Beijing's fashionable riverside retreat

"The history of the Liangma River can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), when the area was used to wash and dry horses," says Hao Yangchun, an event planner with Beijing Chaoyang Culture Tourism Development Group.

Since 2019, the area has undergone a series of environmental improvements and renovations, accompanied by a growing range of cultural and recreational activities.

The result is more than a cleaner river. Standing beside one section of the river, Hao points out an area that was once little more than a polluted ditch. After treatment, including the relocation of sewage pipes, the waterway was cleaned up and the riverside environment transformed.