Kangbashi turns green spaces into everyday sports venues

In Kangbashi district of Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, parks, lakeside paths and community fitness areas have become part of residents' everyday lives.

Once located on the edge of the Mu Us Desert, Kangbashi has spent more than two decades expanding urban greenery and improving public spaces. Today, the district has 4,239.25 hectares of green space, with a green space ratio of 45.81% and green coverage of 54.97%. Its per capita park green space has reached 85.26 square meters.

Across the district, 34 parks and public squares are connected by more than 40 kilometers of walking and cycling paths. For many residents, a green space for walking, jogging or exercising is within a 15-minute walk from home.

In the early morning, residents can often be seen jogging along lakeside trails, practicing tai chi in parks or taking brisk walks under tree-lined paths. Clean air is another part of the city's appeal, with the district recording more than 320 days of good air quality on average each year.

New parks are also adding more diverse fitness and leisure options. Some feature running tracks, children's play areas, outdoor exercise zones and spaces for family activities. Others combine fitness, climbing, leisure and social functions, offering facilities for people of different ages.

Community-level sports facilities have further brought exercise closer to home. Neighborhood service centers and residential communities now provide venues for basketball, badminton, table tennis, dance and fitness training. Some are also equipped with health monitoring and rehabilitation services, helping residents combine exercise with everyday health management.

In 2025, Kangbashi added or upgraded more than 50 sets of fitness equipment in several residential areas, further improving access to public sports facilities.

From lakeside trails to neighborhood courts, Kangbashi is turning urban green spaces into open-air fitness venues. For local residents, exercise no longer requires a special trip — it begins just outside the door.