On December 23, time to count the nine periods following the winter solstice, over 200 winter swimmers from all over Chongqing stood ready to challenge the Yulin River in Liangjiang New Area.

The 2020 Chongqing Open Water Winter Swimming Event was hosted by the Administration of Sport of Chongqing, Yubei People’s Government, and Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Development Group Co., Ltd. The event was held by the Yulin River in Longsheng New Town, Liangjiang New Area, with a track about 1,000 meters long and over 200 swimmers.

"The age of participant ranges from 18 to 60 and people eligible for open water winter swimming can sign up," said the person in charge. There would be no award or ranking for the event. Participants would be awarded medals if finishing the full distance, and need to merely share the healthy ideas and happiness from winter swimming.

People were boisterous at the site despite the low temperature. They were pressing legs, running, jumping, or doing push-ups. Winter swimmers came to the riverside early for a good warm-up. The starting gun blasted and the winter swimmers jumped into the river, causing splashes. Friends and family members on the banks cheered on the swimmers chasing each other.

"I am so happy today. It was the second time I participated in winter swim." Zhang Wenli from the Dazhulin Winter Swimming Team told the reporter that she became fascinated by winter swimming by chance in April this year, because it is good for health, and she keeps practicing every day.

The event is only part of the Yulin River aquatic sports. As a tributary of the Yangtze River, the Yulin River, with high-quality water resources and flanked by beautiful landscapes, is suitable for carrying out such sports as swimming, kayaking, and dragon boat racing.

A person in charge of Liangjiang New Area Development Group said that Longsheng New Town in Liangjiang New Area aims to convert itself into the center of Chongqing's sports industry by taking advantage of the 2023 Asian Cup and providing venues for football, equestrian, water sports, and outdoor extreme sports.