A girl student takes the standing long jump test on Sunday, November 4, 2007. 

Results from a recent health examination in Beijing showed that teenage students in rural areas have better physical constitution than their urban counterparts.

The Beijing Times reports 1,800 teenage students from 18 districts and counties came to Miyun County on Sunday for the city's first ever such examination.

The participants were sorted out by the municipal education authorities on a random basis and were classified into three groups of elementary school, junior middle school and high school.

They received physical check-ups and underwent exercise capability tests including standing long jump and repeatedly jumping up and down the staircase within a time limit.

Students from Miyun County won the first place for the exam, while kids from urban areas such as Chaoyang and Dongcheng Districts lagged far behind.

An official from the municipal educational commission, Gan Beilin, says the test will be held every year in the future and the results will help measure the work of education departments.

China has increased school students' health standard this year to encourage exercises among youngsters and stipulated that students failing to meet the bottom level in PE class will not be allowed to graduate.

(CRI November 6, 2007)