” said Zhou Lezhi, a junior high student in Beijing. “It’s really fun to do different kinds of exercises during the break, and it feels really different to do the activities created by ourselves.”
This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to prioritize children’s health and all-round development. Local governments across the country are implementing policies to ensure students have proper recess activities and sufficient physical education classes. The goal is to balance academic learning with physical exercise, improving the overall well-being and growth of Chinese youth.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of children’s health on numerous occasions. Visiting Beijing Yuying School in 2023 ahead of International Children’s Day, Xi highlighted the need for children’s sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills. He noted that physical growth comes first for juveniles, and sports and exercise are the most effective means to build up the physique of teenagers and children.
In line with this vision, the government has introduced several policies and initiatives. In 2021, the State Council issued the Outline for the Development of Chinese Children (2021-2030), prioritizing children’s health. In 2022, revisions to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports reflected a primary concern for public and youth fitness. The Ministry of Education, along with health authorities, released guidelines in 2024 to prevent and control myopia among young children by specifying measures to reduce its incidence.
As part of its 2035 education blueprint, China is pushing for primary and secondary school students to get at least two hours of physical activity a day. This move aims to tackle growing rates of myopia and obesity among young people.
With dedicated time and space now in place, schools are delivering high-quality physical education programs focused on improving students’ speed, agility, strength, and endurance. As President Xi has stressed, “China will be strong only when its young people are strong.”
