More than 20 German high school students recently visited a senior high school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. They had a basketball match with Chinese students last Thursday, and the Chinese students felt the Germans were far more physically fit than themselves.

Xu Lingfei, a teacher from the school, said that Chinese students focus less on physical exercises. He said although students can have some exercises at school, their parents intend to make them spend more time on study.

On hearing that Chinese parents were reluctant to let their children take exercises, the German students were astonished. "Students in Germany have plenty of exercises after school," a teacher from Germany said "Many children also enjoy dancing, practicing judo or karate."

Xu suggested that students need more support from their parents in physical training. He said many parents themselves refused to take exercises.

(Chinanews October 30, 2007)