Ai Na (right) and Wang Minghao inside their boxing fitness studio

"Swinging every punch to lights and music is how we love life and pursue health — even a small boxing gym holds cross-border friendship," said  Ai Na from Russia, who runs a boxing studio with her husband Wang Minghao in Xi'an.

Ai Na arrived in Xi'an for work in 2015 and later settled here. Having visited many Chinese cities, she is especially fond of Xi'an. "Hanfu-clad ladies wander the streets, old teahouses by the city wall exude tea aroma, and a bowl of chili oil noodles warms the soul. The city's timeless blend of ancient allure and modern vibe captivated me and made me decide to stay for good."

In Xi'an, Ai Na met boxing fitness professional Wang Minghao. They fell in love, started a family, and opened a boxing studio in 2018. By blending boxing with upbeat music, stylish lighting and aerobics, they have made this niche sport far more accessible.

A Tajik trainee (right) is having boxing training

The gym welcomes Chinese trainees and nearly 100 foreign members from over a dozen countries, including Tajikistan, Spain, and the UK. It hosts regular social gatherings like barbecues, fitness contests, and boxing meetups, uniting people of diverse nationalities through sport and cultural exchange. It also offers professional boxing training to local international schools in Xi'an.

"Running the gym sees constant clashes between Chinese and Russian mindsets, yet we grow through mutual complementarity," said Wang Minghao. They resolve differences by empathy and mutual understanding. He hopes boxing can integrate into everyday life and spread the values of health, confidence and openness.In the future, they plan to expand their gym to Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles."Xi'an is my second hometown," said Ai Na. "I cherish its everyday charm, the beauty of the Qinling Mountains, and inclusive vibe. I'm blessed to have found love, family and a career here, and to see different cultures connect and thrive together."