Discussion keeps the world's turning.
This is Roundtable. Your name is Nina Rantable with myself, Hayoung.
I'm joined by Lee in the studio and Steve Hathley on the line coming up.
We share with you what's brought us sheer joy this week.
Join us for a dose of positivity, laughter and all things that make our hearts sing in Roundtable's happy place.
And despite busy schedules and numerous commitments, young urban dwellers are heavily investing in their health.
How do you manage to balance fitness expenses with other priorities?
What motivates you to keep up with your fitness routine?
Your voice matters and we want to hear it in our heart to heart segment.
Got a question, something you're itching to share.
Fire up that voice memo and hit us up at eZFM Roundtable at FoxMail.com.
Our podcast listeners can fight us at Roundtable China, an Apple podcast.
Now, join us in the happiest corner on the year waves.
Roundtable's happy place.
Delivery. Delivery. Delivery.
Delivery. What is it? Happiness from Roundtable.
So this week, what's made you happy, Lee?
Well, I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
I'm not sure if you're happy.
Well, my happy place is that Clarkson's Farm season three is available to be watched.
And it's really one of my favorite entertainment shows out there at the Greco Clarkson Farm.
Yeah, Clarkson's Farm.
I strongly recommend everyone out there who has not really watched this show to watch it right now.
And for those who are not really familiar with it, including you, Steve, let me introduce a little bit about this show.
It's really a British television series that premiered on Amazon Prime Video in June 2021.
The show features Jeremy Clarkson, who is a won-on, broadcaster and a journalist.
He basically takes on the challenge of running a 1000A per farm, which he purchased in 2008.
And previously, the farm was managed by a local villager.
But in 2019, somehow, he just decided to take over its management himself.
And he's not having no prior farming experience.
So this show is so hilarious.
And I mean, throughout the whole process, you can see how he keeps brings up new ideas and keeps failing all the time.
So it basically follows his journey as he learns about the complexities of the challenges of modern farming.
It really provides a humorous, it insightful look at the agricultural industry, really highlights both the physical and administrative demands of farming and in the latest season, the third season.
Jeremy Clarkson and his team face really several significant challenges, as usual, during such as dealing with crop failures due to severe weather, inflation, driving up costs and also the potential closure of their beloved farm shop.
And additionally, Clarkson's plans for a restaurant are also dashed, pushing him to come up with new creative solutions to keep the farm viable.
So I'm not really finished on the show, but I think it's really worth recommending because it's not really only entertaining, but also informative.
When you are watching the show, you can really go to learn how difficult or challenge farmers life could be when you have to handle with the weather, which is not so stable all the time.
And also to struggle with all the policies out there and also the demands coming from the consumer side, the ever changing consumer demand.
I think it really inspires people to think about our relationship with nature as well.
So I think it's really worth recommending and also make me happy this week.
Oh, lovely. So he's the guy who drove a Lamborghini into the field.
Yes, yes. It is. Okay. Has this inspired you perhaps to like start a little farm of your own or a little garden or something like that from the things you've seen from the show?
Well, yes, but I wish I really have this farm, but I don't really own this farm.
I think to have a garden of your own and to do some plantation, neither flowers or vegetables, somehow like a dream for everybody living and working in a modern city is here, right?
It's so relaxing and soothing.
But I think if you really watch this show, you will know that it's not really as ideal as we imagine because it really involves a lot of hard work and dedication.
Okay. So immediately I'm like, not going to get involved, not going to get my hands dirty, never, but maybe I'll check out the next episode.
Actually, I've washed one episode.
Come on. I think we need more female representation in the farm.
The agriculture industry?
Can I please stick with media and also a smaller slice of the media world that is English media in China?
That's my comfort zone.
And I'm swimming comfortably in that end of the pool.
I have to admit, I've washed one episode, but I might be a person in the minority that I was not hooked to the show at all.
Not so interested. But that being a happy place, now let me go get a second shot, maybe.
Okay. What about you, Steve?
What's made you happy? You're a happy place this week.
She know I love sports. I grew up playing ice hockey and baseball and golf and all that stuff, but when I was growing up, something that I never really liked.
I really did or never really enjoyed was just going for a long walk.
And recently here in Korea, it's kind of a perfect time of year here in the city of Busan because the days are really warm and sunny, but then the evenings just as the sun has gone down.
The temperatures are so perfect.
So my wife and I, for one reason or another, I don't know.
I guess it was inspired by the weather.
But what we do now in the evening after we finish dinner, we go for a long walk, we leave our home and we have no destination, really.
And we just walk as far as we want and we always go in a different direction to explore parts of our community that we have it like a street that we've never walked down before or something like that.
And it's just kind of like discovery, slash, relax time, slash talking time and not talk about work, not talk about stressful stuff, just talk about whatever.
