Beijing residents engage in physical exercise while keeping a distance at the Tiantan Park on March 5. Visitors to the park are required to wear masks and have their temperatures taken at the entrance.[Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

YINCHUAN－Wang Yifei has put on weight after isolating himself at home for over a month during the COVID-19 epidemic. Repeatedly watching videos of the late Kobe Bryant didn't relieve, but intensified, his urge to return to the basketball court.

"When I can touch the basketball hoop again, I'll be extremely excited," says Wang, a 23-year-old college student living in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

The long period of self-imposed isolation has caused many people to slip out of shape. "I thought I would be able to dunk like Kobe, but my weight won't allow it to happen," Wang jokes. "I will come back tomorrow and play again with my friends."

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Chinese people across the country have been advised to stay at home. With the epidemic situation in China taking a more positive turn, some stadiums and gyms with good ventilation can begin to resume operation in areas with a low risk of contracting the virus, to meet people's need for exercise.

Some sports fields in Nanjing, Hangzhou, Changchun, Shanghai and other big cities have also resumed operations. By March 12, nearly 590 gyms and stadiums reopened in Shanghai. However, measures for epidemic prevention and control, such as disinfection, limiting the number of customers and taking body temperature, are being strictly adhered to.

On Sunday, Ningxia Stadium resumed operation under the guidance of the local government. Many people waited patiently for the doors to open.