About 300 winter swimming enthusiasts from the Yangtze River Delta region ushered in the Year of the Horse in a special way on February 8as the 2026 Shanghai Qingpu Winter Swimming Invitational Tournament was held at Yuandang Lake.

The tournament was one of the key events of the “Celebrate Chinese New Year in Qingpu” series, combining competitive passion with fun experiences.

The starting whistle broke the tranquility of the lake, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the venue. Despite the chill, winter swimmers jumped into the crystal-clear waves immediately.

The tournament was not only a competitive stage for winter swimming enthusiasts to challenge themselves but also a vivid practice of Qingpu leveraging its unique water resource advantages to promote the in-depth integration of the “six industries,” namely agriculture, culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibition.

The “Blue Pearl Necklace” project connects seven lakes and one river, constructing an ecological corridor with a green coverage rate exceeding 42 percent, providing a unique natural venue for various water sports.

The district has hosted international top-tier events such as the World Rowing Championships and the International Windsurfing Masters as well as national-level competitions including the National Sailing Championships and the Yangtze River Delta Triathlon,andpopular mass sports activities like the Winter Swimming Invitational and Dragon Boat Race, developing a multi-level water event system covering professional competition and public participation.

Based on the national strategy of the Yangtze River Delta Ecologyand GreeneryIntegrationDemonstration Zone, Qingpu is accelerating the development of a “water resort.”

The Shanghai Qingpu Loop Waterside Park will add two new piers, connecting landmark attractions such as the Water City Gate. The second phase of Qingxi Country Park will introduce new formats such as motorboats and water inflatables to enrich water experience scenarios.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is exploring VR and AR technology-enabled night water tour projects to bring new vitality to the night scene of the Jiangnan water town, while the “Twelve Scenes of the Pearl Necklace” in Jinze Town deeply integrates ecological landscapes with Jiangnan culture, depicting a poetic picture.