China's fitness market is valued at approximately ¥900 billion (including equipment, services, and events). Keep leads as China's largest fitness app with 400M+ cumulative users, while Lefit operates 1,450+ 24-hour gym locations. International platforms like Peloton do not operate in China. This guide covers the fitness landscape and helps you stay active in China.
Fitness Platform Comparison
| Feature | Keep (薄荷/Keep) | Lefit (乐刻) | Peloton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue (2024) | ¥2.07B | N/A (private) | ~$2.4B |
| Cumulative Users | 400M+ | N/A | ~7M (est.) |
| MAU | 29.92M | N/A | ~3M (est.) |
| Locations | App-based (everywhere) | 1,450+ stores, 28 cities | US/UK/DE/AU/CA |
| Monthly Cost | ¥19-30 (VIP) | ¥99-149 (monthly pass) | $12.99-44/mo (subscription) |
| China Available | Yes (market leader) | Yes (largest chain) | No |
| Key Feature | Workout tracking, courses | 24/7 self-service gyms | Connected fitness bike/tread |
Detailed Platform Analysis
Keep — China's #1 Fitness App
Keep reported ¥2.07B revenue in 2024 with average MAU of 29.92M. The app has 400M+ cumulative users and offers personalized workout plans, video courses, calorie tracking, social features, and e-commerce for fitness equipment. Keep's freemium model includes ad-supported free workouts and VIP subscriptions at ¥19-30/month for premium content. It's the most downloaded fitness app in China.Lefit (乐刻运动) — China's Largest Gym Chain
Lefit operates ~1,450 stores across 28 cities, making it China's largest fitness chain by location count. Known for 24/7 self-service access with monthly passes at ¥99-149, Lefit democratized gym access in China. Their low-cost, high-convenience model has attracted millions of members and disrupted traditional premium gym pricing.Peloton — Not Available in China
Peloton reported ~$2.4B revenue in FY2025 (-2.8%), with service revenue now double hardware revenue. Despite generating $3.2B in free cash flow in FY2025, Peloton does not sell its connected fitness products in China and has no official presence. The Chinese market is served by domestic alternatives.China's Fitness Market Overview
- **China Fitness Market**: ~36,447 commercial fitness clubs nationwide. ~69.75M offline paid fitness members. Total market size ~¥900B in 2024.
- **Supermonkey (超级猩猩)**: Boutique group fitness studio, popular in tier-1 cities. Pay-per-class model (~¥60-80/class) with no membership required.
- **SpaceCycle**: Premium boutique cycling and yoga studio, targeting urban professionals. Higher pricing (~¥150-300/class).
- **Joyrun (悦跑圈)**: China's leading running app with 200M+ registered users. Social running challenges, marathon registration, and GPS tracking.
- **Codoon (咕咚)**: Comprehensive sports app covering running, cycling, walking, and fitness challenges. 250M+ registered users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peloton available in China?▶
No. Peloton does not sell products or offer services in China. Keep (app) and Lefit (gyms) are the most popular alternatives.
How much does a gym membership cost in China?▶
Budget gyms like Lefit: ¥99-149/month. Mid-range: ¥200-400/month. Premium clubs: ¥500-1,500/month. Pay-per-class boutiques: ¥60-300/class.
What is the best fitness app in China?▶
Keep is the most popular with 400M+ users. It offers workout courses, tracking, meal planning, and social features. Available in Chinese with some English UI elements.
Can foreigners join Chinese gyms?▶
Yes. Most gyms accept foreign members. Lefit and Supermonkey require only a phone number for registration. Payment is typically via WeChat Pay or Alipay.
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