Plunging the Icy Depths With Houhai's Fearless Winter Swimmers

Beijing Olympian is an ongoing column in which we explore the newest, the funnest, and the downright whackiest in Beijing’s fitness scene.

But arguably the most important benefit of winter swimming and other types of cold exposure is a stronger immune system. Every time we expose ourselves to the cold, we give our immune system a workout, encouraging the body to produce greater quantities of infection-fighting white blood cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines. When practiced regularly, this can have a dramatic impact on our ability to resist infections – a phenomenon which has been demonstrated by the legendary Dutch trainer Wim Hof, AKA the Ice Man. In 2013, Hof trained a group of volunteers in his breathing techniques whilst giving them progressively stronger doses of exposure to the cold, after which they were injected with E-coli bacteria, which was also given to a control group. While members of the control group predictably developed raging fevers and headaches which developed into full-blown flu, the test group showed almost no reaction – their body temperatures hardly changed and their blood values showed almost no inflammation.

Let's be honest though, go for a dip with Beijing's local winter swimming community and you're unlikely to hear much discussion of brown adipose tissue or cytokines. These swimmers, mostly in their 50s and 60s and ever ready to give encouragement to newcomers, actually seem to be enjoying themselves. After the initial shock of submerging yourself in zero-degree water subsides, there is something profoundly euphoric about the winter swimming experience – a rush of endorphins that athletes would recognize as a "runners' high."

Before you go ripping off your clothes and jumping into the nearest lake though, a word on safety. Beijing is not known for the cleanliness of its lakes and canals and whilst a short dip is unlikely to have any harmful impact, you are advised to shower properly after and avoid ingesting any water. Saying that, by far your biggest threat though is not from water-borne germs but from the temperature itself. Short doses of cold exposure are known to be healthful but don't overdo it, especially on your first time. Always warm up properly, keep breathing deeply before and after entering the water, and never go alone.

Whether you're a thrillseeker, a health freak, or just looking to lose a few kilos without having to buy a gym membership, winter swimming could be just the sport for you.

By far the most iconic and practical location for winter swimming in Beijing is Houhai. The section on the north bank (Houhai Beiyan 后海北沿) not only has the benefit of having a ladder (useful if you would prefer to step, rather than dive in), a local hardcore community (who will offer you tips and do handy things like break the ice when it gets frozen over), and an outdoor calisthenics gym where you can do some warm-up exercises.

To fix up your first "swim date" and get invited to one of the several laowai-friendly WeChat groups, feel free to reach out to the following winter swimming regulars:

Lululemon Ambassador and Tatler magazine columnist, Victor Rowse is a fitness researcher and personal trainer based in Beijing, China. Do you have a niche fitness hobby that needs recognition? Write to us editor@thebeijinger.com to arrange an interview!

Photos: Anna Pellegrin  Hartley, Angel, Harold