On January 8th, 2003, first phase project for the comprehensive environmental renovation on Suzhou Creek which catches attention from all over the world was completed in an all-rounded way. This mother-like river for Shanghai which was stink and dirty in the past has taken on a brand new look. After a comprehension renovation of five years, how is Suzhou Creek now?

Let's look at a set of exciting figures:

During the five years, all of the nine projects for comprehensive renovation on Suzhou Creek environment are completed, with a consumption of capital and funds of RMB 6.89 billion.

During the five years, 19 sewage discharging stations have been newly built, and 19 different kinds of pumping stations have been constructed or renovated in Shanghai. Up to the third quarter of last year, the total amount of sewage barring reaches 530,000 tons/day and rate of sewage barring within the range of the six branches at downtown area of Suzhou Creek reaches over 85%. 36 barn yards have been closed and moved away, and 8 barn yards are renovated.

In the five years, 19 docks under the control of units on municipal level and 9 docks for environmental sanitation work and management have been moved away. 144 disused docks have been dismantled. Thousands of units and families have been persuaded to move away from the banks of Suzhou Creek, among which 10,500 families at Tanzi Wan and Panjia Wan have moved away. A total area of 196,000 square meters of afforestation along the banks of the Creek was completed.

It is indicated in the random searching conducted by Asia Development Bank who provides loans for the renovation project of Suzhou Creek, that 94% of Shanghai People are satisfied with the renovation of Suzhou Creek.

From the set of figures, a track of hark work of the people conducting the renovation job of Suzhou Creek in the 1825 days is indirectly but truly recorded, which is also an epitome of the changes with each passing day for the metropolis-----Shanghai.

On the morning of August, 25th, 1988, Jiang Zemin, secretariat of Shanghai Municipal Party Committee at that time, at No. 606, North Pushan Road of Shanghai, unveiled a red silk cloth covering a piece of black marble, on which, scripture in both Chinese and English is engraved: "Foundation Stone for 1st Phase of Combined Sewage of Shanghai". In the same year, Comrade Jiang Zeming wrote in person, a few words for appreciation and encouragement for 1st phase of combined sewage project of Suzhou Creek which means: "We are determined to accomplish the renovation project of Suzhou Creek", reflecting aspirations of all Shanghai people.

After that, Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government of each term take on the historic responsibility. During Comrade Zhu Rongji and Wu Bangguo stayed in Shanghai, they inspected the 1st phase construction fields for combined sewage project for several times. When comrade Huang Ju served as the secretariat of Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, he encouraged himself to be a good "secretariat for environmental renovation" and gave the important direction for renovation project of Suzhou Creek: "focus on the renovation of water, make an overall plan, combine the conditions of places from both far and near, give prominence to key points and carry out the renovation work step by step." Combined sewage renovation has laid a solid foundation for the comprehensive renovation work on Suzhou Creek. In 1996, a leadership group for comprehensive renovation on Suzhou Creek environment was established in Shanghai Municipal Government, and Xu Kuangdi, the mayor of Shanghai at that time, served as the head of the group. In 1998, 1st phase of comprehensive renovation project on Suzhou Creek environment was launched. In recent years, renovation work on Suzhou Creek has been strengthen once again and comprehensive renovation project on Suzhou Creek environment has been defined to be "the top of the top" task in city management and environmental construction of Shanghai. Chen Liangyu, commissioner of Political Bureau of the Central Committee of CPC, secretariat of Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and mayor of Shanghai, demands that we should focus on the renovation work of Suzhou Creek, thus bringing along renovation on small and medium-sized rivers in Shanghai so as to restore the features of Shanghai as the "Oriental Capital of Water".

Do the work of sewage treatment all roundly

It is recorded that the pipelines used to collect sewage in Shanghai were only several thousand meters long in the end of 1980's. Nowadays, there are 209.7 kilometers just for underground pipelines in Shanghai. It is a stride for the progress from several thousand meters to over 200 kilometers for Shanghai, as well as for the Century.

According to the statistics from authorities, 2529 pipes used for sewage barring and collection at six branches of Suzhou Creek were completed by the end of last year. Sewage entering the blowdown pipes will be sent to newly constructed Shidongkou Sewage Treatment Plant to be treated, which will largely upgrade the capability for sewage treatment of Shanghai.

