After I come back Shenzhen, I started playing badminton with my friends regularly. Generally we play badminton once a week on either Monday or Thursday night. It’s not surprised to see that more and more white-collars participate in this kind of sports to keep themselves healthy. Badminton has become one of the most popular games in Shenzhen only three years before. There are a few professional badminton stadiums in the city. Meanwhile, nearly all schools with gymnasiums were asked by Shenzhen government to open for public at night or on weekends. Of course, they are allowed to charge some money for maintenance.
Because badminton is so hot in Shenzhen and the number of stadiums is limited that people have to book badminton court before playing. Normally, the price for one court per hour in an independent stadium is between RMB 40 - 50 (around $5 - $6.3). Playing in a school can save RMB 5-10(around $0.6 - $1.3) for an hour. Since the price is acceptable, the courts are always full booked.
I think tow reasons might explain why sports are getting more popular in recent years in China. Firstly, with the rapid growth of China’s economy development, more Chinese families have improved their living condition especially in the big cities. Accompanied with it, the working pressures are increased. People realize that games can help them relax and keep health. Secondly, the government’s encouragement and support plays an essential role in it. Currently the hot sport games in Shenzhen include badminton, football, basketball, table tennis, snooker and hiking. It can be expected that the sports heat will last in the future.