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)