China Issues New National Fitness Plan for 2026-2030
China’s State Council has published the National Fitness Plan (2026–2030), a comprehensive blueprint aimed at boosting physical activity across the nation by expanding sports infrastructure, integrating artificial intelligence into fitness services, and raising the proportion of regular exercisers to 40% of the population by the end of the decade. The plan, issued under document number Guofa [2026] No. 26, was signed on July 19 and officially released on July 23, 2026, following approval at a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Qiang on July 10.
Context and Background
National fitness has been a strategic priority in China for three decades. The country issued its first five-year National Fitness Plan in 2011, building on the landmark 1995 “Outline of the National Fitness Plan” and the 2014 elevation of national fitness to a national strategy. The new plan represents the fourth installment in this five-year cycle and aligns with the broader “Healthy China” and “Sports Powerhouse” national strategies.
According to CCTV News, the plan makes arrangements for promoting high-quality development of the national fitness cause during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. The full text of the plan states that “national fitness is the foundation and guarantee for all people to strengthen their physique and live a healthy life, and is an important cornerstone for accelerating the construction of a sports powerhouse.”
Key Targets and Goals
The plan sets clear, quantifiable targets for 2030. Per capita sports venue area is expected to reach approximately 4 square meters, up from 3.11 square meters at the end of 2025. The number of social sports instructors per 1,000 people should reach about 3.3, while the proportion of regular exercisers is targeted at roughly 40%, compared to 38.52% in 2025. The plan also calls for continuous improvement in national physical fitness levels.
These targets build on significant progress achieved under the previous plan. Data from the 2026 National Mass Sports Work Conference, reported by CCTV News, shows that by the end of 2025, China had 5.0037 million sports venues nationwide, covering a total area of 4.372 billion square meters. The national physical fitness pass rate reached 84.9%, and average life expectancy rose to 79.25 years. Over 1,500 sports parks were built during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Ten Main Tasks
The plan outlines ten priority areas. These include improving the national fitness institutional system, strengthening construction of fitness facilities close to residents, organizing diverse mass sports events, and enhancing the national fitness organization service network. Notably, the plan explicitly calls for using artificial intelligence to empower national fitness development—an innovation that signals China’s ambition to leverage its technological capabilities in public service delivery.
Other key tasks include meeting the differentiated fitness needs of different population groups, popularizing national fitness culture, and strengthening safety management for mass sports activities. The plan emphasizes building “small but beautiful” fitness facilities by repurposing urban spaces such as areas under bridges, rooftops, and industrial buildings, while strictly controlling the construction of new large sports venues and prohibiting luxury decoration.
Differentiated Approaches and Campus Sports
A distinctive feature of the new plan is its targeted approach to different demographic groups. Specific provisions address the needs of the elderly, children and adolescents, women, farmers, disabled persons, and new employment groups. The plan mandates that primary and secondary school students receive no less than two hours of comprehensive daily sports activity, addressing concerns about youth health issues including obesity, myopia, and mental health.
As Phoenix News noted in its analysis, the focus of future national fitness work will be more concentrated on effective quality improvement and precise service supply, moving beyond the question of “whether there are facilities” to “whether the facilities are good.”
Analysis and Implications
The plan reflects China’s broader strategic priorities. By linking fitness to the health industry and sports consumption, it supports the country’s strategy of developing domestic consumption as an economic driver. The specific provisions for elderly fitness address China’s aging population, while the AI empowerment clause positions technology as a key enabler of public health services.
According to 21st Century Business Herald, the plan’s emphasis on “innovating and developing the health industry” marks a shift from a disease-treatment-centered approach to a health-promotion-centered model. Industry analysts cited in the report noted that the health industry is expected to reach 16 trillion yuan by 2030 under the “Healthy China 2030” strategy.
What’s Next
Local governments are expected to incorporate the plan into their 15th Five-Year Plan economic and social development plans. The General Administration of Sport will develop implementation guidelines and evaluation mechanisms, while specific regulations on elderly sports and revised National Fitness Regulations are expected to follow. Mid-term evaluations of the plan’s impact are likely around 2028, with the full effect measurable against the 2030 targets.