On August 1 in Shanghai, college students took part in a "Love
China" Open Yachting Tournament. The students who were from
Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan had come together to sail on the
Suzhou River. This used to be heavily polluted and known for its
smell and dirty water. Now it is a bluish-green river with crystal
clear water.
This was the first time this kind of formal, water sports event had
been held on the Suzhou River since 1949 according to Li Jianxin,
director of the Shanghai Aquatic Sports Center.
The five teams participating were the Shanghai Youth Team, the
Shanghai Jiaotong University Team, the Shanghai Fudan University
Team, the Chinese Hong Kong Students League and the Chinese Taiwan
Furen University Team.
Chen Yiping, vice-chairman of the Shanghai Sports Association said
proudly, "It is really amazing that what was once the dirty Suzhou
River has now become the pride of Shanghai and we are sailing on
it. This significant event really demonstrates the pace and success
of Shanghai's urban re-development."
The stretch of water that served as the venue for the tournament is
just 800 meters long. It runs from the intersection of Shandong
Road and Shanxi Road to Zhaipu Road. This part of the river is in
the downtown Huangpu District.
"Yachting requires a high standard of water quality. It must be
clean and free from smell. Suzhou River has achieved that
standard," said Li Jianxin.
Chen Yiping added, "As Suzhou River becomes cleaner and cleaner,
more and more aquatic sports will be held here."
So
far the annual Open Yachting Tournament has been held four times
with entrants from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The previous
events took place each August at the Shanghai Aquatic Sports Ground
in Dianshan Lake.
These tournaments have not only enhanced exchanges among sporting
enthusiasts in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan but have also
contributed to the promotion of Asian yachting development
generally.
Passing through Shanghai City, the 125 kilometers long Suzhou River
was once famous for its perch fishing. However it became heavily
polluted due to expansion of the papermaking, textile, chemical and
flour making industries dating from the 1920s.
The water turned black and the smell increased year by year. In its
worst days, the smell was evident for over 200 days a year causing
passers-by to cover their noses with their hands. It was especially
unbearable in the heat of summer.
In
1996 Shanghai launched a project to comprehensively clean up Suzhou
River. Provision was made for a total investment of 20 billion yuan
(US$2.42 billion). The aim was to clean up the river in 10 years.
So far, the project has proved rather successful. This year's
tournament attracted many local citizens as spectators. They were
deeply moved to see what a change has been brought about.
(china.org.cn by Zheng Guihong, August 5, 2002)