Shenzhen held the launch ceremony for its 2026 National Fitness Day at the Dapeng Sports Center on Aug. 8, marking the first time the city’s main event has been hosted in Dapeng.

The ceremony featured public fitness programs including health assessments, sports guidance, coastal cycling, outdoor activities and sports exhibitions, along with badminton talent selection, basketball performances and traditional Yingge Dance.

Located less than 20 meters from the seawall of Baguang Bay, the newly opened sports center is Shenzhen’s closest major sports venue to the sea. The opening of the center ends the lack of a large-scale indoor sports venue in the Dapeng Peninsula area, providing residents with access to high-quality fitness facilities closer to home.

The 401-million-yuan (US$55.9 million) facility covers 29,500 square meters and includes a competition hall, training facilities and a swimming center. It features a 50-meter, eight-lane swimming pool, eight standard badminton courts and basketball facilities.

Dapeng Peninsula, one of China’s first high-quality outdoor sports destinations, boasts 125 kilometers of coastline, 48 beaches and a forest coverage rate of 77%. The area has developed more than 400 kilometers of outdoor routes, including hiking trails and coastal cycling paths, offering activities such as hiking, sailing, paddleboarding, surfing and camping.

The district attracted more than 5 million outdoor sports enthusiasts in 2025, with outdoor recreation becoming a key driver of local tourism and cultural development.