And I suddenly have really started to enjoy going for a walk in the evening.
That makes me sound kind of old, I guess, but I've really been enjoying it recently.
That's lovely. And also with your partner, I think Steve has just gained some extra brownie points for more listeners.
But do you guys go for a walk, like make a point of just going out and just walking wherever, like with no real destination in mind, do you do that?
I sometimes do that when I'm traveling if I have enough time in that new city.
Also I need to always do my research ahead of time that it's perfectly safe for a female to walk around like that because in the foreign country you want to know that stuff.
Sure. Yeah, and years ago, gosh, that was when I was still in college, I went to Paris and what was the tragic story I got ditched by my friend who wouldn't go with me last minute.
And then anyway, the hotel was already paid for so I was there on my own and I did exactly that, walking with no purpose and just wandering around the city.
It was so beautiful. Right.
Yeah, and I also had this really sweet encounter with the sky.
Okay, now stop there. Next up on Roundtable, stories of love in patty.
Yeah. It was lovely. And also I had the, oh, I had the best croissant in my life on that trip too.
So yes, that is wonderful and thank you for sharing that really sweet, happy place with us.
I feel like I'm getting to know a bit more about Steve and looking forward to more happy places from you.
Yeah, right. Yeah, right.
And my happy place is an experience, a trip.
I just wrapped up a week long expedition in the Sichuan Banan Rainforest, searching for wild Asian elephants.
And let me tell you, it was an absolutely unforgettable journey.
Did you find one? Well, he got to listen to the show to find out.
Although the show has been aired, but I fear that some of our listeners have not listened to it yet.
So I guess there is an expiration date with these things.
So maybe, not shit, not shit, maybe in a month's time or something like that.
So imagine this hopping on a bumpy tricycle bouncing along reggae paths and being surrounded by the lush, vibrant greenery of one of China's most biodiverse regions, and then the sheer excitement of venturing into the unknown with the possibility of encountering these majestic creatures was thrilling.
And also learning the sacrifices that local residents make for the survival and flourishing of these trunk-wielding giants is a great story.
And also just to see their predicament and see how the local governments have tried their best as well to mobilize, to compensate, and really making biodiversity and environment protection top on the priority list, it's really an eye-opening experience.
And this experience has been filled with surprises, beauty, and incredible sense of connection with nature.
And one of the really exciting parts which you will experience by listening to the podcast was a night tour in the Botanical Garden, seeing the forest come alive with insects and other nocturnal creatures was both thrilling and a bit eerie.
And it gave me a new appreciation for the complexity and richness of our ecosystem, every sound, every wrestle in the leaves was a reminder of the vibrant life that thrives in the darkness.
Wait a minute, is this your happy place or are you just promoting your other show right now?
Well, well, when you're listening to that episode, I hope you enjoy it as much as me making it, because it was a lot of work to put everything together.
This is also a new journey for me to sort of present this audio travel log to you.
Okay, another highlight was when I camped in the Wild Elephant Valley, and that's in Wild Elephant Sanctuary in Cisro, Bata, with the sky above you, a blanket of stars, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of grass all around you, the rainforest hums with life, and I was overwhelmed just by the sheer beauty and tranquility and noisiness of it all.
There were bugs everywhere.
The stars seem brighter, the air feels fresher, and in that moment, the enormity of nature's wonders just brought tears out of nowhere to my eyes, and you feel like you're not just a visitor in this vast ecosystem.
You feel connected to something much bigger.
And how did you feel coming back to the city after that experience?
The first day when I got back when I was sitting in traffic driving my car to work, and I remember feeling, huh, this is my average day in Beijing, but I hated it so much at the time.
And it was just all like I've only been away for a week, but it felt like a lifetime, and I'm like, these are all just, you know, man made artificial stuff surrounding me, and then, you know, Mother Nature is just completely a different world.
It felt like I was in the world of Avatar, you know, if you've seen that movie.
And then, you know, thanks to modern transportation, like with the flight boom, I'm back in Beijing.
And what an experience.
And the best part of it all everybody listening to this is I get to share this with you.
Like, I was recording from beginning to end, and I got these weird looks from people because they were like, what's that woman doing with that object in her hand and murmuring to herself?
So you get all the nitty gritty and the embarrassing, the fantastic, the laughter and tears from this trip in our May 22nd show.
So do enjoy. And yeah, I can't just say, you know, it's really worth recommending because I've also listened to that show you've made.
I think it's just such a rewarding experience.
And you mentioned about, you know, murmuring, I think especially the monologue and murmuring you made at the end of the show.
My tent is really moving.
It's really touching because at that moment, I just somehow feel, you know, some words just pop up in my mind, human nature connection.
That's real because that's what I felt from the show you made.
So yeah, listeners out there, please listen to this show.
