"Night runners" in Beijing start running at 10 pm

"Partners are welcome to join the run in Yuandadu Park." Xiao Min, editor of a fashion magazine in Beijing has recently become obsessed with “night running.” At ten o’clock in the evening when the city quiets down from the hustle and bustle of the day, Xiao Min runs with friends she has invited through the internet. Beijing residents can see groups of “night runners” at Houhai, Yuandadu Park, and the Sports Parks in Wangjing Community and by the Tonghui River.

The more they run, the more they like it.

The more they run, the more they like it

At ten o’clock in the evening, Mr Jia, an entrepreneur in his early thirties, was still running in Ditan Park. He has been doing this for four years. “I run at least four laps every day, around six or seven kilometers. I chose to run at this time, because there is too much pressure at work during the day and I am afraid of being late if I run early in the morning. Running makes me feel happy when I am worried, sometimes it inspires me and helps me improve the operation of my company,” said Mr Jia expressing his enthusiasm about running.

At midnight, Mr Chen, who stays up late, begins to run. He is very busy and frequently finishes his work at eleven at night. “I can’t fall asleep whenever I think about the problems in my company. So I just go out and run.” After a busy day, running at night is relaxing. Although he has been interrogated many times by the old man on duty at the entrance, he always enjoys it.

According to an official from Ditan Park, old folk often run in the early morning, whereas night runners are mainly young and middle-aged people. There are over 30 people who run even after the park is closed and the lights are switched off, so they have to leave the eastern gate open for them.