River cleaners keep Yangtze waters clear

Workers in Wushan county ply Asia's longest river so all goes smoothly downstream

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Amid the burble and gentle hum of the engine, at 7 am Captain Zhang Xinghua sets off in his riverboat on another daily voyage to clean the Yangtze River as it flows through the county of Wushan in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

Zhang, joined by a crew of two, navigates a stretch of the Yangtze in Wushan removing flotsam and jetsam from Asia's longest watercourse.