TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Jhong Jheng Sports Center will reopen Friday after a six-month renovation and will feature Greater Taipei’s first public pilates studio for body sculpting and relief from soreness and pain.
Taipei’s Sports Department held a press conference at the city's third public sports facility, established in 2006, on Thursday. Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) attended the event and tried out the center's spin bike, which is connected to an energy storage system that converts workout energy into electricity, allowing users to charge their phones, per CNA.
Chiang said the center's lighting system has been fully upgraded, and several new facilities have been added, including gender-inclusive restrooms and an air gun shooting range.
The swimming pool at the center is equipped with an AI-powered drowning prevention system, along with a disinfection system designed to reduce chlorine odor. It also features a spa, 50-meter lanes, and a children's pool.
The fitness room at the center has updated its air conditioning and added anti-slip equipment. The facility also includes new cardio and strength training equipment, as well as dedicated areas for women and senior citizens. Coaches will be on-site to provide guidance.
The Taipei Sports Department reported that last year 39.6% of residents in Taipei had regular exercise habits, the highest proportion among Taiwan's six major cities. Chiang said the city plans to establish nine specialized sports amenities and continue renovating existing public sports centers, aiming to increase the city's exercise participation rate to 40%.
The department added that it has launched the U-Sport program, which allows citizens to convert electricity generated from their workouts into U-Coins. These coins can be used to access facilities at the city's public sports centers or to top up their EasyCard.
The city has 12 public sports centers, attracting over 10 million visits annually. To meet residents' growing demand for exercise facilities, the department said the Nangang District sports center is under renovation and is expected to reopen in September, while a new sports center in Daan District is scheduled to be completed next year.
