Who says exercise has to be all work and no play? There are dozens of clubs in Beijing, each offering a fun way to get in shape and meet new friends. The following are some of the most popular city’s most energizing active groups.

Beijing Devils Rugby Club
Now in its 20^th year, the Devils get down and dirty every Tuesday at 7.15pm at Dulwich Legend Gardens in Shunyi (with a bus leaving at 7.15pm from the Den). Training resumes in March. Check beijingdevils.com for more details.

Beijing Ducks Water Polo
The Beijing Ducks practice on Sundays from 2-4pm at the International School of Beijing. For more info e-mail edmunds.alex@gmail.com or richard.andrew.young@gmail.com.

Beijing Gaelic Football Club
Take one part football, one part rugby and mix with a generous portion of Guinness, and you get Gaelic football. Men’s and Women’s teams available and training is usually Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm at Chaoyang Park and Sundays from noon-2pm at WAB. Beginners welcome. Play should resume in March but no exact time or location had been confirmed at the time of print. Visit beijinggaa.org for more info.

Beijing Golfers Club
Dating back to 1995 by a group of golf enthusiasts, this club organizes weekend tournaments and is open to two skill levels – Class A for those with a handicap of 18 and lower and Class B for those with a handicap over 18. Play should resume in March. Check beijing-golfers-club.org for more info.

Beijing Guardians
Full-contact tackle American football is the name of the game for the Guardians, who meet every Tuesday and Sunday at 7pm for two hours of warm-ups, drills, training and more. RMB 400-600 for the full season. Training should resume in March but prices and times were unconfirmed at the time of print. Check beijingguardians.com for more info.

Beijing Hash House Harriers
The “running club with a drinking problem” takes to the streets every week in search of beer, exercise and as much fun as possible. The group meets each Sunday at 2.30pm but dates and times can vary. Runs usually last an hour, covering 7-10 km. Sign up on their site for the weekly email. www.hash.cn.

Beijing Hikers
The Beijing Hikers Club has been organizing weekend and midweek hikes in the hills around Beijing since 2001. Advance reservations are necessary. Hikes cost around RMB 300 per person (discounts available for children under 12) and include meals and transportation. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm. Rm 601, Bldg 2, Xinhualian Ligang, 26 Jiuxianqiao Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (6432 2786) 朝阳区酒仙桥中路26号新华联丽港2号楼601室 beijinghikers.com

Beijing International Ice Hockey
With six teams with over 100 players from over a dozen countries, this local hockey league plays three nights a week and on Sunday nights. Saturday pick-up games on Houhai (10am) run throughout February and cost RMB 20 to join in. Visit beijinghockey.com or e-mail peking_puck@gmail.com for more info.

Beijing Ladies Golf
Comprised of ladies of different nationalities who share a love for golf, this group meets Thursday at courses around Beijing. All skill levels are welcome and club championships are held at the end of every year. Season opening lunch is March 8. Check beijingladiesgolf.org for more information.

China Club Football
Brings the “Beautiful Game” to all. Offers men’s and women’s 5-a-side, adult and year-round junior leagues (for boys and girls ages 4-18) and football coaching by experienced FA qualified personnel. Membership costs RMB 300. Men’s spring league starts on March 6. See www.clubfootball.com.cn for more information.

Dandelion Hiking
Organizes hiking and bike trips around the city in groups of no more than ten people. Some trips consist of overnight stays. Visit chinahiking.cn for more info.

Expat Squash League
Make a racquet every Thursday and Sunday at 7pm. Court rental costs are shared. E-mail williamfrisby@yahoo.co.uk for more info.

Fixed Gear Bike Club
Bikers with a need for speed will want to look into this group of fixed-gear bikers who ride weekly around Beijing. They can even get you involved with “bike polo.” More info on their facebook page or e-mail ines@trick-bike.com.

Flag Football
Part of the Mashup Sports league, this group organizes flag football matches (essentially American football without the “full contact”). Matches resume in March and are every Sunday at 3pm in Chaoyang Park. Contact Yoyao Hsueh at yoyaoh@gmail.com or call 1590 0120 2499 for more information.

Heyrobics
Meets every weekend in Chaoyang Park and other locations. Sign up for their newsletter at heyrobics.com and click here for more info.

International Friendship Football Club
Established in 1994, IFFC has players of all nationalities who regularly compete in an 11-a-side league. If soccer (or “football,” if you will) is your thing, this is for you. Get involved by joining an existing team. Match fees help pay for referees. Check out the website for information about membership, teams, and fees. (157 1005 0115) www.iffc1994.com

Mashup Sports
Mashup’s website describes themselves as “the largest organizer of adult sports leagues, social events and tournaments in Beijing” and organizes a wide range of sports activities – from basketball and bowling to dodge ball, flag football, tennis and even beer pong. Check their website for more details. mashupasia.com

The Peloton Bike Club
Beijing’s biggest and best road cycling club. Visit thebeijingpeloton.com and here for more info.

SinoScuba
Run by longtime Beijing resident and experienced diver Steven Schwankert, SinoScuba offers PADI courses in English and Chinese and periodically organizes diving trips in China and overseas. Visit sinoscuba.com for more info.