Treat the source of pollution to get rid of pollution, and renovate the source of sewage so as to do the job of water control. Last year, the first river aeration oxygen filling ship in China was pub into operation and fill oxygen into water courses of Suzhou Creek. Oxygen of 150 standard cubic meters can be produced and filled every hour from this moving "oxygen production workshop", and content of dissolved oxygen of water body is increased so that ecological system of water courses is being restored gradually.

In recent years, spring tide is employed in water diversion of Suzhou Creek, thus making water in the Creek flow and the comparatively cleaner water in upper reaches flow into Suzhou Creek. At present, water diversion in this way has been conducted for two to three years without stopping, and trunk steams of Suzhou Creek are not only got rid of dirty and stink water, at meanwhile, major indexes of water have reached the standard of scenic water utilization prescribed by the State.

With the practice of comprehensive renovation on Suzhou Creek environment, a great number of disused docks or the ones still in operation have become a "persistent ailment" imposing negative impact on environment of Suzhou Creek.

Since 1997, six times of moving away have been conducted for cargo wharves, disused docks and for environmental sanitation docks in Shanghai. Up to April, 2002, all cargo wharves and disused docks on the east of Changshou Road have been moved away or dismantled. Environment in the water area and that on both banks from river mouth of Suzhou Creek to Changshou Road Bridge has been greatly improved.

A few days ago, when reporters came to the former environmental sanitation dock on Wuzhen Road Bridge, there is a green garden, in which old men are resting an entertaining, and kids are playing. There is no sign indicating the place has been a dock transporting dejecta and waste. According to the residents nearby, "the place was filled with the fecal odor throughout the year in the past, when all families dare not open their windows for the whole year. Now, it is clean and neat, greenness fills the surroundings, and has become our garden for relaxation and entertainment. We are grateful for CPC and the Government from the bottom of our hearts!"

Water quality is markedly improved

Till the end of 2000, stink and dirty water quality is got rid of in trunk streams of Suzhou Creek.

In 2001, fishes came back to Suzhou Creek and the dream of Shanghai people for fishes swimming in Suzhou Creek finally became true.

Mr. Bai, who works in Navigation Department of Shanghai Communications Administration, is the first one catching gambusia in Suzhou Creek on July, 2001 and he immediately reported the good news to Office on Affairs of Suzhou Creek. He said excitedly, water in Suzhou Creek which has been stink for several decades new turns green and fishes finally come back to Suzhou Creek. It's really fantastic."

On December, 2001, Mr Bai once again caught stone moroko and another kind of fish from Suzhou Creek. He told reporters, " Now, fishes can been seen in Suzhou Creek almost every day. Sometimes, if there is a heavy rain, fishes will float onto the water surface. I am fond of fishing and breeding fishes. Now, I can not only go fishing at Suzhou Creek, but also get some insects to feed fishes. Suzhou Creek has now become a river in real sense. It is our river and we all love it!"

In July of last year, there was a good news from Suzhou Creek-----Mr. Zhou, who has been working as a cleaner for 27 years on Suzhou Creek, fished out a turtle. In a high mood, he said, "After the comprehensive renovation on Suzhou Creek, the sense of environmental protection has been enhanced and we get fewer and fewer sewage from the Creek, however, there are more aquatic animals in it. During flood time, we can even fish out a big blackhead!"

According to the updated statistics provided by Office on Suzou Creek Affairs, up to the end of November of last year, all pollution parameters have been greatly improved compared with that of 1998. In the cross section of Wunin Road Bridge which has been polluted most severely, index of dissolved oxygen has improved by 79.64% in the work of five years, chemical oxygen consumption dropped by 65.42% and pollutant concentration dropped by 2/3. Varieties of life-forms at cross section on Wunin Road Bridge has increased from the previous four kinds in 1998 to eight types in 2001 and varieties of life-forms at cross section on Zhejiang Road Bridge has increased from seven types in 1998 to sixteen in 2001.

