Jing'an Sports Center Swimming Pool | 静安区体育中心游泳馆

Crowds are lighter approaching the closing times or local meal times. It becomes one of the only acceptable pools of the city for good swimmers.

Be careful though as they kick you out of the water 15min before supposed times of closure.

Hand paddles are prohibited; pull buoys OK.

You cannot bring your things (water bottle, accessories) right on the side of the pool. You need to put them a bit far away in a dedicated area - therefore getting out of the water is necessary...

There are cheaper sessions are available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, but they are very crowded. A grumpy life saver even forbade me from using a pull-buoy (madness!!!!).

The pool is divided into shallow water, slow swimmers, long distance swimmers, and fast swimmers. But nothing is respected and be prepared to see slow persons showing their old lady style-breaststroke in the fastest lane.

The lanes are so large that people don't respect normal "keep on the right" rules we see in the west, therefore be prepared to double and zigzag all the time. Like on local motorways.

[July, 2021]

This pool is not suitable for any serious swimming / lap swimming. Everything leading up to it was promising: The pool is located on the 6th floor of a big "sports complex" building. There's a big clean reception area and good changing rooms with decent showers. Getting health certificate was just a matter of paying six yuan, writing my name, and providing emergency contact details. The pool itself, however, was divided into two sections with no lanes, which I found out is always the case. The biggest problem is complete lack of any swimming etiquette. Everyone just swims in random directions, whichever way they want with zero regard for others. It works for the locals, who seem to be fine weaving in and out of each others' way. Most swimmer are fairly slow. So for anyone who is looking for an uninterrupted, well paced lap swim, this pool will be a waste of time.

The 50m pool is never set up for long course laps: there is always a wall dividing it into two tanks, a 30m pool and another, smaller, 15m pool. People swim everywhere, spit in the pool, have a chat while obstructing other swimmers, all while the lifeguards watch their phones. Use of paddles is not allowed: that is deemed "dangerous". The best time is around 18:30 and 19:00.

Open to the public 3:30 to 6:30 and 6:30 to 9:00 P.M. daily
Pool 1 had no lane lines, the bulkhead was set at 33.5m; most swimming breaststroke - lane etiquette was not observed, defensive swimming was necessary.
Pool 2 had lane lines but was used for a children's swim school.
Exchange your ticket and health card outside locker room for a numbered locker key wristband. The locker room was clean, roomy, and had nice hot showers. Follow the steps through shower room upstairs to pool deck.