According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the summer officially began on July 23, 2019. It is by now the hottest time of China and the Shanghai Meteorological Observatory has raised its first yellow alert for high temperature this year. However, on the bank of the Huangpu River, the cleaners insist on working despite the scorching heat.

Whatever the weather is, the river cleaners are responsible for removing rubbish from the beach during the ebb.

They work only 2 hours a day but need to wear leather overalls that weigh 2.5 kilograms and make them sweat a lot.

The river cleaners are all males, with an average age of 40 years old. “This job is too hard for women,” said Zhang Xiaoyu, deputy director of the Huangpu River Management Station, part of the Shanghai Municipal Water Authority.

To prevent themselves from falling over, they have to move cautiously step by step on the beach. It takes them great effort to unstick themselves, if they become trapped in the mud.

Although they are wearing highly protective clothing they face the danger of being cut by cullet. After work, their gloves are covered with mucky soil.

The rubbish consists of plastic bags, household waste, water plants and large pieces of wood.

Recently, amphibious vehicles have been introduced from abroad. With the help of the cleaning vessels, the cleaners can now collect garbage on both land and water.

The rubbish mainly comes from the upper reaches of the Huangpu River and is generally driven ashore by the tide. Several ports also produce waste.

Located at the foot of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Huangpu River beach is missed by many city-dwellers but can be seen from passing river boats. According to a company in charge of protecting the core section of the river (from the Yangpu Bridge to the Xupu Bridge), in the first half of this year, 3,792 tons of rubbish has been cleared in total, thanks to the hard-working cleaners.

(Photos by Bai Kelin)