It's really carefully designed and presented.
So I think it's really inspiring for anyone who listened to it.
Oh, thank you so much. That's my happy place and hope we can always send you these happy vibes because gosh, don't we need it from time to time.
You're listening to Roundtable coming up next with Jim and yoga studios becoming the go-to spots for after work activities.
How do you see the fitness landscape evolving for young professionals these days?
Stay tuned and we'll find out more on that.
Looking for passion? How about fiery debate?
Want to hear about current events in China from different perspectives?
And tune in to Roundtable where East meets West and understanding is the goal.
Is the hour of Roundtable with myself, hey, young, I've got Lee in the studio and Steve Hathley on the line with us.
Cycling, hiking and city walking have become the so-called We Can Trio for today's white collar workers in big cities in China.
And according to 2023 China Fitness and Wellness Industry report, young people's enthusiasm for exercise and fitness has thurched in recent years despite their busy schedules, urban youth continue to invest significantly in their health.
So what are the activities they're engaged in and what are they spending on?
How do we tell that they're very much into fitness and health these days?
Well, I think here we can refer to a report that is the 2023 China Fitness Industry Data Report jointly published by Shanghai University of Sport.
And according to this report in 2023, there were about 117,000 general fitness venues here in China, including over 36,000 commercial fitness clubs and over 42,000 fitness studios.
And among them, I think smaller scale fitness studios were especially popular among consumers here in China, such as yoga and in the bloody exercises are being their fair rate sports items.
And when you look at people who are actively engaged in exercise habits here in China, as of December 2023, there were about 70 million paid members of offline fitness venues nationwide.
And that's a decrease of about 2% compared to the previous month.
However, they are having a higher frequency of exercises to some extent.
Active paid members went to the venues for exercises for 4.4 times a month in average, approaching the level of 2019.
And especially when you look at a gender ratio, women are still the main force in a fitness consumption market.
And of course, young people, because consumers aged 26 to 35 are the main group of fitness consumers, accounting for about 41% of the total number of fitness consumers here in China.
And actually, middle aged and elderly people are also entering this market because people aged 36 to 50 accounted for about 27%.
And people aged 50 or above has increased by 1.8% compared to 2022.
So it's pretty sufficient to say that there's a nationwide enthusiasm for exercising here in China.
Yeah, Steve, what is your read into the numbers in this phenomenon?
I was looking up here in Korea.
There was a real gym boom that happened here in the country.
I think 6,000 in the city of Seoul around 2010, 2011, and then that number doubled within a decade.
And I think part of the reason for that is the advancement of social media.
Instagram is huge here in Korea.
And it really exploded in 2018.
And I think with that explosion, there was an explosion that happened at the same time with people getting gym memberships and one of the things you can find in a hashtag on Instagram here is hashtag body profile.
I think there's like 4.3 million hashtag hits with that.
So people go, they get a trainer, they're willing to invest.
I mean, it's not cheap, right?
To get a personal trainer, it's not cheap to eat healthy.
It's not cheap to buy these protein shakes every day or whatever you're doing.
And even tanning salons exploded in popularity here around the same time because of this whole boom to get their bodies into perfect condition.
I read an interview recently that was getting the opinions of young people in terms of like why they wanted to go to a gym suddenly, why they wanted to get a trainer recently.
And one common thread that I found in the answers was, which I thought was quite interesting.
This is the youngest I will ever be.
So I want to take care of my body as best as I can right now.
Oh, interesting. Right?
Because with the beginning, the first half of the sentence, it could just be the perfect excuse for anything.
This is the youngest I'm ever going to be.
And I'm going to live life to the fullest, another big Mac or something else.
I don't know. So that is fascinating.
And you mentioned tanning salons in South Korea.
That's so interesting.
This, okay, this is just me showing that I obviously live in my own echo chamber.
I thought that South Korean people are all for really fair skin and would not like tanning, even if it's in tanning salons.
But interesting. No, you're absolutely right.
It's not the general population.
It's the portion of the population that enjoys going to a gym and getting a trainer and then working on that body profile for their social media sites.
But no, you're absolutely right.
In general, it's not like people are lining up to go to the tanning salons during their lunch hour from work in Seoul.
It's kind of a niche market.
But yeah, gyms have it exploded here.
There was a massive boom and people will often go to the gym during their lunch break.
They'll do it in the evening.
But it's not just gyms. It's hiking.
Hiking is huge here in Korea for younger people and older people as well.
A lot of the cities are quite mountainous here in Korea.
So they take advantage of that even within the city.
Right. I think hiking is also quite popular here in China in recent years, especially in recent two years.
You see a lot of young people, they're so passionate about going to venturing into different mountains in the outskirts of Beijing or other cities here.
And also free space and cycling are also less popular here.
