China has attracted a huge amount of interest from around the world over the last two decades because of its rapid and vigorous development. Rapid economic growth has brought with it significant structural reforms in all trades and professions across China. Within this context of rapid social change, the Chinese basic education system has been subject to considerable reforms. Foremost has been the introduction of a new National Curriculum Standard comprising 18 learning areas in which Physical Education and Health was included in order to better accommodate the contemporary needs of (post)modern China. This study focuses upon the ways physical education teachers interpret and engage with the curriculum reforms advanced in the new National Physical Education and Health Curriculum. Through interviews with 18 practicing physical education teachers, the paper seeks to address some challenge issues facing Chinese physical education reform, especially the factors resisting implementation of the new curriculum. Among the core themes to be discussed in this paper will be the personal, structural and cultural factors that work against teachers taking up the change opportunities. (Contains 1 footnote.)