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Alice Yan

After a gym in central China suddenly closed, leaving its clients unable to receive refunds, one of its fitness coaches completed his 877 classes at his own expense of 200,000 yuan (US$28,000), stating, “Trust is more important than anything else.”
The story of the coach, surnamed Zhang, went viral online and garnered half a million likes on social media in China after being reported by Jiupai News in mid-March.
The 29-year-old Zhang previously worked at Aishang Gym in Wuhan, Hubei province, as a personal trainer.
The gym charged members 200 yuan (US$28) per class, with each session lasting for an hour.
In October 2024, the gym unexpectedly closed, and its owner vanished.
At the time, Zhang was training 29 clients, who collectively had 877 classes affected by the gym’s closure.

He stated that he and other coaches had not received their salaries for five months before the gym’s shutdown.
The clients could not locate the owner for refunds, and their efforts to safeguard their rights were unsuccessful.
Zhang informed his clients that he was willing to continue teaching them to complete their remaining classes. Subsequently, he taught his clients at a nearby gym until early March, when all his classes were completed.
During this period, Zhang had to personally cover the venue rental fee, which was 100 yuan per hour.
Some clients chose not to continue with the classes and sought refunds. Zhang redeemed their payments on behalf of the gym’s owner.
Zhang spent over 200,000 yuan from his own savings over the past two years, during which he had no income.

A middle-aged female client, who had been training with Zhang since 2019, had 80 classes affected by the gym’s closure.
“Zhang told us he would continue teaching us as before. He reassured us. I felt secure then,” the woman was quoted as saying. “He is an upstanding person. I trust him completely. He will not abandon us.”
Zhang mentioned that he sold his car last year due to financial pressure, as he also has a house loan.
“In the past 15 months or so, I have felt exhausted and stressed. But after finishing each lesson, I felt my burden lighten a bit. It’s worthwhile for me to do this,” Zhang told the media.
“I cannot betray my clients’ trust,” he added.

Initially, his parents opposed his decision, but later they supported him.
“My parents are farmers from northwestern Gansu province. They are simple and honest. They said as long as I considered it carefully, I should go for it,” said Zhang.
Incidents of gyms ceasing operations while owing customers membership fees frequently trend on social media in China. Few customers manage to retrieve their remaining funds, as gym owners often disappear and have already arranged their assets, making it difficult to safeguard their rights.


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News

People & Culture

Zhang says even though he felt exhausted and stressed, completing each lesson made his burden feel a little lighter


Zhang says even though he felt exhausted and stressed, completing each lesson made his burden feel a little lighter.


Health & Fitness

China coach goes above and beyond, trains clients at own cost of US$28,000 after gym shuts

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Zhang says even though he felt exhausted and stressed, completing each lesson made his burden feel a little lighter

Zhang says even though he felt exhausted and stressed, completing each lesson made his burden feel a little lighter