Li Jian, a researcher at the Institute of Urban and Demography Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that while many major cities around the world have beautiful rivers, such as the Thames in London and the Seine in Paris, Shanghai has two: the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek.

As such, the maintenance of these water bodies is integral to creating a pleasant environment that reflects Shanghai in a good light, especially as it aims to become a global hub for economy, finance, trading, shipping and scientific innovation.

“The rehabilitation and preservation of the two river bodies is a reflection of the city’s great achievements in the continuous improvement to environmental protection measures since the liberation of Shanghai and the founding of the People’s Republic of China seven decades ago,” Li said.

Li said that a clean river also means a comfortable and pleasant living environment, which helps attract and retain talent.

“Shanghai’s growing attractiveness to international talent over the years is a testimony of the city’s environmental protection efforts, including the drastic transformation of the Suzhou Creek,” he said.

The water quality of the Suzhou Creek — named as such because people used to travel on it to reach nearby Suzhou city, Jiangsu province — was clear until the 1920s when industrialization resulted in domestic sewage and industrial waste water being discharged into it.

By 1930, the creek was no longer suitable as a source for tap water. By 1970, the pollution had tainted the entire river.