From all these figures, it is reflected that after the first phase project of renovation on Suzhou Creek which lasts for five years, water quality of trunk streams of Suzhou Creek has reached the national standard for Type Five Water, which indicates another new progress for water quality of Suzhou Creek.

Beautiful landscape

In a sunny winter day, the reporter met an old man doing physical exercises on the bank of Suzhou Creek. His name is Han Chengjin, who lived in the shanty house by North Suzhouhe Road and Xinchang Road. The old man told reporter that he is 72 and has witnessed changes about Suzhou Creek, thus bearing a unique feeling for Suzhou Creek.

"When I was a kid, we swam in the river in summer days. Later, as I grew up, we found environment of Suzhou Creek was getting worse. Water is black and stinks, and blowing noise disturbed residents. Once, I sat by the river and enjoyed the cool, putting my white shirt by my side. Wind blew away the shirt into the river. When it was dredged up, the white color turned into gray black. Last year, when we moved away from the shanty house, water in Suzhou Creek was getting cleaner and I was unwilling to go. Anyhow, I have been living here for six or sever decades. But thinking of the needs of the State, I finally moved away. On that day, I was really reluctant to go. Now, I come here to have a look, and take a walk sometimes..."

Yes, even the smallest changes taking place in Suzhou Creek are touching on Shanghai resident. It is gratified to see that our mother-like river is becoming much clear and more beautiful and getting more attractive. Up to now, a green corridor of 10.3 kilometers has been constructed along the banks of Suzhou Creek. Public greenbelts and landscape water front are built up at the places which are originally the sites of factories, or docks. Taking a broad view, rows of trees are setting off one another, and all landscapes are arranged in an orderly way. With the agreeable sight, everyone can't bear to part with the river.

At the residential district of Zhongyuan Liangwan City on the bank of Suzhou Creek, the first wharf for pleasure crafts is taking its shape; street lamps in the style of "Shanghai of old times" are lit up on Henan Road Bridge, modern residential districts are built up one after another along the river, and close water platform is under the unique awning which look like wind sail, all of which constitute a bright landscape of Suzhou Creek in the new century.

Suzhou Creek has become a hot spot for investment and for attraction. Developers in real estate both at home and from abroad come here one after another to make investment. According to the rudimentary measurement and calculation, prices of the houses along the bank of Suzhou Creek have gone up by RMB1500/square meters in the recent five years.

Suzhou Creek is the mother-like river of Shanghai, so it becomes a common sense for a lot of Shanghai people to concern about the renovation of Suzhou Creek and to protect its environment. The first individual donation of RMB 1 million is made by patriot Mr. Du Chongyuan and his two daughters sent us the money. Since the establishment of Office on Suzhou Creek Affairs, a donation of RMB 13 million have been made by people of all walks of life, and true feelings of Chinese people are contained in every penny of the money.

Head of Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau said that in the present force of renovation, the target of restoring ecological functions of Suzhou Creek can be surly accomplished. However, we must avoid the practice of renovation and pollution of the river at the same time. We must not pollute our mother -like river any more. All residents in Shanghai should get the sense of conscientiously protecting our environment, which is most important.

Changes are taking place in Suzhou Creek, who will surly have a future in which it is more attractive. To make Suzhou Creek clean and beautiful forever, we still have a long way to go. It is predicted it should be the year of 2010 when environmental ecological functions of water system of Suzhou Creek can be completely restored.

With overall accomplishment of 1st phase project and the implementation of 2nd phase with a principle of "centering on water control, focusing on getting rid of the pollution source and renovating both symptoms as well as source of pollution", Suzhou Creek will become a new landscape of the city. It is required in "Planning on Landscape on banks of Suzhou Creek" authorized by Shanghai Municipal Government, that 95 newly constructed greenbelts with a length of 6.7 kilometers and a total area of 520,000 square meters will be built along Suzhou Creek so as to integrate with the existing greenbelt. At meantime, 8 wharves for yachts will be built on both banks of the river. Several years later, citizens and tourists at home and from abroad can board yachts from the yacht wharves at Huangpu, Hongkou and Jing'an Districts, etc., go boating on Suzhou Creek and enjoy customs and traditions on both banks.