This is where I swim every day.

 　　When I worked in the Communist Youth League, I organized annual training courses for branch secretaries in other cities, including Yixian, Huludao, Xingcheng, Shanhaiguan, Beidaihe, Tangshan, Dandong, and Beijing. One year, while swimming with the Youth League cadres at Wanghaisi Beach in Huludao, I told them, "When I retire, I'll definitely buy a house by the Wanghaisi beach so I can swim every day."

　　After Jinzhou got a swimming pool, I cycled more than ten miles every night to the Petrochemical Swimming Pool. In 2003, I joined the Winter Swimming Association and discovered that I could swim in natural waters every day in Jinzhou. In 2010, my wife visited almost every housing development in Jinzhou and finally decided to buy a high-rise apartment near Donghu Park by the Xiaoling River. She told me, "This is also to make it easier for you to swim in East Lake."

　　East Lake in Jinzhou is where Jinzhou's winter swimmers go every day. Now, it boasts newly built, fully-funded, and very professional changing rooms and showers, as well as standard entry steps and stands, making it one of the most advanced natural water winter swimming bases in the country. I am very grateful to the municipal government and the people of Jinzhou for their strong support of winter swimming in Jinzhou.

　　My childhood dream has finally come true in Jinzhou, exceeding my expectations. Now I swim in East Lake every morning, afternoon, and evening. When it gets cool, there are hot showers, and I take hot baths after swimming several times a day—it feels wonderful!

　　I started swimming every year when I was in elementary school, and I've been swimming for almost 60 years now. It's no exaggeration to say that even in my sixties, my stamina surpasses that of young men. My strong physique stems from my love of swimming. I swim three times a day, which is something most people can't do, because swimming has become a habit of mine and the best way to relax my whole body. I don't feel tired even if I'm in the water all day. Especially swimming the butterfly stroke every evening, my arms spread like a roc spreading its wings, my legs leaping like a carp, stretching my waist—it truly feels like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, incredibly pleasant.

　　Some friends say, "The water quality of East Lake is worrying." Actually, the water in East Lake only turns greenish near the shore on the hottest days, with occasional floating debris; further out, it's exceptionally clear. It's even better when the weather cools down, much better than the water quality in swimming pools. This is because East Lake, besides receiving water from the Daughter River, is mainly fed by groundwater. Tests have shown that all indicators meet safety standards.

　　Swimming with my fellow swimmers in East Lake many times a day, all year round, brings health, happiness, and friendship. Every day is filled with laughter and conversation, and every night I sleep soundly—a truly blissful experience.