Chinese director Teng Junjie said that "An Ode to Water" will be highlighted at the much-anticipated gala show of the pending 14th FINA world championships in Shanghai?on Saturday night.

He said it's an inspiring idea that the ceremony is linked to the host city locating at the seaside and riverside as well.

"Water is the mother of Shanghai, and it's the main conception of the opening ceremony," said Teng, adding the idea has been hailed by FINA.

The director promised that the Chinese traditional features including water, moonlight, waterfall, mountain and lotus will add special flavor to the ceremony.

Unlike the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai Expo, the swimming worlds opening ceremony will underline the conceptions of environment protection and frugality.

"China's ancient philosopher once said 'the highest good resembles water', so we try to show that people should care about the nature and life," said Teng, who took charge of the ceremony seven months ago.

Teng, also the director of the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Expo last year, added his team has taken the venues very carefully, trying not to do any harms to the swimming pool during the rehearsals.

The swimming worlds come to China for the first time, with the record participation of 181 countries and regions, running from July 16 to 31.