In early January, Beijing ushered in a violent cold wave of rare intensity. Even when the sun was shining, the outdoor temperature was very low.
The South Ruyi Gate of the Summer Palace is next to the Kunyu River, which is connected to the South Lake in the garden.
The water in the river is so clear that even through a layer of ice, you can see the plants underneath.
This is an open landscape river, allowing citizens to swim here.
In winter, Kunyu River has become a winter swimming venue for many elderly people.
People swimming on the Kunyu River in winter.
Photo by Wang Hao
In the cold winter season, Nanruyimen has a small flow of people, and occasionally people enter the park.
The staff at the door dressed very thickly, after all, standing by the water for a long time, the body still feels very cold.
But ten meters away, the elderly people exposed large areas of skin and jumped into the frozen river without hesitation.
Many pedestrians in the past couldn't help but stop and take a look, and some even tightened their down jackets.
64-year-old Su Shan and 66-year-old wife Liu Peng come here three or four times a week. They live in the mountains and spend 4 hours each time on the way back and forth, but they enjoy it.
Swimming outdoors in winter, this habit persisted for almost 30 years.
The first winter swimming was because they all had some minor problems at that time and they hoped to use this to keep fit.
Su Shan said that he might be approaching menopause at that time, and he would always feel nauseous when riding in a car, and his physique was a bit poor.
Liu Peng shot by Su Shan warms up.
After decades of swimming in the winter, it is difficult to guess the actual age from them. The two have very good spirits, and Liu Peng's hair is basically black.
At about one noon that day, Su Shan finished his swim and went ashore first and put on his clothes properly.
When she saw Liu Peng come ashore, she blurted out: "Is it over? Awesome!"
Anyone who has swam in the winter knows that if you get water on your body, you feel the coldest when you wear clothes after going ashore.
Su Shan helped his wife dress while reminding him to dry his feet.
Both of them have now retired, and have nothing to do to climb mountains, read books or come to Kunyu River for winter swimming.
Unlike the busy life of young people, it sounds very warm and fulfilling.
Liu Peng swimming in winter by Su Shan.
Liu Peng told reporters that he still had to try winter swimming, otherwise he would lack an experience.
"The feeling of winter swimming is addictive!"
In Su Shan's phone, there are many small videos of her wife warming up and swimming, all of which she filmed herself.
In one section, Liu Peng warmed up before going into the water. Su Shan smiled and said to him while patted, "Hurry up, I'll freeze my hands."
The weather in Beijing was very good that day, and there was a breeze blowing by the Kunyu River.
While they put on their jackets, they smiled and greeted their friends swimming together.
After packing up, Liu Peng picked up his backpack, and the two went home together vigorously.
Winter swimming on the Kunyu River.
Photo by Wang Hao
For them, winter swimming is not like pushing the limit as people think, but more like a part of their life, as common as one meal, and their feelings of company with each other have not changed over the years.
Su Shan and Liu Peng are considered "young" among the people who swim in Kunyu River in the winter-there are 94-year-old "big brother", and many "friends" in their 70s and 80s.
When the weather in Beijing is the coldest, young people can't wait to wear the thickest clothes before going out, while they jump into the water to swim in swimsuits.
Chang Kai is a professor at Renmin University. He is 70 years old and has been swimming in winter swimming for 20 years.
His family lives near the Kunyu River and rides over to swim every day.
Family members are very supportive of him, but in the few days when Beijing ushered in the cold wave, they told him to pay attention to safety.
Chang Kai is by the Kunyu River.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
After swimming ashore every day, he will run again, and finally do dozens of push-ups shirtless.
At low temperatures, Chang Kai's skin was a little red, but his expression was very relaxed. He said, "I feel very comfortable."
This day was when Beijing was shrouded in cold waves. When the sun was shining in the morning, the temperature by the Kunyu River reached minus 6 degrees.
Wearing a thick down jacket, he would still feel cold after a long time, but Chang Kai only wore a leather jacket that was not too thick.
70-year-old Chang Kai spoke with a very strong voice, still very loud.
After swimming for so many years, he has always been in good physique.
"There will be some minor changes, such as being less susceptible to colds or increasing resistance, and almost no colds."
On the National People's Congress News website, you can also find news about Chang Kai frequently going abroad to give speeches and academic reports a few years ago.
In the past two years, he has had fewer public activities of this kind, but his life is still relatively busy, because he also takes PhD students and has to worry about their graduation.
Chang Kai entered the water by the Kunyu River.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
Speaking of the gains from swimming in winter swimming, Chang Kai said that he is physically and mentally very good. “It still needs a process to adapt, but after adapting, I feel that I am in a good state.”
Perhaps young people who read the story of Chang Kai and Dong Yong should think about it, do they neglect health and a lot of fun in life because of their “career”? Is it really impossible to have both?
On the banks of the Kunyu River, people who have finished swimming will basically come to a small open area next to get dressed.
In addition to some cars parked here, there is also a small table where people sometimes play cards and kick shuttlecocks in the open space.
Zheng Hongzhong kicked the shuttlecock shirtless.
Photo by Wang Hao
Judging from his body, it is hard to believe that Zheng Hongzhong is 60 years old.
He went ashore, dried the water on his body without putting on his shirt, and kicked the shuttlecock with others shirtless.
He seems to have tight muscles and a healthy body, and from time to time he can come to Shan Feiyan.
Zheng Hongzhong has been swimming in winter swimming for more than ten years. The "little friends" who came to swim here at Ruyimen in the south felt that his name was awkward, and most of them called him "Zheng He".
Although the outdoor temperature is very low, the air quality is good and the sun is good in the morning.
After Zheng Hongzhong kicked the shuttlecock, he put on his clothes and greeted the friend who had just arrived.
He said: "I also know a lot of friends here, (when kicking the shuttlecock) it's fun to have a lot of people."
Zheng Hongzhong.
Photo by Wang Hao
In the past ten years, some people stopped swimming when they were old and in poor health, but there were also new people joining.
Long-term winter swimming has made Zheng Hongzhong very good now and rarely catches a cold.
But he said that winter swimming is not easy to swim, there are many points to note.
"Don't stay in the water for a long time, don't force it. Don't go swimming if you don't get a good night's sleep. Don't go into the water if you drink alcohol. If you feel unwell, try not to swim." He said.
Compared with many young people who have to post a few circles of friends once they go to the gym, the old people don't seem to regard winter swimming as a special thing.
They come here to swim, bask in the sun, kick the shuttlecock, and chat with their peers. This is just a way for them to enjoy life.
People swimming on the Kunyu River in winter.
Photo by Wang Hao
Although Beijing in the harsh winter is a bit monotonous compared to other seasons, the water of the Kunyu River is clear, and against the backdrop of the grass at the bottom of the river, the entire river is not gray.
When the weather gets warmer, the surroundings will become more lively.
No matter spring, autumn, winter or summer, the Kunyu River and the open blue sky echo, everything here is still beautiful.
(Wang Hao)