Outdoors activities are especially so popular here.
And that also leads to I think more social media representation here in China because when they're cycling, when they're hiking, they tend to post their beautiful pictures of the seniors out there.
And you mentioned about the social media power in terms of encouraging people getting involved in the fitness industry.
Same thing here in China because you see a lot of, I mean, surge in numbers of fitness influencers or vloggers, say lifestyle platforms like Xiao Hongshu or other social media platforms.
They will just, you know, record their personal fitness journeys and gave some advice, say some worktop routines and health tips.
And also nutrition diet is such a big topic being discussed here in China.
And also I think for Gen Z out there in other countries, they start to pay attention to how to eat it more healthy and balanced the way which ultimately contribute to their goal of managing a better body shape.
Yeah, that's all very understandable.
But also I've always wondered.
And maybe this is just me being a younger millennial but with an old soul.
To me, exercise and fitness should not cost me an extra dime.
And I'm definitely a person who is not being calculated into these reports because my goal is I get my results which I am pretty benevolent about.
And I'm not spending anything extra on this.
And I think a lot of the older folks probably hold a similar belief.
For example, after dinner time, you see so many middle-aged and older folks strolling in the streets into the parks or whatnot.
They're not spending. That's me going on my long walk in the evening.
Hey, hello next time. I will next time.
Usually I'm still at work at that time.
But anyhow, yeah, so I suppose I do have my queries for these reports.
I think a lot of the times because they can only gather these data and figures from platforms that have this kind of data.
And for the vast amounts of people who are just going about their average day, doing not spending an extra buck or yuan on this.
And you can still get your fitness routine in and enjoy life that way.
So I think, no, you're absolutely right.
The world is a gym if you want it to be.
You can make it, right, that way.
And also the gym is not the only place where you can do exercise and get your fitness routine in.
So I also find that to be kind of an interesting concept because the gym is definitely an import to our country.
And personally, I just find the gym to be really boring.
I really rather go do something else than be on that treadmill or other exercise, which are pretty much like on a stationary object.
And I just feel like you're like that sad little hamster on a wheel.
That's such a depressing invention.
So yeah, I think this trip into the jungle has had a really profound effect on your perception of city life, city living.
I think the gym, I disagree.
I think, and this is just for me, the reason why I like going to the gym is because it's organized, it's conveniently located.
And I know what to do when I get there.
I know how long I'm going to be there.
I do have to pay a certain amount of money for the service that they're providing, but it's just out of the whole convenience.
And I guess for young working professionals now, that's the thing, isn't it?
Is that they don't really have a whole lot of time to dedicate to exercise.
So having a spot where they know they can go in, get it done and go home, and they've done their job, taking care of their body that way.
I guess that's why it's become so popular.
And not just gyms, of course, but just other types of exercise as well, is that the more organized it is, perhaps, I don't know, I'm speculating, but the more organized it is, maybe it just helps them to fit it into their already busy schedules.
Yeah, I think that's exactly why we do see a surge of, say, online fitness apps here in China and also in other parts of the world.
With all those, I mean, technologies out there, you can basically have this personalized exercise scheme for you out there instead of going to gym.
They can really offer you a workout routine based on your own body type, your own schedule and fitness level.
I think that's so popular right now.
Yeah, I don't really think gym is the only choice here.
Yeah. How do you think people are spending so much time and effort, what's fueling their drive to get into all this, well, it's not necessarily bodybuilding, but this health and wellness thing?
Well, I was just going to say I think it's accessibility to information, both audio, video, reading information that's available to people now combined with pressure from social media, combined with more people around them are making that a part of their lives.
So they feel they want to do that too.
And the reason I've just listed those three things is because all of those things helped to motivate me to get in there and try and take care of myself a little bit better.
But I think for young people, young working professionals who are doing that more these days, you might question what their motivation is.
If social media is the major driver, okay, well, maybe that's not the best source of inspiration.
But at the same time, who cares?
Because what they're doing is something beneficial to their health and their body and their mind, which is going to make them a better partner, a better father, a mother or coworker.
It's going to make them a happier person in general.
So I'm here for it. And I'd like to see even more people getting involved than already are.
It sounds like you're talking about pure pressure here, right?
It sounds like people are passively going to the gym or other fitness students for societal pressure out there for the body shape.
But anyway, I think for younger generations, they do have this awareness for health, especially after the pandemic.
I think people are paying more attention to how to live a better and healthier life, especially I think they're working and living pace here in China and also in a lot of countries, including Korea.
They are so fast. People have to make sure they are healthy enough and strong enough to fit in this quick pace life.
I think that's also a motivation for people to get more involved in exercises.
Yes, and that brings us to the end of today's roundtable.
Thank you so much, Lee Yee and Steve Hathley on our show.
