Nanchang, 24 Jul (Xinhua) -- In the middle of summer, reporters walked in many cities in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In recent years, under the guidance of the concept of "jointly grasping large-scale protection and not engaging in large-scale development", provinces along the Yangtze River Economic Belt have promoted ecological environment improvement, supported fitness facilities in urban construction, and provided diversified event supply at the doorstep of the masses. The "most beautiful shoreline" has witnessed the mass sports in full swing.
Polish the green development background
Tian Binqun, 64, is a doctor at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. For ten years, he would swim in the Yangtze River for half an hour every day before going to work. The changes in the Yangtze River were deeply felt by Tian Binqun.
"Before, the banks of the Yangtze River looked chaotic." Tian Binqun said, "Today, the water of the Yangtze River is much clearer, and good water quality has made it the best swimming ground. The Yangtze River beach in Wuhan, which stretches for nearly 100 kilometers, was built into a park, and Tian Binqun swam in the river and found more and more people walking, running and dancing on the shore.
Yangluo Port, the core port of Wuhan Yangtze River midstream shipping center, photographed in 2020. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu
Because of his love of swimming, Tian Binqun also joined the "Yangtze River Defenders" volunteer service team. Cleaning up garbage along the Yangtze River beach, stocking fish fry, rescuing drowning people, etc., are all part of their services. "In recent years, everyone's awareness of environmental protection has become stronger and stronger, and there are fewer and fewer garbage floating down the upstream and garbage on the shore, and there are more and more fish in the river." Tian Binqun said.
In recent years, the battle for ecological protection and restoration has been launched one after another: from the comprehensive improvement of the Yangtze River shoreline to the green transformation of chemical enterprises along the river; From the traceability and rectification of the Yangtze River outlet, to the 10-year ban on fishing in key waters of the Yangtze River Basin... The industrial shoreline, once lined with chimneys and "gray faces", is gradually becoming a good place for residents along the route to relax and exercise.
In mid-July this year, Hubei, Jiangxi and other provinces held activities for 1,000 people to cross the river. The sky is high and the water is wide, the river scenery is beautiful, and the swimmers hit the water and swim in the middle of summer.
Having participated in the organization of the River Crossing Festival for more than ten years, Yao Qinan, director of the Wuhan Social Sports Guidance Center, is full of emotion about the changes in the environment of the Yangtze River. "In the past, there were many unsafe factors to be eliminated, such as sediment upstream, broken boats on the riverside, and the messy environment on the shore, all of which gave us headaches." Yao Qin'an said, "Since the protection of the Yangtze River, the coastal environment has been greatly improved, and the conditions for holding activities have been better." ”
Bringing health to people's doorsteps
On summer evenings, the riverside trail in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province is bustling: there is an endless stream of walkers, and runners regard it as a paradise for night running; Square dance and ballroom dance enthusiasts show off their dance skills; Lovers of bicycles, roller skating, frisbee and other fashion items are also "checking in" here...
According to statistics from the online sports and fitness app "Keep", tens of thousands of people have "checked in" the running and cycling routes of the riverside trail in July this year.
A skateboarder competes in a fun skateboarding competition at a skateboard club in Nanjing's Jianye district. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Bo
Located in the Hexi Riverside Scenic Belt, Nanjing Hexi Riverside Greenway, with a total length of about 17 kilometers, was selected as the "2022 Yangtze River Delta Region Sports Tourism Boutique Project" and is one of the important components and highlights of Nanjing's urban greenway. On Jiangxinzhou, across the water, a 22.4-kilometer closed-loop river embankment track has been built. In April this year, the 2023 Nanjing Jiangdao Half Marathon was held here. With good marathon running conditions and modern equipment such as event timing, automatic spraying, smart chips, and AI sports training machines, Nanjing Jianye District is striving to build "Jiangdao Banma" into a national high-quality PB (personal best) track and a world-renowned event.
In the construction of cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, from the standpoint of the masses, the city is not only full of high-rise buildings, but also complete sports and fitness facilities, creating a "15-minute sports life circle" at the doorstep of the masses and creating a strong national fitness atmosphere.
Li Fang, director of the mass sports department of the Jiangsu Provincial Sports Bureau, said that this year Jiangsu Province will carry out hundreds of national fitness events in cities along the Yangtze River, hoping that through these activities, the events will be brought to the masses and health services will be delivered to the people's doors.
Give tradition a new lease of life
One side of the water and soil raises the other people. The Yangtze River has not only nurtured generations of people living near the water, but also nurtured a variety of traditional sports activities, such as dragon boat racing.
In Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River Basin, dragon boat racing has a broad mass base, contains the values and emotional memories of the Chinese nation, and has now become more of a popular mass sports activity. Around the Dragon Boat Festival this year, nearly 100 competitions were held in the Poyang Lake basin.
Hukou County, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, where Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River meet, the big river rushes, Pohu Lake is vast, and dragon boats are like arrows off the string, riding the wind and waves, you chase me to catch up; On the shores of the Yangtze River in Jiujiang City, dragon boat racing on Bali Lake, drumming, oars, sprinting, athletes working together, shouting, cheering, cheering, and the audience cheered one after another...
Competitors participate in a dragon boat race on the Gongshui River in the Gongshui Tourist Area of Xianshan in Xuan'en County, Hubei Province. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Song Wen)
In the past, dragon boats were more perpetuated as a traditional culture; Nowadays, in the context of enriching market supply and developing fitness and leisure projects, the industrial potential of this sport has also begun to be stimulated. This year, Nanchang Honggutan District, as the host of the Nanchang International Dragon Boat Race, combined culture, sports and tourism, attracting tens of thousands of spectators, and "Nanchang Jiulong Lake" also appeared on the hot search list on the Internet platform on the race day.
"This is the charm of sports and traditional culture, and it is also the revitalization of the mother river Yangtze River." Wang Haiyan, director of the Nanchang Honggutan District Education and Sports Bureau, said.