While Beijing’s winter temperatures plunge below freezing in February 2026, retirees at Shichahai are rewriting the rulebook on cold-weather lifestyles. ❄️ This historic lakeside neighborhood buzzes daily with seniors kicking shuttlecocks, strategizing over Chinese chessboards, and even braving icy swims – proving age is just a number when it comes to staying active.
🏋️♂️ "We’ve turned winter into our gym," says 68-year-old Li Wei, demonstrating pull-ups on frost-covered equipment. The area’s public fitness stations, installed along frozen willow-lined paths, host everything from tai chi flows to laughter-filled badminton rallies.
Winter swimming enthusiasts like 72-year-old Zhang Mei ("The lake wakes up every cell!") draw crowds, while chess players huddle over heated stone tables. Health experts confirm these routines boost cold adaptation and mental resilience – crucial in a city where retirees make up 20% of the population.
As night falls, the action continues under fairy-lit trees with disco-style group dances. 💃🕺 For Shichahai’s silver generation, winter isn’t a season to endure – it’s a reason to move.
