Blog on Shanghai and China

There are a lot of things I love about my gym, the Luwan Star Gym, in Shanghai.  For one, there's no towel service because no one works out hard enough to break a sweat.  Instead, they sell out of "fat-dissolving" soaps and lotions at the check-in desk.

My favorite addition this year is a vending machine that sells bottled water, ice tea, socks and tighty whities... just in case you're parched, forgot your socks, or soil yourself??

 

(Yes, the brand is called, "Chinese Treasure").  Still no towels though.  So next time I'm sweating from actually running on the treadmill, I may have to improvise and towel off with a nice pair of socks or briefs.

Bizarro products aside, working out in Shanghai has come along way.  During my visits growing up, I use to have to jog in the streets, which is basically hurdling over humans.  I've gone to this gym (a stone's throw away from my grandmother's house in the French Concession) nearly every summer since it opened 4 years ago.  Decent cardio, weights, classes, tennis, amazing trainer (Hannah Li) who I keep on trying to abduct to the U.S.  Mix of locals and foreigners.  400 Yuan or $50-60 for a month pass.