While Gen Z debates cold plunges on TikTok, Beijing's silver-haired swimmers are rewriting the rules of winter wellness. This season, frozen lakes and rivers across the Chinese mainland's capital have become unlikely fitness hubs for retirees defying age stereotypes.
"My grandkids think I'm cooler than their K-pop idols now," laughs 68-year-old Wang Li, part of a 300-member group calling themselves the Silver Swimmers Squad. Members meet daily at Houhai Lake, breaking inch-thick ice with mallets before diving into 2°C waters.
Medical experts note improved circulation and stress resistance among participants. "It's not about endurance," explains retired teacher Zhang Wei, 71. "The cold sharpens my mind like my morning tea."
This frosty fitness trend has spawned #IceWarriorGrannies on Weibo, with videos of swimmers doing underwater tai chi gaining millions of views. Local authorities have set up safety stations, while thermos-toting spectators cheer from shorelines.
As one swimmer put it: "Retirement means freedom – freedom to choose how we stay strong." ❄️💪
