A survey released on Wednesday said the average fitness level of Chinese adults is improving slightly after years of decline, but experts say the country has a long way to go, citing the absence of consistent high-intensity exercise.

Chinese adults are exercising more and their athletic ability has improved slightly over the past year, according to the national fitness survey by the General Administration of Sport of China.

The survey, which analyzed data from 90,929 people from 10 provinces and municipalities, found that 50.5 percent of Chinese aged 20 to 69 have exercised over the past year, reflecting a 1.3 percent year-on-year increase.