0:00:07 > 0:00:13Please note: we are currently unable to insert accents, etc, in the following subtitles.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25In the new China, well-off Chinese are becoming avid tourists.
0:00:25 > 0:00:31Seaside resorts are developing fast and accommodation improving.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36In this programme, booking into a hotel at Beidaihe on China's east coast.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40And how the Chinese spend their leisure time.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43From martial arts,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46to walking the Great Wall.
0:00:50 > 0:00:57The Summer Palace - Yi he yuan - is one of Beijing's most popular playgrounds.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Ni hao.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09It's a vast area of lakes, bridges and pagodas,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12that is totally man-made.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24The Summer Palace used to be the preserve of the Imperial court.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29A century ago, the infamous Dowager Empress Cixi had this marble boat constructed
0:01:29 > 0:01:33with funds she should have spent on building up the Chinese Navy.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43The focal point of the park is an imposing Buddhist temple.
0:01:43 > 0:01:49Every year, the Dowager Empress would hold her elaborate birthday celebrations here
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and release 10,000 birds into the sky.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04From the top of Longevity Hill the Qing rulers would survey Imperial Navy drills.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07and gaze over their magnificent creation with pride.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14The Chinese have a fascination with water -
0:02:14 > 0:02:20especially in the north where they are used to drought, dust and hard winters.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Some visitors hire their own boats.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28To hire a boat.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36I'd like to hire a boat.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43How long for?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46For one hour.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- Ni hao.- Wo xiang zu yi tiao chuan.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Zu duo chang shijian?
0:02:55 > 0:02:58- Yi ge xiaoshi duo shao qian? - Ershi kuai qian.
0:02:58 > 0:03:0220 yuan.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- Zhe bian qing.- Xiexie.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Bu keqi.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18MUSIC PLAYS
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Chinese city dwellers take their leisure seriously.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31During the Cultural Revolution, dancing wasn't allowed as it was considered bourgeois.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Now the people can't get enough of it.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44In recent years, China's sports lottery has paid for keep fit areas in local neighbourhoods,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46and they are well-used.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49LAUGHING AND SHOUTING
0:03:49 > 0:03:55Table tennis is everywhere and the Chinese are among the best in the world.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Ping pong.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Soccer.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06There's a growing passion for it in China.
0:04:06 > 0:04:12They've introduced a club system and they have players on the international scene.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Now they are setting their sights on the World Cup.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19As eating habits change, people are getting taller.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23And that's good news for basketball.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30There are regular matches against the United States
0:04:30 > 0:04:33and notable successes from China's Olympic team.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37To talk about sports you like, say...
0:04:41 > 0:04:44I like basketball.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Chinese martial arts...
0:05:05 > 0:05:07are enjoying a huge revival.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13During the Cultural Revolution they were so out of favour, they almost disappeared.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17At Beijing Normal University, the top team are put through their paces.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43As yet, martial arts aren't represented in the Olympic Games,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46but the Chinese want to change all that
0:05:46 > 0:05:50and get them in to the 2008 games in Beijing.
0:06:14 > 0:06:21Active leisure pursuits are becoming more and more popular with young city dwellers,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25keen for adventure and a taste of the great outdoors.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Hiking.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35Not surprisingly, Changcheng is a favourite destination.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38There is ample opportunity to enjoy nature.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Nature.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I love nature.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00These are the first generation of young Chinese to have the chance to explore not just their own country,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02but others too.
0:07:57 > 0:08:04Back in the 1950s, the rippling sea at Beidaihe was an inspiration to Chairman Mao,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08a consummate poet as well as a revolutionary.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19Beidaihe was to become the Communist leadership's favourite summer haunt.
0:08:19 > 0:08:25Today, China's government elite have heavily guarded villas and beaches to themselves.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Under Mao's leadership, sanatoria were built in lush surroundings.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37Here, model workers would be rewarded with a free summer holiday.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44The oil industry, the railways, banks and state enterprises
0:08:44 > 0:08:49all had their own holiday villages.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54But in the new China, communist reward systems have all but disappeared.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58State-run industries have less cash to spend,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01and workers' holidays have to be paid for.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07To stay in business, sanatoria are now hiring out their facilities to conferences and training schools,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10as well as taking holiday-makers.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Some are even allowing private villas to be built in their grounds.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20As Beidahe's tourism has grown,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22so has the number of luxury hotels.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Hotel.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33The Diplomatic Mission Guest House was originally built by the Chinese government for visiting foreigners.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38It's colonial style architecture makes it an attractive place to stay.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Do you have rooms available?
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Do you have rooms tonight?
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Tonight.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Nimen hao.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Ni hao. Jintian wanshang you fangjian ma?
0:10:04 > 0:10:07- You.- Duo shao qian yi tian?
0:10:07 > 0:10:11- Wu bai yuan.- Hao ba. Women yao yi jian.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18How much is it a night?
0:10:20 > 0:10:22500 yuan.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Taking a holiday by the sea is a new experience for many Chinese.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38Largely for economic reasons, it is officially encouraged.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43China now enjoys two-day weekends, longer public holidays
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and far more incentives to make money and spend it.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51For previous generations, such leisure opportunities
0:10:51 > 0:10:55would have been beyond their wildest dreams.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Taking photos.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Swimming.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Volleyball.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Football.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43In Beidahe biking is one of the most popular ways of getting around.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48To ride a bike.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Tandems are the latest trend.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59They're rented out by the hour, be prepared for a hefty deposit though.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06For an hour, how much is it?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13We'll hire one...
0:12:17 > 0:12:21for two hours.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23- Ni hao.- Ni hao.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Yi xiaoshi duo shao qian?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Yi xiao shi ersho kuai qian.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Women zu yi liang. Liang ge xiao shi.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Sishi kuai qian. Yajin si bai.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42The deposit is 400.
0:12:58 > 0:13:04In midsummer when temperatures soar, boat trips are a top favourite with Chinese sun-seekers.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Boat.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20What time does the boat leave?
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Jiu dian shi fen.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30At ten past nine - literally nine hours ten minutes.
0:13:33 > 0:13:39Beidaihe seems well on the way to becoming one of northern China's liveliest seaside resorts.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- Ni hao.- Ni Hao.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Time will tell if planners and developers have the foresight
0:13:48 > 0:13:51to preserve its unique character and charm.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56CHEERING
0:13:56 > 0:13:58SHIP HORN BLASTS
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:14:07 > 0:14:10E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk