The Shanghai Oriental Sports Center will be among the some 50 government-funded stadiums and gymnasiums open to the public for free today as the city marks the 3rd annual National Fitness Day.

Opening the doors to the venue, which hosted the 14th FINA World Championships in the city last month, to the public for free, is a move that aims to encourage more people to lead active lifestyles, said Yu Jian, a press officer from the Shanghai Sports Bureau.

"Many people neglect daily exercise because of mounting work stress these days," she told the Global Times Sunday. "But we want to teach people the importance of maintaining a healthy routine."

Yu added that people visiting the center or other popular venues around the city today should call ahead for reservations to avoid disappointment as staff will be managing the number of visitors for public safety reasons.

Additionally, apart from tomorrow, Moon Bay, the center's outdoor diving pool, will remain open to the public free of charge for some 30 days to give local residents more time to enjoy the facility, said Yu.