On New Year Day 1995, the Chinese government put forward the Nationwide Health-Building Program, with the aim of comprehensively improving the people’s physique and health. With the emphasis on young people and children, this program proposes that everyone engage in at least one sports activity daily, master at least two body-building methods and have a health examination every year. In order to push forward the Nationwide Health-Building Program, the State Physical Culture Administration has adopted many measures in the hope that more people will engaged in health-building activities as a voluntary part of their daily routine. It requires that physical culture departments at all levels study people’s varied choices of time, types and ways of heath-building activities, and create more popular health-building programs in line with local and individual conditions.

Many sports organizations have promoted sports activities in enterprises, schools and neighborhoods, and among individuals. These organizations have also set up various training classes and give lectures as well as advice on health-building activities, and organize sports contests for enterprises and individuals.

The traditional national sports are also an important part of popular sports. Activities such as dragon boat races, Yangge dance, martial arts, Weiqi (go, or encirclement chess) and kite flying are common avenues of health-building and entertainment nowadays.