With the China Super League season in full bloom and Olympic trials on the horizon, here are some of the most interesting sports stories coming out of China this weekend. more ›

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It looks as if all of Sichuan province tried to squeeze into one indoor swimming pool in Daying county. The pool is actually more of a hot spring, fed by an underground lake that was formed 150 million years ago. They call it "China's Dead Sea" because the salt content is similar to that of the real Dead Sea. Apparently there's some UNESCO data out there that suggests one hour of swimming in this lake can have the same effect as eight hours of sleep. Thus the inter-tubed hoards. more ›

Happy 3rd annual National Fitness Day Shanghai! In celebration of everything healthy, today you can go check out the Oriental Sports Center for free, along with 50 other public stadiums and gymnasiums around the city. But it gets better! The Oriental Sport's Center's outdoor diving pool will be open to the public not only today, but all month long! Go mess around in the water for free until September 7. Since this offer managed to combine two things that are both screamingly popular in China (swimming and free stuff) they suggest you call ahead and reserve time at the pool if you're interested. They only allow 200-300 people in per 90 minute session, but you can call ahead to reserve (call 20238305 or 20238316, or send an SMS to 106 573 000 168.) Opening hours are from 9:30 - 12:30 (two sessions) and from 13:30 to 17:00 (three sessions.) Weekday morning sessions are probably your best bet. If you do call/text ahead, they ask that you include name, number, how many people (up to three) and session time. more ›

A new swimming star has been born. 19-year-old Chinese swimmer Sun Yang (孙杨) yesterday broke Grant Hackett's iconic 10-year world record in 1500m freestyle, touching in 14 minutes 34.14 seconds. This is Sun's second gold medal at the world swimming championships. Earlier, he took home the 800m freestyle gold and 400m freestyle silver. More good things are expected of the young man at the London Olympics in 2012 so this definitely won't be the last we'll hear of him. more ›

"A SWIMMING pool in Tianjin Municipality has been closed after a live electric wire snapped and fell into the pool, killing three people and injuring several others. Bohai Swimming Pool executives are being investigated by police after the fatal accident on July 14. Authorities said an electric wire, which was connected to a sunshade above the pool, ruptured and fell into the water due to strong wind. Some witnesses said at least six people, including a 67-year-old swimming instructor, were injured and hospitalized. Authorities declined to reveal details before they completed their investigation." [Shanghai Daily] more ›

FINA continues this weekend and the swimming finally kicks off on Sunday! Phelps in the hizzouse. If swimming's not your bag, don't worry because there is plenty of other stuff going on around town to keep you occupied. Mesa & Manifesto is closing, TICT is throwing a beach party, and Dada's screening another North Korean film! Read on for details, or check out our calendar for more! more ›

Human Fish sighting alert! 14-time Olympic Gold Medalist and confirmed party bro Michael Phelps arrived at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport yesterday. Phelps flew in from Australia, where he was training at the Gold Coast Aquatic Center in Queensland, in preparation for the royal ass-kicking he planned on doling out at the 14th FINA World Aquatics Championships now under way in Shanghai. more ›

The best swimmers in the world are in Shanghai for the FINA (Fédération International de Natation) championships. Some of them, like Michael Phelps, were in Beijing for the Olympics. Back then, Facebook and Twitter were allowed. more ›

This weekend you can watch a German film or martial arts comedy, groove to the 90s with Leather Locklear, or enjoy world championship water sports! Continue reading for all the goings-on around town, or check out our calendar for more. more ›

With only three days left till the opening ceremony of the 14th bi-annual World Aquatic Championships in Shanghai, the event is already being tainted with controversy. more ›

As someone once said, “Sex is like snow, you never know how many inches you're going to get or how long it will last”. So while our snow ended kinda prematurely yesterday, we can only look on with envy at the many many inches everyone else is getting (we're looking at you, Harbin!). For a start, check out this mass wedding in Harbin that will totally give the Moonies a run for their money! Catch the lone (relatively underdressed) midget without a bride at 0:24 (everybody say awwwwww!) more ›

Five Chinese swimmers received two year bans yesterday after testing positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol at a national competition last June. According to the AP the athletes' coaches also received one to two year bans. more ›

Is it just us or does he sound and look a little stoned here? more ›

DMG Entertainment has said it will not cancel its endorsement deal with Michael Phelps (菲尔普斯), notwithstanding the scandal over a published photo of him smoking a bong. The group said on Tuesday that it will be "standing by Michael." more ›

And while you're visiting the ice festival in Harbin, why not consider taking a dip into the chilly river with these guys? This video sure makes swimming along to Chinese techno music look fun! more ›

Michael Phelps (菲尔普斯) has signed the biggest ever endorsement contract for a Western celebrity in China, claims DMG Entertainment group, the agency that reportedly signed him to a seven-figure deal with Mazda. more ›

For those of you that saw the 100M Butterfly final, you'll know Michael Phelps was off to a really bad start in the first lap, but he made a miraculous comeback in the second to finish first by just 0.01 second in what's been dubbed his "fingernail victory". And now the heretofore unseen camera angle from the perspective of silver medallist Milorad Čavić of Serbia. (h/t Towleroad) more ›

Well, if you don't have time to watch all of the Olympic games, here's the ultra-short mime version, performed on Japanese television. We especially like the swimming. more ›

Chinese women had a great morning in the pool, notching two silvers, a gold and a new world record. China only won two swimming medals in the 2004 Olympics. more ›

Swimmer Michael Phelps is doing his best to make sure that Chinese fans have access to information about him. He had his personal Web site, Michaelphelps.com, built in just two languages—English and simplified Chinese. more ›

Swimming just got a whole lot safer. State media reported on Friday that all Shanghai public swimming pools will now have "specially trained staff" smelling the shampoo and body wash of all swimmers before entry is allowed in an effort "guard against explosions or other "terrorist attacks". Recently "some 400 of the city's more than 450 pools had passed safety examinations", but what of the remaining 50 pools? Well they may be "oblivious of the new rule". Bomb sniffing dogs in the airport, security checks in the metro stations, people smelling your shampoo. We feel so much safer already. See the full Reuters story more ›