Beijing’s swimmers shrug off record winter lows
Print Edition
TEMPERATURES in Beijing plummeted to a three-decade low overnight last week, but that didn’t stop a hardy group of retirees plunging into icy waters to indulge in their bracing hobby of outdoor swimming.
As the mercury fell to minus 11 degrees Celsius in China’s capital by the afternoon — and was forecast to dip as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius overnight — around 15 swimmers jumped into icy outdoor waters at a central city park. “It’s cold in the water, but you will feel good when you come out,” said 60-year-old Nie Bing, emerging from the cold waves in a pair of trunks.
Wearing swimsuits, goggles, hats, water shoes and socks, and even gloves, the band of swimmers take to the water every day for a dip, whatever the weather.
In midwinter they often have to break the ice that forms over the lake, sweeping sheets of it to one side with a fishing rod to create swimming lanes.
Nearby, less hardy souls, bundled up in layers against the chill, glide across the frozen lake on their ice skates.
“The colder it is, the more you want to swim,” said another swimmer surnamed Zhang, in his 70s.
China’s meteorological authority had issued a severe weather warning across large parts of the country, saying it would be hit by drastic temperature drops and strong gales.
In Beijing, strong winds were predicted to drag the ground feeling down below minus 30 degrees Celsius overnight.
As the swimming troupe emerged from the lake, some doused themselves in warm water and watched the steam rise off their bodies.
After their daily swim, they bundle up in warm clothes and gather on the banks to sing songs together.
Zhang did admit that the temperature felt “colder than usual” — but no cause for concern.
“I’ve swam in colder weather than this,” he said.
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