KUNMING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A group of athletes from China's national swimming team are engaging in winter training in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, preparing for the 2019 World Championship and Tokyo Olympics.

China's swimming stars and champions of the world including Sun Yang, Xu Jiayu and Ye Shiwen have been taking systematic training sessions in Kunming for more than three weeks.

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

"Training at highland can help athletes be better prepared physically," said Zhu Zhigen, coach of Sun Yang.

"2019 is vital for the preparation of Tokyo Olympics and we should also seize the opportunity in South Korea, as top swimmers will be there for world championship this year," Zhu added.

Besides Kunming and Beijing, Australia and the United States have also been selected as training bases this time, according to the national swimming team.