Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province swiming across the Pearl River

Leading by Guangdong Governor Huang Huahua, about 3,500 Guangzhou residents swum across the Pearl River this afternoon (July 12).

Governor Huang said the water quality of Pearl River is much better now, and further efforts will be put in protecting and cleaning-up the river.

Zhang Guangning, Mayor of Guangzhou city, and many other leaders of Guangdong provincial and Guangzhou municipal government joined in the campaign too.

Swimmers set off from outside Sun Yat-sun University and finish near Xinghai Concert Hall.  This 800- metre swimming campaign shows the progress that Guangdong province has been made to clean up the Pearl River and proved the Pearl River is safe to swimming now.

Guangzhou residents swim across the Pearl River

3,500 people swim across China's 3rd longest river

Over 3,500 people in the southern city of Guangzhou swam across the Pearl River, the third longest in China, on Wednesday afternoon, to show to the public that the once polluted river has turned clean.

However, some of the swimmers said that the water is still muddy. "Under the water, I could not see things 0.5 meter in front of me. And my eyes were uncomfortable," said a swimmer whose surname is Fan.

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Swimathon highlights cleaner Pearl River

About 3,000 Guangzhou residents will swim across the Pearl River today to raise awareness of the need to further protect the river.

It is the first time in three decades for so many of swimmers to cross the river, which has suffered severe pollution due to rapid industrial development.

Organizers say that the event is also a celebration of the local government's successful clean-up efforts.

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Rehearsal held for swim across Pearl River

The well-publicized swim across the Pearl River will be held on July 12 and a rehearsal was held on July 8, leaded by Lin Shusen, Party Secretary of Guangzhou, Capital of Guangdong Province.

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Pearl River swimming campaign update

Yesterday morning (July 6), Guangzhou Municipality decided that the well-publicized swim across the Pearl River will be held on July 12 and its rehearsal will be held on July 8.

Guangzhou Mayor Zhang Guangning got on a boat and inspected the Pearl River yesterday with various government departments.

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Editor: Yan