Could You, Would You Swim In Liangma River?

Liangmahe, or Liangma River, has to be one of the more popular waterways in downtown Beijing. Running some 7 miles+ through favorite places such as MOMA residences and Solana Mall, the Liangma River has even been dubbed the “Seine of Beijing” by local newspapers. During the Covid lockdowns, it became the number one hotspot for locals and expats alike, seeing unprecedented crowds walking/cycling along the river, and just hanging around.

Recently in summer, I passed by the river on a sunny afternoon and lo and behold, saw a group of stand-up paddle-boarders, or SUPs as they’re popularly referred to, having a class! Previously I had only known paddle-boarding to be available in Chaoyang Park and outside of the city in the more rural areas. My first thought was, “Is that allowed?” Followed by “Is that water clean?”

After some digging, it turns out that while natural water sources that are used to supply drinking water, such as Miyun Reservoir, prohibit swimming, fishing, kayaking, and other water sports, urban rivers and lakes that are not sources of drinking water are not explicitly governed by any regulations. The Water Department in Beijing does discourage such actions in public waterways in the city, but clearly has taken little action to enforce these words.

As these water channels in the city are used to manage flooding, there is no accounting for the quality of the water. Aside from rainfall and excess water discharge, the water also carries pollutants from ground runoff. Plus, I’ve seen plenty of litter floating on parts of Liangma River.

Yet this doesn’t seem to stop Beijing’s water sports enthusiasts, who can be seen dotting the river from sunrise to sunset, especially in summer. As I witnessed firsthand, there are even classes for kids conducted there. But just how legit are these operations? We can’t say for sure, since they aren’t widely advertised on most platforms like DaZhongDianPing. For lone kayaks and paddle-boarders, security guards have been known to yell at them as they cruise on by, though there doesn’t seem to be any real consequences.

If you’re curious to enjoy Liangma River, why not try a river cruise instead? ShowBeijing is providing discounted tickets to the popular Liangma River Cruise Tour 95. While there are both day and night cruises, it is the night cruise featuring a special lights show under the bridge that most marvel at. Choose from 10 seater luxury boats to a more casual 40-seater water bus, depending on your budget! Scan the QR code below to watch a snippet of what the cruise is like and book your tickets!