KUNMING, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A group of swimmers from China's national team finished their winter training on Friday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.

Xu Jiayu, a member of China's swimming national team, during the training in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, on January 30. (Photo: Xinhua)

Preparing for the 2019 World Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, swimmers including world champions Xu Jiayu and Ye Shiwen had six weeks of systematic training sessions in Kunming.

"They were doing eight swimming sessions and four gym sessions per week. Two sessions every day. Training at high altitude can help athletes be better prepared physically," said Xu Guoyi, coach of Xu and Ye.

Located in the middle of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Kunming sits at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters above sea level.

"The year 2019 is important in terms of preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. We will try our best to win gold medals at the World Championships in South Korea, which will help boost the swimmers' confidence," coach Xu added.

The squad will resume training in Beijing on February 8.