A man in his 60s performs a lateral raise with a pair of heavy stone dumbbells. [Photo/Hangzhou.com.cn]

Everyday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a group of seniors can be found at an outdoor training ground close to Wan'an Bridge for their daily workout, setting a good example for younger generations.

Even in the sweltering summer, they show their love for hard work and working up a heavy sweat. From 8:00 to 10:00 am, they rally around each other and train. When resting, they encourage each other with pep talks or share neighborhood stories they find interesting.

The training ground has more than 20 facilities, including horizontal bars, parallel bars, and stone dumbbells. Even though many of the group members have moved far away, they still return regularly to "hang out" with their old friends.

A group member does a reversed hang-up at a training ground by the Wan'an River. [Photo/Hangzhou.com.cn]

"It's the atmosphere that brings us back. We have only one goal, train untamed to keep fit," said a 68-year-old man surnamed Zhou.

"My buddies are over 65 years old on average, but many of us are in even better shape than young men in terms of core strength and athletic performance," said Zhou, who immediately showed off his prowess with a horizontal bar by doing four swings in a row.

While some of them have had chronic diseases or had undergone surgeries, they have now returned to health, both physically and mentally, after years of exercise.

"Seniors, especially males, need spiritual enjoyment. Such training can motivate them to find new goals and maintain their health physically and mentally," said Zhang Ying, a doctor from Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province.