Kaohsiung Insider

I think this gym is great - although my one gripe is that the classes are not in English. Apparently there are a couple of instructors that speak English, and if you see them prior to the class they will instruct the class in English and Chinese.

Swimming in the outside pool when the weather gets a little colder is great because you will be the only one in there and you will not swim into slow swimmers in the fast lane.

There are always enough cardio machines for everyones use. All have a television screen showing the usual cable channels.

They generally do not do discounts for membership. We paid 24,000NT for 15 months.

Wife and I joined in April of '08 and while we generally don't have time to work out together we both really like Fitness Factory.

My wife frequents the one on Jiou-Ru Road more often than Bo-Ai as it's near her office.

For myself (recent funk aside and oh, nose surgery) I try to go at least 3-4 nights a week.

The gym itself is big, really big. The cardio equipment is on the 2nd floor and they have machines of all types and many have TV's on top (I usually just listen to my own mp3 player anyways).

The basketball court is big, there are also ping pong tables and a pool table as well.

The third floor consists of the weightlifting machines and free weight area. I tend to use the free weight area as there are fewer people that use them.

The fourth floor has a full size boxing ring as well as rooms for spinning, judo/karate and also has raquetball courts.

They also have a full size climbing wall, which sooner or later I'll gather the guts to try as I'm not one for heights.

The restrooms are very clean and plenty of showers available to use. Be aware you need to bring your own towels and lock. They do have q-tips, tissues and hair dryers available.

Overall I love the gym, my few complaints are as follows:
1) I don't like that the pool is outside, don't understand personally why it wan't built inside.
2) Hours. I come from Idaho which is 4 times the size of Taiwan but all told only has a million people. Yet most gyms I was a member at back home were open 24 hours, Bo-Ai is only open 6am-midnight. Minor gripe but a gripe none the less, especially in a city that otherwise seems to have a lot to do late at night.
3) Locals seem to not be able to read their own language, as often cars will park in areas that are designated for mopeds/scooters. I tire of this and use my cell phone camera to take a picture of the license plate and then show it to the staff when I head in.

I tend to go in to workout after I get off work, so I am usually there from 9:30-11pm. The cardio area is generally packed but not hard to find a machine to get on. The weight areas can be busy too but generally I've found the free-weight area to be less busy.

Looking for a gym, look no further than Fitness Factory.

An entire building was built to occupy this large fitness centre. I was rather impressed by this because you know the facilities are here for all your exercise needs and pleasures. I took a tour here one cool but sunny saturday afternoon last year and I couldn't believe how empty this place was! It's like you would have had the entire place to yourself; empty pool, virtually empty machines room, few people on the weights and a deserted basketball court. The staff tour was professional, well spoken in English and I didn't have to fight off a sales pitch - just the basics in orientation and I appreciated that.

A world class fitness center which is expanding with a new gym on Jiu ru and one soon to be open near the downtown sogo.

Working out here is a daily routine, with a pool to cool off in the summer, airconditioned basketball court with a hardwood floor, and the weight room is a mile long with everything the serious body builder could want. I've heard people put forth their mixed feelings about the membership price, but to me it worth it. Don't feel like lifting iron?... they got ping pong, rock climbing, boxing and judo not to mention ongoing spin, yoga and qigong classes free to join with membership.