Chinese celebrate on 8.8, for 2008 Summer Games and 2022 Winter Olympics

Seven years ago, curtain was raised on the Beijing Olympic Games on this very day and from now on in another seven years, the Chinese capital will embrace another Olympics.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese all over the country thronged to plazas and parks, dancing, running and playing traditional Chinese sports to mark this very special date, which has been designated the National Fitness Day since the 2008 Summer Games.

As Beijing and co-bidder Zhangjiakou were awarded the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, this day will be both commemoration of the past and celebration of the future.

In Beijing, a group of kids performed the dragon dance as way to celebrate the successful 2022 bid while nearly 10,000 people played shadow boxing, shuttlecock kicking and cuju, the ancient form of soccer, in the Olympic Center in north Beijing.

In Urumqi, Xinjiang, the holy flame for the 13th National Winter Games was ignited and the torch relay began in the western city. The National Winter Games will be held in Xinjiang from Jan. 20 to 31, 2016.

The Fitness Day celebration also caught up with the trend of the Internet age when over 1,000 people gathered, through social media WeChat, in Chongqing's Zhaomushan forest park for a run.

Organizers said they hope more young people will do exercise together through social media rather than just hanging out at dinner parties. Endi