On campus, staying active isn’t just about exercise. It’s about balance, community, and well-being. Whether you prefer sweating it out at the Fitness Center, finding calm through yoga, committing to a team sport, or jumping into a friendly volleyball match after class, NYU Shanghai’s diverse fitness and recreation spaces encourage students to move, unwind, and build connections that stretch beyond the classroom.
Fitness Center - North B212
Open Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p,m., Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wondering where all your friends have gone? Check the Fitness Center, which is bustling with students, staff, and faculty throughout the day and has become a real hub for the campus fitness community. The state-of-the-art equipment is divided into seven different stations: Weights, Conditioning, Cardio, Stretching, Combat Area, Stationary Machines, and a Resting area with sofas for when you need a break.
Fitness Center Guidance
Not sure how to get started? Sign up for a free, hour-long equipment introduction—from cardio, weight stack machines, free weights and more—guided by ACE-certified personal trainer Jeremy Liu, who provides demonstrations of proper use and advises students as they try equipment out.
Liu teaches students a full routine—how to move, how to train effectively, and how to work out independently. Sessions include warm-ups, functional training, and a variety of small equipment such as dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, and stationary machines.
“Each class is tailored to the students’ needs,” says Liu. “Before signing up, I ask them what content they’d like for the next session. So far, over 50 students have learned how to train independently through these sessions.”
Register for a guided session by scanning the QR code on NYU Shanghai Engage.
Combat Area - North Hall B212
Have you ever wanted to try boxing or Brazilian jiu-jitsu? Kick off your shoes and head to the Combat Area at the back of the Fitness Center—a dedicated mat space for martial arts and self-defense training, equipped with a partial ring, heavy bags, and striking equipment like gloves and focus mitts.
The Combat Area hosts hour-long beginner-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes (for students only), on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m., and the team regularly competes, even winning the University Group Team Championship at the 2025 Shanghai Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Eric Kuang ’26 says he enjoys the jiu jitsu coach’s well-structured curriculum as well as having passionate training partners. “I hope everyone can experience the charm of the sport while building strength and confidence,” he said.
Susannah Hurlbut-Noonan ’27, a member of the student boxing club, was also excited that NYU Shanghai has a space for combat sports. “There are no such facilities on the New York campus pertaining to martial arts,” says. “It feels extremely comprehensive here.”
🚨Club Alert: Student club Qilin Boxing hosts classes and demonstrations on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Locker Rooms - North B204 and B205
Head to the end of the B2 North Hall and you’ll find the student and staff locker rooms equipped with lockers, showers, and restrooms. To rent and access a locker, all you need is to scan your NYU Shanghai ID card at the Athletics front desk. Simply tap your ID card to open your designated locker, and be sure to empty out your belongings completely and lock up before checking out.
Main Gymnasium - North B209
Equipped with movable bleachers that seat up to 600 spectators, the main gym is used for intercollegiate, intramural, and recreational volleyball and basketball. NYU Shanghai teams hold practices in the evening, but free play hours are open to the entire community.
“It’s nice to see how students are spending their free time in the gym [and] dedicating their time to something they enjoy outside of class,”said Athletics student worker Oyuntuyya Dorjpagam ’29.
Free play hours are on Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Outside these hours, you can also pay to use the space.
Rent sports equipment by scanning your NYU ID at the Athletics front desk.
View the Athletics & Fitness Center Community Hours.
🚨Club Alert: NYU Shanghai has official intramural student clubs for basketball (Qilin Hoops), volleyball (NYU Shanghai Star Volley), and badminton (Birdy Badminton Club) which use main or auxiliary gyms for daily training, activities, and school competitions. Throughout the year, faculty and staff play against students in badminton and basketball competitions.
Auxiliary Gymnasium - North B211
While both main and auxiliary gymnasiums are designed to host multi-sports activities including badminton, basketball, and volleyball, badminton takes center stage at the auxiliary gym.
Facilities are open to the entire NYU Shanghai community for solo or team practices, and free play, reservations, and rentals are the same as the main gym’s.
🚨Club Alert: Birdy Badminton Club holds Friday meetings in the auxiliary gym at 4:00 p.m.
Athletic Trainer's Office - North B210
Hours: By appointment only, no walk ins
What happens when you get injured during competition or training? Make an appointment for a consultation at the trainer’s office located between the main and aux gyms. Mark Kang, NYU Shanghai’s athletic trainer and conditioning specialist, is committed to the overall health, well-being, and safety of all student athletes.
Kang specializes in the protection and prevention of sports injuries, provides emergency and therapeutic care to student athletes, and designs rehabilitation programs to ensure their safety and health. With his support, you’ll be back on the court in no time.
Pool Table - North B2
Exercise your body and your mind at the pool table under the B2 stairwell. Open 24/7 with no reservations needed, it’s a great space for students to unwind between classes and challenge each other to some friendly competition.
Table Tennis Hall - East B216
Open seven days a week, the table tennis hall welcomes students to hone their skills using their own equipment, or if needed, they can rent paddles and table tennis balls from the Athletics front desk. You might even catch Vice Chancellor Lehman playing a match or two there—he’s an avid ping pong player.
Group Exercise Studio - East B217
The group exercise studio hosts a variety of weekly fitness classes—from yoga and cardio boxing to pilates, Karate, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Zumba. NYUSH Cheer Club and SOS Dance Club train there as well.
The Athletics Department organizes one-off outdoor activities, like hiking, skiing, golf, dragon boating, rock climbing, and go-karting. Students have formed six official student sports clubs—cheerleading, running, boxing, basketball, badminton, and volleyball—and new clubs are in the works, from barbell to fencing and Muay Thai.
🚨Club Alert: The student-created NYUSH Run Club regularly meets in the quad before night runs or runs along the Huangpu River.
Learn more about Intercollegiate Sports at NYU Shanghai
Send any questions to Shanghai Athletics & Fitness at: shanghai.athletics@nyu.edu