And you’re smiling, because you feel totally at peace with the world. This is the runner’s high — the strange excitement that sets in after a long bout of aerobic (有氧的) exercise.

The most obvious way to get a runner’s high is to start running, particularly long-distance running. It may take several miles for the effects to kick in, though it’s difficult to quantify(量化)exactly when, where and for how long a runner’s high will occur. And not every runner — or every run — will be able to produce a runner’s high. This variability has led some snarky Twitter users to conclude that the runner’s high is, in fact, a myth, despite the physiological changes associated with it.

Other aerobic activities, including biking, swimming and strenuous hiking, can trigger the same response without necessarily forcing you to pound the pavement.

Interestingly, humans aren’t the only animals that have exhibited signs of runner’s high. Several experiments have observed a similar phenomenon in mice. Raichlen’s lab has also tested dogs and ferrets (雪貂) by sticking them on a treadmill (跑步机) and looking for exercise-induced excitement, according to research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. After 30 minutes of running, the dogs appeared at-ease; blood tests revealed elevated levels of endocannabinoids in their systems. “We didn’t see that in the ferrets,” Raichlen said.

One major benefit to achieving a runner’s high is that it makes exercise more enjoyable. By extension, this makes people more likely to stick to an exercise routine, which is a key component of long-term heart health, according to the American Heart Association. There is also good evidence that, over the long term, exercise can help reduce anxiety and stress. So go ahead and lace up your shoes. You’re free to chase that runner’s high as far as it takes you.

If a traditional sport bores you, it’s time to try something new! Cycling, but outdoors on city roads; surfing, but on the land; playing frisbee (飞盘), but with a group of people... New sports have been refreshing our minds, bringing more joy to physical exercise.

National fitness has been part of the national strategy for many years, aiming to improve people’s overall physical health. With great attention paid in support of national fitness, new sports begin to develop. According to a study by Houlang Research Institute which attracted more than 1,200 young people to participate, more than 93 percent of people born after 2000are interested in urban (城市的) sports.

Why do young people favor new sports? Houlang’s report claims that apart from keeping fit as a type of exercise, many young people pick them up to socialize—allowing them to build up their social circles. “Players tend to have online group chats announcing their usual activities and simply sharing their lives. The new sports are also suitable for taking photos and are less limited by venues (场地),” the CEO of a tourism website in China told China News Service. Gathered together through social media, people can enjoy new sports at many places in the city, from parks to spacious sidewalks.

Qianjiang Evening News also comments that the new sport are easier for new players to start, unlike other traditional sports, such as soccer and basketball, which usually require strict and complex rules. Thus, the new sports are less competitive but could bring more fun. According to a website, people may opt for sports that are less challenging and can take place at local venues.

Urban sports have unlocked new lifestyles in China and prove that more people arc exposed to and willing to enjoy sports, according to China News Service.

After graduating as a graphic design major in 2018, Chen Minlin didn't hunt for a job that fits it, but became a trekker (远足者).

“Completing different trekking routes is like collecting cards in childhood — a lot of fun,”the 24-year-old told China Daily.

Like Chen, more young people are going on journeys to rediscover the simple and beneficial joys of walking. According to Youxiake, a Hangzhou—based tour operator, more than 140,000 travelers signed up for trekking trips from May I to Oct 31. This represents a 9.3 percent increase over the same period last year.

For most trekkers, exploring nature by foot can help them keep fit. Hiking or trekking in nature enables them to breathe fresh air, gives the whole body a workout and keeps them away from the crowds in urban public places, making for a tranquil experience.

“I felt hat exposure 10 nature and physical exhaustion helped me counteract the negative effects of my distress (痛苦) at that time," Zhang Peng, 33, co-founder of Bejing Hiking Club, said.Trekking "is a liberating experience to enjoy the tranquility in the wilderness. And the exhausting climb makes me feel he vigor of life."

Trekking has, indeed, been integrated into his lifestyle. With great passion, Zhang has gone on many classic routes across the country. The longest trail he's ever finished was 240 kilometers.

With poor internet access in the wild, it encourages people to chat and interact with one another on the long walks along the rails. Zhang enjoys the social interaction, and the friendships it brings about.

For Liu Yanli, also a trekker, what she cherishes most is that the activity brings her mental strength.

Until this year, her life had always run smoothly and lacked hardship. She craved the sense of achievement that can be felt after overcoming the difficulties offered by trekking.

Ever since 2013, she's trekked in may countries, including Nepal, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, Italy and Jordan. In one situation, she fell she was at the point of collapsing, but she carried on. "I was impressed and moved by my willpower. I'd never experienced that felling in my daily life,"Liu said.

It's perhaps this unusual felling that appeals to more youths.“Each time when I came back from a trip, the contrast between the harsh conditions in the wild and my cozy home helps to strengthen my happiness in everyday life." Liu added.