Parkour Fever Sweeps China

The French-born physical discipline of Parkour is gaining popularity among Beijing's urban youth.

Its "art of moving" allows practitioners to use agility and speed to negotiate objects in their environment to create a path.

Often compared to martial arts, 60-year-old Wu Suhui was amazed by the boys' Kung Fu-like skills.

[Wu Suhui, Spectator]:
"I think it is like the Shaolin Kung Fu, it is very good. It has a lot of hope. It's cool, very cool. I've never seen this before, so when I saw it, I was drawn to it."

China Parkour Club, one of the largest in the nation, has hundreds of followers.

Zhang Tianlin, coach at the club, said the magnetic pull of Parkour lies in its relaxing quality.

[Zhang Tian Lin, Coach, China Parkour Club]:
"Life goes by pretty fast and there is a lot of pressure, so Parkour is a very relaxing and stress-releasing activity. It not only relaxes your muscles but also your mind."

Parkour originated in 1987 when a group of gymnastic enthusiasts began to practice stunts in a Paris playground, gaining worldwide popularity in the 1990s.